Lost design elements when switching from RBG to CMYK

Report · Feb 25, 2023

Hello, I recently learned that my colours are dull because I've been working in CMYK. I switched to RBG, and worked in that format for a few days. Once I realized the format has to be in CMYK for print, I switched back to CMYK, and most of the elements I created while working in RBG have disappeared. They just don't show up in CMYK, depite using the same colour palate I've used thorughout. When I switch back to RBG, these elements reappear. If anyone knows how to restore my work in CMYK, please help!

Report · Feb 25, 2023

Switching between RGB and CMYK has no affect on how things appear.

There must be something else going on.

But we don't have enough information or even visuals to know what's happening.

Report · Feb 25, 2023

Many RGB colors are (what is called) out of gamut of and cannot be directly reproduced in CMYK. This makes sense since all CMYK colors are achieved by a combination of screens of only four different color inks. This absolutely limits the range of colors that this system can reproduce. When you originally worked in the CMYK what you created was within then range of the process colors. When you worked with the RGB you were within a world of a lot more subtle and certainly brighter colors. Going back to CMYK loses the subtlety and brightness. It sounds like the colors you "lost" were simply a result of going back to a duller color system.

Report · Feb 25, 2023

Did those elements just blend in with other elements? They cannot disappear. Please show a screenshot with all elements on your page selected (CMD/CTRL + A).

Report · Feb 26, 2023

Thank you for this. I found when I hovered over the elements with my mouse
I could see that the frames and details were still there, with
their correct dimensions etc. They were there, they just didn't have any
colour. I just clicked on each, and filled the colour. It's corrected.
What is strange is that not everything disappeared when I switched from RBG
to CMYK.. I still had all my photographs and digital graphics. Also the
only elements missing were on the pages I'd been working on in the RBG
format, but not necessarily the elements I added while working in that
format. Anyway, it's corrected now. Thank you to everyone who responded.
I appreciate it!

Report · Feb 26, 2023

You still don't have to work in CMYK for print. But of course, you won't be able to print any colours that aren't available in CMYK so it might help you in designing. If it's a desktop printer (your own printer) it is rarely a good idea to work in CMYK - let us know the printer model and we can tell you.

Report · Feb 26, 2023

I switched to RBG, and worked in that format for a few days. Once I realized the format has to be in CMYK for print, I switched back to CMYK

Hi @Margot275559946p5p , Unlike Illustrator and Photoshop, InDesign doesn’t have a document color mode—you can have a mix of RGB, CMYK, and Lab colors within a document.

How are you switching color modes? There is the Transparency Blend Space, but that doesn’t actually change your colors—it just handles how colors in different modes are blended together and previewed when there is transparency on the page.

Report · Feb 26, 2023

Hi There,

Yes, I used 'transparency blend space'. But the elements were still there;
I found them when I hovered over the areas with my mouse. I just filled
the colour and it's all good now. As I mentioned in my last post, it's odd
that not everything disappeared. All my digital graphics and photographs
were still present. Anyway, I found an easy fix. Thank you for your help.