INDESIGN - PHOTOS OVERSATURATED WHEN PRINTED

[Aharon5E16]

Hi, 

I am creating a product catalog on Indesign, it includes graphics as well as dozens of photos. 

I just sent a sample of the catalog to the printer and the photos were printed very oversaturated, the graphics (background color, text color, etc) were all fine. 

I assume it has something to do with my photos being RGB, but I don't know how to check the status of my photos or  how to convert the photos. 

The printer did not specify a specific color conversion that they need.

When I export PDF, in the Output dialog I enter the following: 

      - Color Conversion: Convert to Destination (Preserve Numbers)

      - Destination: Working CMYK - U.S Web Coated (SWOP v2)

      - Profile Inclusion Policy: Include Destination Profile

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!!

[rob day]

Hi @Aharon5E16 , your PDF Output Settings did Convert the RGB Color to the CMYK Destination Profile—your PDF could not have any RGB color with those settings.

[Aharon5E16]

So what would you say is the reason the photos are printing oversaturated?

[Peter Spier]

What sort of printing technology is being used? What kind of paper?

Did you ask the printer to give you a profile?

[Aharon5E16]

We did ask the printer what color conversion is necessary, the only requirement they gave us is that everything needs to be sent in CMYK, which it obviously was...

[Peter Spier]

Are you able to use a different printer? This one clearly has no colormanaged workflow and will not be able to give you predicatable results.

[Aharon5E16]

I can try but if there is anything I can do on my end to fix the problem I would prefer to do that

[Peter Spier]

Frankly, given a choice, I would not work with a printer who does not properly support color management, but I would go through Rob's steps and see if you get a better result if you don't want to switch.

[Aharon5E16]

Thank you!

[rob day]

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Offset_printing

https://www.xerox.com/en-us/digital-printing/insights/what-is-digital-printing

[Frans v.d. Geest]

If the RGB files have a wrong or even no profile, and your colour management settings assume they are Adobe RB while they are in fact sRGB, you get oversaturated images that gets carried over when they are converted to CMYK.

So check your source profiles first.

[Aharon5E16]

Thank you, how do I check my source profiles?

[rob day]

Thank you, how do I check my source profiles?

The Link Info panel show’s an Image’s profile when it is selected. If it was saved with no profile, the InDesign document’s Assigned profile is used —the ICC Profle is listed as Document RGB:

RGB images should always be saved with an embedded profile otherwise its color will change depending on the layout document’s profiles. If I change this document’s Assigned RGB profile, the image with no embedded profile color appearance changes

Use one of the PDF/X presets when you export with the Destination set to Document CMYK (not Working CMYK):

Even with all of the above considered, the print color appearance depends on the CMYK Destination profile—is the printer really printing to the SWOP profile? And your diplayed preview of the color depends on the accuracy of your Systems Monitor profile—is the Monitor profile an accurate profile of your display.

[Aharon5E16]

Wow - this is so helpful, I have been searching for days and could not find anything that explained my issue. Thank you!!

So my Image profile is sRGB, I am not clear on what step I need to take: 

Should I/Can I change my image profile? 

Or do I just need to follow your Output instructions (PDF/4: 2010, Convert to Destination, Document CMYK)? 

Thanks agains

[rob day]

Should I/Can I change my image profile?

No, if your images have an embedded profile, it would not help to convert to a different RGB profile. The problem is more likely with either your monitor profile—are you working with a calibrated display? Or, the US Web Coated SWOP profile you are converting to isn’t your printer’s press profile. Or, a bit of both.

[Aharon5E16]

Yes, my display is calibrated. 

I will follow your output instructions and hope that solves the problems. 

Thank you so much for your help

[rob day]

Is the print process 4-color offset or some kind of shortrun composite printing? If you really do have a calibrated display with an accurate monitor profile, then making the same US Web Coated SWOP conversion on export will probably produce the same result.

[Aharon5E16]

I do not understand this question: "Is the print process 4-color offset or some kind of shortrun composite printing?"

I did Working CMYK and no PDF selection in my previous export - you are saying that will not make a difference if I change it to Documents CMYK and PDF /4?

[rob day]

You are making a conversion into the final print CMYK space without knowing anything about the device, so the output color appearance will be random even when referencing a well calibrated display. The default US Web Coated SWOP is a profile for a high speed offset web press, but if your printer’s press profile is more like US Sheetfed Coated, the print appearance for the CMYK values you are sending could be very different.