Question Color Management Policies Indesign

[pascalt70848740]

I think this wast´t a topic already. I have three questions conserning the Color Management Policies in Indesign.

Given that the color profile from a JPG placed into an Indesign dokument is different than the profile in the color settings:

- convert to working Space: The profile stays attached to the JPG

- preserve embedded profiles: The profile stays attached to the JPG

- off: The JPG profile is converted to the working space

- CMYK, Preserve numbers (ignore linked profiles): The JPG profile is converted to the working space

1.) Shouldn`t the profile under "convert to working space" be also converted?

2.) We have three, in case of CMYK, four different options, but only two different outcomes. What`s the difference between them?

3.) When I check "ask when pasting" I don´t get a dialog when I drag and drop JPGs into Indesign. I thought that´s what it´s for.

Thanks for your help.

[Steve Werner]

I'm hoping @rob day will see this message. He's our resident color management expert.

[rob day · Accepted solution]

Hi @pascalt70848740 , InDesign can’t perform color conversions on placed images—you could force a color conversion on a PDF Export via the Output tab by setting a Destination profile.

There are cases where ID will ignore an embedded profile, but in that case the InDesign document’s profile is assigned to the image—there’s no conversion. The LinkInfo panel will list the profile as either Document RGB or Document CMYK indicating that the InDesign document’s assigned profile has been assigned to the placed image. You also can assign (not convert to) profiles to placed images via Object>Color image Settigs...

If the Policy is set to Off, the InDesign document gets no profile assignment, and all placed objects will have their embedded profiles ignored. InDesign’s color management cascades, so if the image has no embedded profile, the ID document’s profile is assigned, if there is no document assignment, the current Color Settings’ Working Space profile is assigned.

If the policy is set to Preserve Embedded, the InDesign document gets the Color Settings Working Space assigned on creation, and all placed images keep their embedded profiles, which could be anything.

The CMYK policy can be Preserve Numbers (Ignore Linked Profiles), in that case the InDesign document gets the CMYK Working space assigned and all placed CMYK objects have their profiles ignored—they are listed as Document CMYK. This is usefull when you want to prevent CMYK-to-CMYK conversions on an Export to PDF

The Convert to Working Space policy only applies to native InDesign colors and swatches, and will convert the native colors to the Color Settings’ Working space (what ever that happens to be) everytime the document is opened.

Keep in mind the policies are saved with the document on creation—you would have to use the Color Settings Ask When Opening check box in order to change an existing document’s policies.

[Steve Werner]

Thanks, Rob, an expert answer to a color question, as usual!

[pascalt70848740]

Thank you very much @rob day for this extensive answer. It helps me to understand color management much better.

[rob day]

Glad to hear that helped. Also on your cut and paste question, I think that also is limited to native colors.

[pascalt70848740]

Thanks, but the description specifically talks about "drag and drop data" (In german it´s "data" in english it might be objects or something similar, but basically meaning placing pictures) Also I don´t get a dialog when copy and pasting an object with native colors from one ID document to the other. I also tried sharing swatches via CC libraries but don´t get a dialog box.

[rob day · Accepted solution]

I get the warning on a drag and drop. Here the source fill color is 0|0|0|20 with PSO Uncoated v3 set as the source document’s CMYK profile assignment:

The Paste Profile Mismatch dialog allows me to Convert (preserve color appearance) or assign the destination document’s profile—Don’t Convert (preserve color numbers). This doesn’t happen with an image because images can’t be converted inside of InDesign—if the image has an embedded profile it would keep its profile and  its appearance would not change.

The converted color values

Also, if a swatch with the same name and values exists in the destination document, I don’t get the warning.

[pascalt70848740]

Ah, the last thing you wrote was the problem at my end. I just tried to drag and drop the default colors wich are already there as swatches. Thank you so much for your effords, hope someone else will find this helpful as well.

[pascalt70848740]

Hi @rob day , if you´re so kind, I have two follow up question:

1. When you open a document that has a different profile attached than the working space and your color management policies are put on "convert to working space" the native colors are converted (the numbers change) as you would expect.

But when you activate "Ask when opening" and you choose "convert" in the opening dialog  (so basically the same thing) the native colors aren´t changed. Why is that?

2. Also regarding the opening dialog: I dont understand the difference between "activate all profiles" and "keep assigned profiles" (actual phrasing might be different, I translated it from german) when I check the profiles in Idesign there´s no difference.

Thanks in advance.