Creating graphics in figma for book layout

[Mateomono]

Hi,

Is it a problem if I create my vector graphics in Figma, then import them into Illustrator to convert to CMYK and save as AI? Is that ok, or could it cause problems? I’m more confident and experienced working in Figma, and this would drastically speed up my workflow compared to working in Illustrator. Most of the graphics are very simple and straightforward to design, so Figma should be sufficient.

The book layout is for print and is being done in InDesign.

Thank you!

[James Gifford—NitroPress]

The evidence is that most of the "E-Z-2-Use" online graphics platforms produce really lousy export files; they are optimized for use within their own ecosystem, especially for print by the in-system vendor.

The solution is almost always to open and resave them in a genuine Adobe app, be it AI or Acrobat Pro. So your plan is (theoretically) a best option if you prefer using Figma, Canva, etc. to do your initial work.

Furthermorer, the export to PDF for print tends to fix and clean up a lot of problems with graphic elements, unless they are too broken — and the cleanup step should help with that.

[Willi Adelberger]

When you have opened them in Iilusrator and converted them to CMYK, do following:

1. select all artwork. 
   open the Swarch panel
2. in the panel menu create a new color group and take care that global colors area tive
3. Deselect now everything
4.  Click on the first swatch and clean it up and do it with all. Eg after converting a RGB black to a CMYK black yoz end up with 4c black, but it should be k only or color values of.other colors might be odd or to low to be printable. 
   
   

At the end save the file as AI and place it iin INDD. 

[James Gifford—NitroPress]

As good a place as any to raise the question (again/in context) — does it really matter any more to place CMYK images when all export for print is controlled/superseded by the PDF export process? It seems to me that current practice is to use RGB for the many reasons of simplicity, smaller file size, color range etc. and let the PDF export do an optimized export to CMYK using a selected standard and print profile.

That is, I question the need to convert these or any graphics to CMYK, as an obsolete or at least niche practice in almost-2025 — something like the new version of outlining fonts. Am I missing something?

[BobLevine]

Why do you need to convert to CMYK? If you really need it for some archaic reason, you can do that conversion on export to PDF.

[Eugene Tyson]

As per @BobLevine 

InDesign does the same conversion as any other Adobe app, converting images to CMYK in Illustrator you might as well convert them on export to PDF from InDesign.

The only reason to convert to CMYK in Illustrator is if you want full control over the CMYK values, that is that the colours need to be very specific CMYK breakdowns.

If there's no specific CMYK breakdown then leave them as RGB and place in InDesign and then convert on export to PDF.

Where you might hit some issues:
RGB has a wider gamut than CMYK (a bigger colour range) so some colours in RGB cannot be reproduced in CMYK. Resulting in awful looking muddy colours. 

Text that is black at small font sizes, definitely any text that is RGB black will be 4 colour black using all CMYK plates - which for book printing is bad as the text should be just plain Black off the K plate (CMY are separate plates).

If it's digital it probably won't make a difference. 

Let us know if you need anything else.