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InDesign change CMYK Values

Forum|Forum|8 months ago
June 17, 2025
3 replies
2210 views

Hello guys

I've a problem with an exported file. InDesign have changed the cmyk values of an imported PDF

I recorded a video here to explain the various step that I made

https://www.loom.com/share/a4db5431aab149e28f1a9396af739457

As you can see in the final exported file the cmyk values of "warm grey" spot color has changed, so when I converted into CMYK the final print result it was different.

I also attached the files.

I don't understand why InDesign do that.... Any idea?

Best

MTA_003556_270125.pdf

3_Fori_Righe.pdf

Correct answer Brad @ Roaring Mouse

I had a look at your original Illustrator file.

Pantone spot swatches, for many years now, are defined as LAB values.

In the original Illustrator file you sent (in your PDF), even though it is defined as a spot colour "Pantone warm Gray 1 C", someone has changed it from its LAB values to CMYK (0C 2M 3Y 6K). Whether this came from an old legacy file or was converted with inappropriate Color settings, I don't know. In any case, it's not a match for the current Pantone LAB swatch at all.

This creates a problem when you import it into another program that does use the current Pantone LAB swatches. So, when you bring the file into InDesign, it will map the Pantone to the same-named one in its own Library, which is LAB-based... with the values of approx. L84 a1 b4.

So, depending on your Color Settings, when you change these to CMYK at output, they will convert according to what ICC profiles you have in place. e.g. if you're using an old CMYK Profile like US Sheetfed Coated, you will probably get something along the line of 15C 13M 15Y 0K.

If you really want to match the SPECIFIC CMYK values of your original grey, I suggest you give it a new spot name in the Illustrator file (say, e.g. "Special Gray"), so when you bring it into InDesign, it will add that same colour into its Swatch Library.

Brad @ Roaring Mouse

Correct answer

Community Expert

I had a look at your original Illustrator file.

Pantone spot swatches, for many years now, are defined as LAB values.

In the original Illustrator file you sent (in your PDF), even though it is defined as a spot colour "Pantone warm Gray 1 C", someone has changed it from its LAB values to CMYK (0C 2M 3Y 6K). Whether this came from an old legacy file or was converted with inappropriate Color settings, I don't know. In any case, it's not a match for the current Pantone LAB swatch at all.

This creates a problem when you import it into another program that does use the current Pantone LAB swatches. So, when you bring the file into InDesign, it will map the Pantone to the same-named one in its own Library, which is LAB-based... with the values of approx. L84 a1 b4.

So, depending on your Color Settings, when you change these to CMYK at output, they will convert according to what ICC profiles you have in place. e.g. if you're using an old CMYK Profile like US Sheetfed Coated, you will probably get something along the line of 15C 13M 15Y 0K.

If you really want to match the SPECIFIC CMYK values of your original grey, I suggest you give it a new spot name in the Illustrator file (say, e.g. "Special Gray"), so when you bring it into InDesign, it will add that same colour into its Swatch Library.

F

Francesco StefaniniAuthor

Known Participant

Hi Brad

Got it! It makes sense. Maybe the person who made the file created a pantone instead of taking it from the official library (LAB) he has manually putting specific values in CMYK. Then InDesign has mapped that pantone on its own Library, as you said.

Thanks for help!

Best

Francesco

E

Eugene Tyson

Community Expert

Just to circle back on this – the key issue seems to be that when placing a file in InDesign, it’s grabbing the LAB version of the Pantone from the swatch library, which is overriding any CMYK values baked into the original file. If your final goal is a specific CMYK breakdown, I’d still recommend handling that conversion inside InDesign using the Ink Manager to alias the spot to your desired CMYK build. That way, you stay in control of the values without relying on PitStop to clean it up after the fact. It’s saved me a few headaches on press. Just throwing that out there in case it helps.

rob day

Community Expert

Hi @Francesco Stefanini , Could you clarify the final output? Is it really to an offset press running 5 plates CMYK + Pantone Warm Gray 1C?

Starting with CS6 Adobe defined the Pantone spot library colors as Lab, which is more accurate than CMYK for display. Many of the solid ink Pantone colors are outside of the CMYK gamut ( @Eugene Tyson points out the very out-of-gamut Pantone Orange)

Brad @ Roaring Mouse

Community Expert

Indeed, if they are going spot, it doesn't matter, but, yeah, I looked back at the pre-CS6 pre-LAB Pantone sets, and Pantone, Warm Grey 1 C was indeed defined as 0C 2M 3Y 6K. That being said, that was at a time when there was assumed a lot of gain by the time it got to press, so it makes sense the values are quite light.

E

Eugene Tyson

Community Expert

No idea what you're doing with Enfocus PitStop Pro?

Both PDFs here show the PDF with Spot Colours.

You seem to be opening files in Acrobat - editing with Pitstop Pro

I see at some point you're opening a file and asking for the Colour Policy to be off - it can't be truly off - it has to use some colour profile.

Why are you converting the Spot colour to CMYK?

I don't get what you're trying to do.

Both your PDFs show that the same colour separations - for me anyway.

@rob day probably has more insight here.

F

Francesco StefaniniAuthor

Known Participant

Hi Eugene

Thank you for your support. The fact is the spot color (Warm Gray in that case) change his inner value from CMYK (to the origin file) to LAB (the exported file through InDesign).

This inner value create a different CMYK color values after conversion from spot to CMYK

Best

Willi Adelberger

Community Expert

The CMYK values of a spot color can differ depending on the output profile. Are you aware on that?

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