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sophiedesigning
sophiedesigning
Participant
May 18, 2017
Answered

Saving logo as CMYK, RGB and Pantone colours

  • May 18, 2017
  • 4 replies
  • 11375 views

Hi there!

I was hoping one of you knowledgeable people would be able to help me understand 100% about the colour types you can save as in Illustrator CC.

I want to completely understand the formats before I start offering my design services.

So after doing some research online I found I need to give my clients when designing a logo three different colour versions - CMYK, RGB and Pantone.

I just want to know how exactly to export the logos with the correct colour type and what settings I need to have checked, I'd hate to export a CMYK file and then find out I didn't convert something and it is RGB. I'm mainly stunted on the Pantone one.

Any help would be so greatly appreciated, thank you so much. Am absolutely loving CC by the way!!

Many thanks

Sophie

Correct answer Monika Gause

Spot color versions are saved as CMYK.

When you just save as CMYK you do not convert the spot color to process automatically.

When you convert document color mode to RGB or when you convert a spot color to process, the result completely depends on your color management setup.

A CMYK version does not necessarily cover all printing processes. For newspaper you might need a different version.

Not all spot colors can even be recreated in CMYK color space.

So: You need to setup color management before conversion.

You need to compare the values to printed samples. Maybe even produce proofs

You also need to compare the RGB version to printed samples.

You cannot rely on automatic color conversions.

4 replies

T
Test Screen Name
Legend
May 18, 2017

Don't change it to CMYK unless you know *which* CMYK to use. Which you can't, in advance. If you want to change it to RGB, carefully select *which* RGB - sRGB for web use, but not for print use. If my reference to "which RGB/which CMYK" is baffling, as many people find, it means more color management study is needed.

    sophiedesigning
    sophiedesigningAuthor
    Participant
    May 18, 2017

    Thank you both very much for your answers and clarifying some things for me. I was unsure about a couple of things but I am grateful to see I do know more than I thought! I had set my example logo up with a spot colour at the beginning so glad to know that was the right step. I then went to Document Colour Mode and was able to save as CMYK and RGB versions - do I need to make any colour changes to my logo to go from CMYK to RGB? And when I go to save the spot colour logo do I leave the Document Colour Mode on CMYK? Sorry I am new to understanding colour management and am really interested in understanding it.

    Thank you for suggesting the swatch and samples book - I will definitely look into purchasing them. And for the link also!

    Monika Gause
    Community Expert
    Monika GauseCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
    Community Expert
    May 18, 2017

    Spot color versions are saved as CMYK.

    When you just save as CMYK you do not convert the spot color to process automatically.

    When you convert document color mode to RGB or when you convert a spot color to process, the result completely depends on your color management setup.

    A CMYK version does not necessarily cover all printing processes. For newspaper you might need a different version.

    Not all spot colors can even be recreated in CMYK color space.

    So: You need to setup color management before conversion.

    You need to compare the values to printed samples. Maybe even produce proofs

    You also need to compare the RGB version to printed samples.

    You cannot rely on automatic color conversions.

      Monika Gause
      Community Expert
      Monika GauseCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      May 18, 2017

      First thing you have to understand is color management.

      It's the basis of all color conversion in today's software.

      You have to understand how to use it, and how to judge what it does and what it cannot do.

      Then set up your color management according to your needs.

      Then you have to understand printing processes.

      When you start with a logo, make it CMYK, it's the smallest color space.

      Don't rely on screenrepresentation of color alone. Check it with printed samples. You need to buy Pantone swatches books and printed CMYK color samples books (on different paper).

      Conversion of Pantone spot swatches to CMYK relies on color management.

      And this is just one small detail you have to understand: Pantone Plus color libraries

        T
        Test Screen Name
        Legend
        May 18, 2017

        "Pantone" is a vague and inaccurate term though people often use it because Pantone make lists both of process (CMYK) and spot colours. if you want a spot colour (pantone or other) set up the design using spot colours on swatches. You can then convert later To CMYK. You can only do this if the spot colours have been chosen in advance, by discussion with the client. You BOTH have to be on the same page about colours and printing technologies.

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