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hare-in-moon
Known Participant
May 16, 2025
Answered

New art boxes default to RGB when document intent is set to 'print'

  • May 16, 2025
  • 4 replies
  • 2458 views

I haven't seen this before and it's driving me mad. Indesign 20.3.1 on Mac Mini 2020 M1 15.4.1

'Document Settings: Intent' is set to 'Print' 
In the attached screenshot the underlying image (map) is CMYK. It was placed without a box; when I stroked the box black it defaulted to RGB, not CMYK. I changed the stroke to CMYK.
I checked 'Intent: Print' again, then created a new box: it filled RGB black.
So far every new box is defaulting to RGB. 

What is going on?  Is there a setting somewhere I've missed?
With respect I don't want to trust the RIP or whatever to translate on the fly. This is a print job, how do I make RGB go away?

Correct answer Mike Witherell

Hi Hareinmoon,

I'm not sure, but you might try:

With no documents open, click on Edit > Transparency Blend Space and choose CMYK.

Maybe as a further test, start up a new "Print Intent" document from the Print section of new document dialog window to see if you are getting the same outcome.

I would probably have to examine your document and map graphic to understand more. Care to share it?

4 replies

Robert at ID-Tasker
Robert at ID-Tasker
Legend
May 16, 2025

@hare-in-moon

 

There was a lengthy thread about this "problem" - someone created two documents and was copying objects - and colors were slightly different in each document. 

 

Once you create document for "Web" - colors will be RGB - especially Black - and there is no way to make it CMYK - without creating a new document.

 

Same with "print" - colors will be CMYK but you can't change Black to RGB. 

 

BobLevine
Community Expert
BobLevineCommunity Expert
Community Expert
May 16, 2025

Be aware that regardless of anything else, "intent" is meaningless here. All it does is give you different choices for document size and a few other preferences. It has absolutely nothing to do with color modes.

 

Additionally, I would discourage you from using CMYK and if it's absolutely necessary, convert to CMYK when you output the file.

rob day
Community Expert
rob dayCommunity Expert
Community Expert
May 16, 2025

You have to watch out for the default [Black] Swatch which is not etitable. If the job is going to an offset press and the Intent is not set to Print, there is the rick of Black text outputting as 4-color and the associated registration problems.

BobLevine
Community Expert
BobLevineCommunity Expert
Community Expert
May 16, 2025

Forgot all about that! Thanks.

rob day
Community Expert
rob dayCommunity Expert
Community Expert
May 16, 2025

Hi @hare-in-moon , The initial fill color is sticky, so if you want to set the default fiil to a CMYK color or Swatch, set the Color panel with nothing selected. InDesign documents set to either Intent can contain a mix of color spaces, CMYK, RGB, Lab, or HSB

 

 

Thus would set the default file color to my CMYK Swatch named Gray70

 

 

 

 

H
hare-in-moonAuthor
Known Participant
May 16, 2025

Hi Rob, that's interesting.
I've never deliberately set a default fill for any of the artwork boxes; in the past (as far as I can recall) they open with 'no fill, no stroke' and that's fine for my purposes as they're for placed art. 
I've just created a new 'Rectangular Frame' which as I expected opened no fill, no stroke but with it selected the Colour menu for it is RGB, not CMYK. 



Mike Witherell
Community Expert
Mike WitherellCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
Community Expert
May 16, 2025

Hi Hareinmoon,

I'm not sure, but you might try:

With no documents open, click on Edit > Transparency Blend Space and choose CMYK.

Maybe as a further test, start up a new "Print Intent" document from the Print section of new document dialog window to see if you are getting the same outcome.

I would probably have to examine your document and map graphic to understand more. Care to share it?

Mike Witherell
H
hare-in-moonAuthor
Known Participant
May 16, 2025

Hi Mike, with no document open 'Transparency Blend Space' was already set to CMYK. 
Ok, that is interesting. I restarted indd and followed your suggestion: created a new 'Print Intent' document and Lo! the new 'rectangle frame' and 'rectangle tool' boxes are showing CMYK as colour mode. So there's something going on in my existing document. I will investigate further.

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