Proof Coloring

[panagiotisk79166360]

Hello there.

So I am making a document in InDesign CC 19 and I have a problem with Color Proofing. 

All my objects and files are already in CMYK and are in high quality PDF or PSD. Whenever though I turn on the Proof Colors , my colors become blank.

No Proof Colors is selectedProof Colors is selected

Here are my settings:

It's a quite big project, waiting for your response.

Thank you

[panagiotisk79166360]

Now that I tried to open it with Photoshop ( after I exported it as a PDF file for print), the color proofing is ok. 

Getting crazy over here.

[Derek Cross]

It's best to work in RGB and convert via PDF-X-4

[Dave Creamer of IDEAS]

Just to clarify Derek's post, PDF/X-4 won't technically convert RGB to CMYK in the PDF; it's meant for the printer to do a (hopefuly) color managed conversion. However, PDF/X-1a will convert RGB to CMYK, although it is not as desirable since transparency is affected too.

[Gusgsm]

"PDF/X-4 won't technically convert RGB to CMYK in the PDF; it's meant for the printer to do a (hopefuly) color managed conversion"

Beg your pardon, but PDF/X-4 can be absolutelly CMYK press-ready if you choose to make that conversion when exporting to PDF from InDesign. If you decide to to it so or not it's optional depending on your workflow. If you choose your colour profiles all right, it won't need any color management (meaning "any colour conversion"). Of course, good communication with the press house is esential.

[Dave Creamer of IDEAS]

You are right--I meant by default. 

[Dave Creamer of IDEAS]

Are you opening ID's PDF in Photoshop? You will be rasterizing the entire page.

Are you color settings set to Working CMYK (meaning your preferences)?

Have you checked the PDF color preview in Acrobat?

[panagiotisk79166360]

Hello thanks for your reply.

I opened it in Photoshop and Illustrator just to see the color proofing and it works great. I also opened it with PDF color preview in Acrobat and it looks good. I simply don't get it.

When I first started the file, I choose from the start the print option and placed all my files in CMYK.

Color setings are Document CMYK (U.S Web Coated  SWOP 2) and when I choose Proof Colors ( which automatically changes it to Working CMYK) colors are fading out.

But how is it possible when I choose proof color in Illustrator or Photoshop, my coloring pretty much remains the same?

[rob day]

If you want to soft proof to Document CMYK all you have to do is turn on Overprint/Separation Preview, that will soft proof  RGB images and color in your US Web Coated SWOP profile. Don’t use both Proof Colors with Document CMYK as the setup, and Overprint Preview.

Normally you would use Proof Colors to soft proof for some device other than document CMYK output, because Overprint or Separation Preview displays the color as document CMYK (SWOP in your case). If for some reason you want to use Proof Colors for the assigned profile device, use Custom with Device to Simulate set to your document’s CMYK profile:

[rob day]

Also, it might be worth noting that Overprint Preview is badly named because it implies that it will simply show the affect any colors set to overprint, but it actually shows both overprints, and the conversion of out-of-gamut color into the document’s CMYK space. Any native CMYK swatches or color don’t change with it on or off because the document’s CMYK profile handles the display of document CMYK.

So here I have an out-of-gamut green fill with a CMYK red fill on top set to Overprint. When I turn on Overprint I get both the red fill’s overprint preview, and a soft proof of the RGB green in the document CMYK space

Overprint Preview shows the expected output color.