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miriam-z
Known Participant
April 23, 2017
Answered

Is it possible to get rgb colors in cmyk for print with the same results?

  • April 23, 2017
  • 3 replies
  • 19391 views

I have a print project which requires a specific blue color which I can only get in rgb, I have tried pms colors and non of them match, I have also tried to change the color profile with no success. Does anyone have a solution for a way to print in cmyk using rgb colors or another method that can give desired results?

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer Monika Gause

If you don't know what tor will be used a simple rule is DO NOT CONVERT TO CMYK. The reason is that the C,M,Y inks used in printing aren't all the same, just roughly similar. So CMYK numbers are like a recipe; the actual colour depends on the ingredients. When you convert to CMYK you have to choose a "CMYK profile" which days what colour the inks really are. So... If you don't know what printer, you can't choose a CMYK profile, and the colour cannot be accurate. 


When you convert to CMYK you have to choose a "CMYK profile" which days what colour the inks really are. So... If you don't know what printer, you can't choose a CMYK profile, and the colour cannot be accurate.

That's true, but CMYK in vector graphics is nonetheless different.

You don't really want to convert your 0.2 black lines or your 8 pt black fine print from RGB to CMYK using ICC color management. You will run into really big trouble.

@miriamzahara: you will have to drop the idea to achieve the same vibrant colors in CMYK as you have on your monitor. Please read some information on the basics of printing. Such as this: Printing Guide for Creative Suite CS6, Acrobat « Caveat Lector

You might need to read even more information and you need to actually visit a print service provider to see how it's done so that you can understand how it's working. THis is usually not the kind of topic that can be solved just by talking on a forum.

3 replies

J
jdanek
Inspiring
April 24, 2017

Are you talking about a closed loop print workflow?  What type of printer are you planning to use?  There are photographic inkjet solutions out there that do really good RGB printing.  But, you might have to experiment with different RGB tags to achieve what you want.  Some fringe ProPhoto RGB prints look pretty spectacular, but it all depends on the output device.

M
miriam-zAuthor
Known Participant
April 24, 2017

jdanek​ thank you for your reply.

This is for a commercial print. Unfortunately its not so simple for me to request a particular printer, I need to go with what they have. I know that my file needs to be a CMYK color mode and not rgb. When I convert my workspace to rgb from cmyk as you can imagine the colors become muted and I lose the virbrancy.

I have tried to blend pantone colors with no success either. I was not referring to closed loop print workflow

Monika Gause
Community Expert
Monika GauseCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
Community Expert
April 24, 2017

If you don't know what tor will be used a simple rule is DO NOT CONVERT TO CMYK. The reason is that the C,M,Y inks used in printing aren't all the same, just roughly similar. So CMYK numbers are like a recipe; the actual colour depends on the ingredients. When you convert to CMYK you have to choose a "CMYK profile" which days what colour the inks really are. So... If you don't know what printer, you can't choose a CMYK profile, and the colour cannot be accurate. 


When you convert to CMYK you have to choose a "CMYK profile" which days what colour the inks really are. So... If you don't know what printer, you can't choose a CMYK profile, and the colour cannot be accurate.

That's true, but CMYK in vector graphics is nonetheless different.

You don't really want to convert your 0.2 black lines or your 8 pt black fine print from RGB to CMYK using ICC color management. You will run into really big trouble.

@miriamzahara: you will have to drop the idea to achieve the same vibrant colors in CMYK as you have on your monitor. Please read some information on the basics of printing. Such as this: Printing Guide for Creative Suite CS6, Acrobat « Caveat Lector

You might need to read even more information and you need to actually visit a print service provider to see how it's done so that you can understand how it's working. THis is usually not the kind of topic that can be solved just by talking on a forum.

barbara_a7746676
Community Expert
barbara_a7746676Community Expert
Community Expert
April 23, 2017

I wish it weren't so, but what most people think of as a good blue is not possible with CMYK inks. Pantone makes a process color simulator that shows RGB colors with CMYK equivalents. That will give you an idea of how close you can get to the blue you want in CMYK

https://www.amazon.com/Pantone-Process-Color-Simulator-747XR/dp/B005XG4W4G

You may not find an exact match in Pantone spot colors, but the spot inks will probably be much closer to what you want unless your vendor can mix a custom ink for you and do a drawdown for you to approve.

    M
    miriam-zAuthor
    Known Participant
    April 23, 2017

    Hi Barbara thank you for your comment. This is useful to know.

    Mylenium
    Mylenium
    Legend
    April 23, 2017

    Short version: There may be no such thing. Long version: Depending on the color it may be possible, but it will require playing with the separations and may in fact involve additional inks/ print plates. Some colors can be emulated reasonably by completely changing the underlying mixture of the color components or doing obscure things like printing two spot colors on top of each other with respective densities. Anyway, you haven't provided nearly enough info, beginning with a screenshot of your artwork and an exact color reference, so we can't help you specifically. It also sounds to me like you're chasing unicorns in that your system isn't realyl set up for print processes and even if it is, such a delicate process would require more info about how it's actually printed and on what stock. This can quite likely only ever be tweaked to a single very specific scenario, not "will print correctly on all devices", so knowing how it will be physically produced can be essential.

    Mylenium

      M
      miriam-zAuthor
      Known Participant
      April 23, 2017

      Hi Mylenium,

      Thank you for your message. this is for a digital print.

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