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caitlynr82328264
caitlynr82328264
Participating Frequently
July 12, 2022
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How to prepare RGB colors for CMYK printing when using assets from Illustrator dropped into InDesign

  • July 12, 2022
  • 4 답변들
  • 2259 조회

Hi all,

My colors keep going dull.

 

Here's what's happening:

 

I have a text based logo created in Illustrator in RGB colors (0000ff), a bright blue. 

When I drop the exported logo jpeg into InDesign, the logo, along with the other same color elements I've created in InDesign, all turn dull blue. 

 

Here's what I have tried, that has not worked: 

-Adjusting the swatches: Color Picker / Im in RGB when I click on my blue. So I click into a CMYK field, and the button changes to "Add CMYK Swatch" - I click that. The swatch added ends up being the dull blue even though it looks bright while in the Color Picker. (Alternatively, I tried to only use RGB swatches, thinking I might convert entire project later--but once I select the RGB swatch, it still displays dull blue. 

-Changing View settings - Proof Setup / Device to Simulate: (any CMYK device) / Check "Preserve CMYK Numbers"

-Same thing but with RGB device (I tried changing everythign to RGB with the hopes of then converting the entire document to CMYK at the end instead of trying to change each element to CMYK swatch (my original idea)

-Exporting the Illustrator logo as CMYK (Export As.../ JPEG Options: Color Model: CMYK). 

 

My ultimate goal:

-Print this in a color that looks like same color as RGB 0000ff

 

Thanks so much for any help!

 

 

 

 

 

최고의 답변: Laubender

@caitlynr82328264 said:

"My ultimate goal:

-Print this in a color that looks like same color as RGB 0000ff"

 

Hi,

this is not possible. Unless you find a spot color that fits the color; but I doubt that.

If you aim for e.g. an affordable offset printing product, at some point in the workflow your RGB colors must be separated to CMYK. And a simulation of this color conversion process can be done by InDesign with e.g. Overprint Preview. You also see that when transparency is on the spread and you created the InDesign document with Print Intent.

 

As already mentioned, one way out would be to use a spot color for your bright blue RGB color. Something like HKS K 43 comes to my mind, but this also is not ideal. It also depends highly on the paper you want to print to. The better the paper the brighter the spot color could be. But of course using a spot color also means higher cost for printing. You have to find a printing company that will offer this at reasonable cost. And you need a costly color atlas for spot colors as well to decide what spot color it should be.

 

If you aim for some kind of digital printing it could be that the color will be a bit "more similar" compared to the CMYK result for offset printing without using a spot color. ln that case stay with RGB altogether if the printing company accepts PDF files with RGB colors. It depends on the gamut of colors they are able to print with a digital printer that could be bigger than the one with a standard offset print. Again: this all depends also on the paper you like to print to. With digital printing you could do a single print for an affordable amount of money. When satisfied with the color print the total number of copies you need. And: With digital printing there are no spot colors possible.

 

Regards,
Uwe Laubender
( Adobe Community Professional )

4 답변

T
Test Screen Name
Legend
July 13, 2022

CMYK is like mixing paint in a bucket. Some colours you can get, and some you can't. You are, I'm afraid, asking the impossible. Get yourself a CMYK swatch card.

    L
    Community Expert
    LaubenderCommunity Expert답변
    Community Expert
    July 13, 2022

    @caitlynr82328264 said:

    "My ultimate goal:

    -Print this in a color that looks like same color as RGB 0000ff"

     

    Hi,

    this is not possible. Unless you find a spot color that fits the color; but I doubt that.

    If you aim for e.g. an affordable offset printing product, at some point in the workflow your RGB colors must be separated to CMYK. And a simulation of this color conversion process can be done by InDesign with e.g. Overprint Preview. You also see that when transparency is on the spread and you created the InDesign document with Print Intent.

     

    As already mentioned, one way out would be to use a spot color for your bright blue RGB color. Something like HKS K 43 comes to my mind, but this also is not ideal. It also depends highly on the paper you want to print to. The better the paper the brighter the spot color could be. But of course using a spot color also means higher cost for printing. You have to find a printing company that will offer this at reasonable cost. And you need a costly color atlas for spot colors as well to decide what spot color it should be.

     

    If you aim for some kind of digital printing it could be that the color will be a bit "more similar" compared to the CMYK result for offset printing without using a spot color. ln that case stay with RGB altogether if the printing company accepts PDF files with RGB colors. It depends on the gamut of colors they are able to print with a digital printer that could be bigger than the one with a standard offset print. Again: this all depends also on the paper you like to print to. With digital printing you could do a single print for an affordable amount of money. When satisfied with the color print the total number of copies you need. And: With digital printing there are no spot colors possible.

     

    Regards,
    Uwe Laubender
    ( Adobe Community Professional )

      caitlynr82328264
      caitlynr82328264작성자
      Participating Frequently
      July 23, 2022

      Thanks so much, that is incredibly helpful. (Though so disappointing in terms of being able to print that bright of a blue!)

      Peter Spier
      Community Expert
      Peter SpierCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      July 12, 2022

      0000FF is definitly out of gamut for CMYK printing.

      If you use the RGB sliders in the Color panel you'll see the out-of-gamut warning symbol that is missing from the Color Picker.

        caitlynr82328264
        caitlynr82328264작성자
        Participating Frequently
        July 23, 2022

        Got it, thanks so much.

        Willi Adelberger
        Community Expert
        Willi AdelbergerCommunity Expert
        Community Expert
        July 12, 2022

        Create graphics, like Logo as CMYK in Illustrator.

        Leave images from Photoshop in RGB, asign a color profile and if you want to print, work in CMYK Preview. View > Set up Preflight > CMYK 

        If it is for print, export the PDF according the specifications of your printer, many require a CMYK file, so convert upon PDF export.

        The gamuth of CMYK is smaller than the gamuth of RGB. That is what you see with duller colors, like green or red, probably bright colors. That is the limitation.

          caitlynr82328264
          caitlynr82328264작성자
          Participating Frequently
          July 23, 2022

          Thank you!

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