Sending the file in RGB for printing

[Acai06]

Hi,

I am making a book and soon going to send the file to a printing company.

Initially I thought that photos had to be in CMYK but the company said they prefer to have RGB and convert them into CMYK by themselves.

So I imported and placed all photos in RGB, and was about to send this file to the company, but then realised that texts and graphics are in CMYK in this file.

Should I change them also into RGB? If so, what is the best way to convert the text and graphic into RGB in one go?

Many thanks for advices in advance.

[James Gifford—NitroPress]

What file are you sending? If it's PDF — and with very few exceptions, that's all that should ever be sent to a printer — you can export the PDF using an RGB profile and the printer should have no problem processing it to CMYK as needed. You should ask them what RGB profile they prefer or require you to use for the export.

If you're sending the INDD file... I'd have several other questions.

[rob day]

You should ask them what RGB profile they prefer or require you to use for the export.

For offset printing you wouldn’t want to export to an RGB Destination, because all of the document color, including text, will convert to RGB, and there will be a registration problem on press with black or neutral RGB colors converting to 4-color.

PDF/X-4 exports allows a mix of RGB images, and document CMYK color. All RGB objects get a source profile embedded for color managed output conversions. The PDF document gets a CMYK output intent profile, so Document CMYK swatches and colors should output and print unchanged.

[Derek Cross]

That's fine. leave it as is, you can have both modes in an InDesign document.

[JonathanArias]

How do you know they want RBG for your .pdf?

if print digital (small quantities), RBG is the color profile I found most printers have asked from me.

if you are doing offset ( large print runs) CYMK is your color profile. And adobe indesign can handle outputting all of those RBG images. You don't need to convert/change color profiles in  linked photoshop files/images

a .pdf interactive exports to RBG ( you can export to this format is doing digital) and .pdf for print is the profile for exporting for offset printing 

I would recommend you figure out your print quantity, next ask your printer how they would like files from your. I have worked with larger printers who like a .pdf and the packaged files to troubleshoot things themselves if needed as long as it was not copy or layout related.

hopes this helps

cheers

[rob day]

the company said they prefer to have RGB and convert them into CMYK by themselves.

Will the printer tell you what CMYK profile they use to make the conversion? They should, and all you have to do is assign that profile to your InDesign document, Export using a PDF/X preset, and your InDesign colors and swatches should output unchanged.

You don’t want black or gray type or fine lines converting to 4-color CMYK, which will happen if you use RGB blacks.

[Willi Adelberger]

1. Send all images as RGB with color profile
   • in PSD, if transpaenzy is used
   • in JPG if it flattened
   • in PDF/PDP if text and image are combined
2. Send all vector graphics in CMYK as AI or PDF/X-4

I would prefer to send PDF/X-4 to the printer without color conversion.

If the printer require open INDD files, make a package and include the user dictionary into the INDD file. (That is a preset found in preferences.)

[Acai06 · Accepted solution]

Thank you everyone for already giving a lot of advice.

They need an open INDD file with all image linked to it, and they did not tell me any CMYK profile to use because they said they want it in RGB, so they can convert it to CMYK on their side.

It is a digital printing and not offset.

[Acai06 · Accepted solution]

Addition: the photos are all in TIFF file, as they said that's ok too.

[Acai06]

Sorry, the post is marked as solved but I still am confused which idea to follow. I meant to provide more info to narrow down the guidance.. could anybody help me what I should do in the end?

I'm trying to follow it but am totally new to the InDesign, digitally printing etc.

[rob day · Accepted solution]

They need an open INDD file with all image linked to it

You’ll need to package the ID file with its assets—File>Package.

[Jumpenjax]

Are printing this product or are they printing it on a large color copier?