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tamsint97516221
tamsint97516221
Participating Frequently
April 25, 2019
Answered

Is there an (easy) way of checking whether an image is CMYK, within InDesign?

  • April 25, 2019
  • 3 replies
  • 34927 views

Hi,

I'm wondering if there's a simple way of checking whether an image is CMYK from within InDesign?

Or even of checking whether all images on a page are in InDesign.

Our printing process requires us to set all images to CMYK before export.

Thanks in advance!

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer Derek Cross

You can check the Color Mode in the Links panel.

You can set Flight check to check all images.

Why does your printing process require you to set all images to CMYK?

3 replies

rob day
Community Expert
rob dayCommunity Expert
Community Expert
April 25, 2019

Our printing process requires us to set all images to CMYK before export.

Your printer would have no way of knowing if you made the conversion on Export (Output>Convert to Destination>Choose a CMYK profile) or converted all objects before placing. It's easier and more efficient to use Convert to Destination on the InDesign export.

InDesign and Photoshop use the same color management for conversions, so there's no advantage in doing it from PS and trying to catch errors via ID’s Preflight.

    Artpetch2
    Artpetch2
    Participant
    July 29, 2019

    Most colour printers print in CMYK so when you look at and design an image in RGB it prints out different colours.

    BobLevine
    Community Expert
    BobLevineCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    July 29, 2019

    That is incorrect. Most desktop color printers are actually RGB devices. Postscript is required for CMYK.

    J
    Community Expert
    Jeffrey_SmithCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    April 25, 2019

    - In the Links Panel, Link Info will show Colorspace of individual images

    - A Preflight Profile can be defined to alert and list all images that are not CMYK

    - Regardless of image colorspace before export, you can convert to a destination - CMYK, during export

      Derek Cross
      Community Expert
      Derek CrossCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
      Community Expert
      April 25, 2019

      You can check the Color Mode in the Links panel.

      You can set Flight check to check all images.

      Why does your printing process require you to set all images to CMYK?

        tamsint97516221
        tamsint97516221Author
        Participating Frequently
        April 26, 2019

        Thanks, how would I set up a preflight profile to check all images?

        I'm not sure, our printers say that sometimes the automated conversion can skew image colours. Could this be picked up by looking at a PDF post-export?

        rob day
        Community Expert
        rob dayCommunity Expert
        Community Expert
        April 26, 2019

        I'm not sure, our printers say that sometimes the automated conversion can skew image colours.

        That’s definitely not true.

        In fact, if you don’t have much experience, there's a better chance of an error making manual conversions out of Photoshop. Is the correct destination profile, color intent, and black point compensation being consistently used for every image? Did you embed a CMYK profile that conflicts with the InDesign document’s CMYK profle, which might force additional (unwanted) CMYK conversions on export or output? Unfortunately printers don’t always understand how color management and conversions actually work.

        The only case where a manual conversion is necessary, is when you need to make post CMYK conversion color corrections, and the cases where that is needed are rare.

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