RGB Export of JPEGs changes color values

[benleander_]

So, I have a strange problem and think I've tried anything possible but it still occurs:

I have a RGB document using only RGB colors. Everything is fine EXCEPT for when I try to export a RGB JPG. It completely changes they values of the color. It should be 130|40|130 and when I open an exported JPG in Photoshop and use the eyedropper tool it measures 146|67|146.

I've tried all three modes of exporting the image, with/without ICC profile. Color Management is turned off for this document (Edit > Assign Profile), and my color settings are attatched. Anyone have an idea what might be going on?

Thanks!

[Test Screen Name]

Some colour change in JPEG is always going to happen, but not that much. So... Why would you want colour management "turned off" for the document? That would the idea of colour matching essentially beyond hope. However... I see no such option in Edit > Assign profile...

[benleander_]

As far as I know 'Do not Color Match this Document' as selected is the preferred variable but I tried it with color matching as well and it didn't work either. 

[Danny Whitehead.]

Try using Bridge to synchronise your CC colour settings, then assign the sRGB profile to the AI file and export again.

[meganchi]

I was going to suggest the same thing. It is important that all of your Adobe Applications have the same color profile settings so that they open apples to apples.

If you've never used the Bridge App, then open it, and do the following.

Quit all Adobe Apps, launch Bridge App.

-Go to the Edit menu and select "Color Settings".

-Select the color setting that you want to use across all Adobe Apps, then click "Apply".

This will synchronize all of your apps with the same color setting.

[benleander_]

Is there no possibility to work outside of Bridge? Like, shouldn't sRGB be the standard for the Illustrator anyway?

Or is there a way to set it as the standard without using Bridge? I'm kinda hesitant to install it again, Bridge used to cause some problems in an earlier set-up.

[Ton Frederiks]

If you go to Edit > Color Settings in Photoshop and Illustrator (and other Adobe apps) and choose the same settings, those will be synchronized.

Also check in Illustrator if your Document Color Profile is the same as your RGB Working Space.

[Test Screen Name]

"Like, shouldn't sRGB be the standard" 

Illustrator and the other apps come from the heritage of professional print design, where sRGB would be a poor choice. Unfortunately, when working for web design, it's a different story. sRGB is designed to be a poor quality choice as close as possible to the average screen, which is where we all have to go for web design. 

[benleander_]

@Ton_Frederiks:

In Edit > Color Settings my Working Space is set to sRGB. I have posted a picture of all my color settings in the very first post. Could you maybe elaborate on how to check 'if your Document Color Profile is the same as your RGB Working Space'. That might be the problem but I don't know how to check that. 

@Test_Screen_Name:

I meant if sRGB isn't the Illustrator standard for documents set as RGB via File > Document Color Mode

[Test Screen Name]

"I meant if sRGB isn't the Illustrator standard for documents set as RGB via File > Document Color Mode"

No, I disagree (sorry). RGB is not just used for web work, it is now preferred for most professional press work. The default should be something more like Adobe RGB, sRGB is not a good choice for press.

Document colour mode > RGB (for web use - sRGB)

Document colour mode > RGB (for press use - [from color settings])

would be nice choices to see in the Illustrator settings. There are several more things Adobe could do to make web design more user friendly (especially image size).

[Ton Frederiks]

"Could you maybe elaborate on how to check 'if your Document Color Profile is the same as your RGB Working Space'. That might be the problem but I don't know how to check that."

That's why I posted a picture of the place to check that, at the bottom of your window.

[benleander_]

@Test_Screen_Name: What do you mean by 'Press'? As far as I'm concerned CMYK is still the standard for all print use and I'm several years in as a designer. 

@Ton_Frederiks: Oh perfect, thanks, didn't see that! Now that I've activated it, it says 'Untagged RGB' which is definitely concerning.

So, I tried forcing it to be an sRGB document by using Edit > Assign profile which seemed to work - at least it said so in the lower bar. Still, when I turn it into a JPEG it has the same, wrong color values when I measure them with Photoshop. I tried a couple of other profiles, Adobe RGB etc. and the colors vary but - and this is the interesting part - are always (almost) the same values when measured in Ps. 

[benleander_]

By the way, always when I close and open the programme again, it goes back to 'Untagged RGB'.

Thanks so much guys for your patience, btw, I really hope I find a way to solve this 'cause I've never seen anything like this happening... even without Bridge. 

[Ton Frederiks]

Do you open the image in Illustrator, or place it in a new RGB document?

[benleander_]

I open it with Photoshop and measure the color with the Eyedropper although the difference is already obvious if I simply look at the JPEG.

I've tried all three ways of exporting the JPEG and numerous settings... all with the same results. 😞

[Steve35005825ayvx]

@benleander_ Five years later, I'm experiencing the same thing. All of my settings are correct/synchronized. Only one RGB value is changing and only by a value of one, but still – this shouldn't happen.

[Monika Gause]

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Steve35005825ayvx  schrieb:

benleander_ Five years later, I'm experiencing the same thing. All of my settings are correct/synchronized. Only one RGB value is changing and only by a value of one, but still – this shouldn't happen.

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It's how JPEG compression works. JPEG compression first converts everything into a different color space. When doing that you cannot prevent changes from happening. Independent from the software that does the compression. 

[Ton Frederiks]

That is how jpeg gets its compression, by throwing away and averaging color information.

If you take the same colors you have in Illustrator and use them in Photoshop, you will get the same different values after saving as jpeg 100. 

[Test Screen Name]

> What do you mean by 'Press'? As far as I'm concerned CMYK is still the standard for all print use

> and I'm several years in as a designer. 

Yes, that is a popular view, especially with those who are working that way still! However, RGB is increasingly taking over from CMYK in some markets and not others. Each has their strengths and weaknesses; the great strength of RGB is that the designer can work in accurate colour, leaving CMYK conversion to happen late, when the press is decided. It also allows output to entirely different models (like 6-ink output devices). One thing for sure: treating CMYK as generic is still very popular, rather than working to a press-specific profile. I believe this usage is slowly shrinking, and the people in this forum will generally call it out as wrong. This is region specific: RGB based fully colour managed workflows seem much more popular in Europe than the USA.

>So, I tried forcing it to be an sRGB document by using Edit > Assign profile ..

> Still, when I turn it into a JPEG it has the same, wrong color values when I measure them with Photoshop. 

I think we need to look at exactly how you "turn it into a JPEG". Three ways at least. Please say what you do, and show a screenshot of your JPEG export settings.

[Ton Frederiks]

Can you share your problem document (or only the part that gives the problem)?

Otherwise we have to keep om guessing.

[benleander_]

o m g guys, I've finally found the solution/the problem. 

In my document, the colored part was still an outline. So, I've expanded the appearance to make it a shape. Doing this messed with the colors (in the .ai file!). But after having it expanded and assigned the correct swatch to it, the colors match in the exported JPEG. 

No idea why Illustrator does this, but if you ever have this error - this might be the cause. 

Thanks for your help!!