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Digu6220
Participant
August 13, 2018
Answered

Can't preview CMYK colors?

  • August 13, 2018
  • 2 replies
  • 5923 views

I feel like an idiot, but I've tried so many things and can't find any answers online. Maybe I'm just using all the wrong keywords. I'm using Photoshop CC 2018.

I have a file that I designed in RGB, and then converted to CMYK. When I converted the color profile, none of the colors in the image changed — but when I export the image, it uploads with completely skewed colors. I understand that I'm using colors that aren't available in CMYK, but I can't adjust my design unless I can actually SEE what it looks like in CMYK while I work (rather than guessing, exporting, and repeating until it looks right.) I've converted files from RGB to CMYK before and the colors usually change in my display. I can't figure out why it's still previewing non-CMYK colors even when I'm using a CMYK color profile.

Things I've tried (which didn't help):

  • restarting Photoshop
  • converting back to RGB and then back to CMYK
  • creating a new document with the same colors and converting that back and forth
  • resetting my workspace

Thanks ahead of time for any help!

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer rob day

but when I export the image, it uploads with completely skewed colors.

By upload do you mean you are viewing in a browser? What OS and browser—not all browsers or apps will correctly color manage CMYK.

2 replies

rob day
Community Expert
rob dayCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
Community Expert
August 13, 2018

but when I export the image, it uploads with completely skewed colors.

By upload do you mean you are viewing in a browser? What OS and browser—not all browsers or apps will correctly color manage CMYK.

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Digu6220Author
Participant
August 13, 2018

My first response to this was to clarify that I'm not concerned about the upload, I'm concerned about seeing CMYK-capable colors in my software, but your response made me realize that I was assuming that the color changes in my social media uploads were somehow "correct" CMYK colors. I grabbed a color I knew wasn't available in CMYK, lime green, and added it to my image — and realized that it IS displaying my colors in CMYK in my software after all. Now I definitely feel dumb, haha. Thank you for solving my problem, even in a roundabout way.

rob day
Community Expert
rob dayCommunity Expert
Community Expert
August 13, 2018

Right, any social media sites or apps would have potential color management problems and would not likely soft proof CMYK correctly. How is the printing being done? Are you delivering to an online printer? How are you deciding on what CMYK destination profile to use—has the printer suggested one?

Mike_Gondek10189183
Community Expert
Mike_Gondek10189183Community Expert
Community Expert
August 13, 2018

Can we please see your export settings & your edit >> assign profile settings. We do not even know what file format you are exporting to, so you question is lacking critical information that we need to be able to respond.

Do nto go back and forth between RGB & CMYK, you want to do that only once to avoid throwing out color detail.

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Digu6220Author
Participant
August 13, 2018

Here's my edit >> assign profile screen. I'm just saving out as a JPG for the export:

I have seen absolutely no change when switching between the color profiles, and would not do it repeatedly if I weren't trying to identify a problem.

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