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Djuna_A_
Djuna_A_
Known Participant
July 2, 2017
Answered

Converting to CMYK doesn't change screen color

  • July 2, 2017
  • 2 replies
  • 8001 views

Hi there,

I am illustrating a book, and the publisher has requested PSD files in CMYK.  My original files are TIF.  When I convert from RGB to CMYK either as a TIF or PSD file, I don't see the typical color change on my screen, which is too good to be true.  Any ideas? 

Thanks!

    This topic has been closed for replies.
    Correct answer gener7

    Maybe the colors are already in the CMYK range despite being RGB mode.

    "Proofing" is one way to know.

    First go to View > Proof Setup and select "Working CMYK" which in my case is US Web Coated Swop v 2

    If he has a custom profile for his press, select that in Proof Setup after you load it.

    Then with your RGB Image open, Ctrl or Cmd Y to simulate what it looks like when you convert to CMYK.

    If you are still in doubt, see a print shop about having a proof copy made.

    2 replies

    c.pfaffenbichler
    Community Expert
    c.pfaffenbichlerCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    July 3, 2017

    Just to make sure: Did the printer tell you the actually printed CMYK Color Space?

    What was the RGB images’ original Color Space?

    Do the RGB images feature highly saturated colors at all?

    Djuna_A_
    Djuna_A_Author
    Known Participant
    July 4, 2017

    No, they didn't.  I don't know what Color Space is.  The colors are moderately saturated.  Sometimes in CMYK, I see areas of "peeling," which I assume are the saturated areas...

    gener7
    Community Expert
    gener7Community Expert
    Community Expert
    July 9, 2017

    Thanks, Gener7.

    Yes, my  monitor is sRGB.  I only see the real CMYK colors when I mail files to the author.

    No way I am going to learn all this...

    So we've asked the publisher to do the CMYK editing. I will send them RGB printouts for reference. I was thinking that I'd flatten all the layers in each file for their convenience, but now I wonder if I should keep the layers.  Will having access to the layers facilitate their editing?


    That's what I'm thinking. Let the publisher/printer handle the conversion to CMYK. It's quite common.

    No layers. Just flatten and send as a tiff.  A flattened tiff can be read by most any software when the goal is print.

    Suggested settings:

    gener7
    Community Expert
    gener7Community ExpertCorrect answer
    Community Expert
    July 2, 2017

    Maybe the colors are already in the CMYK range despite being RGB mode.

    "Proofing" is one way to know.

    First go to View > Proof Setup and select "Working CMYK" which in my case is US Web Coated Swop v 2

    If he has a custom profile for his press, select that in Proof Setup after you load it.

    Then with your RGB Image open, Ctrl or Cmd Y to simulate what it looks like when you convert to CMYK.

    If you are still in doubt, see a print shop about having a proof copy made.

    Djuna_A_
    Djuna_A_Author
    Known Participant
    July 3, 2017

    Thank you thank you!

    Djuna_A_
    Djuna_A_Author
    Known Participant
    July 3, 2017

    it seems that that function is disabled once the file is converted to a specific profile, is that right? (Edit > Convert to Profile > Japan Color 2001 Coated)

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