Exporting jpeg in CMYK?

[user82573258]

All these years of using Photoshop and I don't ever recall having this problem before?

But when I go 'File / Export As / jpeg' it converts the image to RGB when exporting it.

I understand I can instead use 'Save As', but jpeg isn't listed unless I flatten the file first.

It just seems messy to have to flatten everything, then save it, and then undo the flattenning so that i dpn't accidentally overwrite the file.

Surely there is a better way?

[Kevin Stohlmeyer · Accepted solution]

Hi @user82573258 you can still use Save As to create a jpg. Go to Preferences/File Handling and check "Use Legacy Save As". The Export methods are for creating web-based images hence the conversion to RGB.

[user82573258]

I see! Thanks I'll try that.

The 'Legacy' label gives me the impression this feature will one day be removed altogether though?

[Kevin Stohlmeyer]

No, its just giving an option to keep doing it the way it was in the past.

The current reasoning is Save As should not be destructive (flattening) when saving unless the user wants it - so they made Save A Copy the default for "destructive" file types.

[D Fosse]

To be clear, the jpeg specification doesn't support layers. A jpeg is always a flattened copy from a layered original whichever way it's saved. That has always been the case. So the only difference is whether you make that copy from "Save As" or "Save A Copy". The result is exactly the same - a flattened copy.

Whenever a file has properties that are not supported in the target file format, it's a copy.

[jane-e]

The 'Legacy' label gives me the impression this feature will one day be removed altogether though?

By @user82573258

Then again, we still have the option to use the Legacy Channel Shortcuts from CS3 and earlier if we should choose to. 😊

Doing so would give you these legacy shortcuts:

You do not need to flatten your image first and can safely ignore that comment. Either change Preferences or use Save a Copy.

Jane

[user82573258]

I understand that a jpeg is flatted with no layers, but it feels messy to have to flatten a psd before exporting and then undo the flattening.

It's good that we can enable the legacy settings, but I just don't see the logic in this default behaviour 🤷‍:male_sign:

[user82573258]

Oh sorry I appear to have replied to the wrong comment... yet the genius design of the Adobe forums prevents me from deleting or editing my comment 🙃

[jane-e]

Oh sorry I appear to have replied to the wrong comment... yet the genius design of the Adobe forums prevents me from deleting or editing my comment 🙃
By @user82573258

Editing comments was being misused by spammers, but moderators can assist you. I that you replied to a commnent from me. Which comment did you mean to reply to?

Jane

[Nancy OShea]

RGB or sRGB is the standard color mode for JPG used on the web & screen. 

A better question is why would you use JPG for CMYK? 

CMYK is used by professional print services.  And they usually want a high quality print preset in a PDF file.

[NB, colourmanagement]

@user82573258 "

I understand I can instead use 'Save As', but jpeg isn't listed unless I flatten the file first.

It just seems messy to have to flatten everything, then save it, and then undo the flattening so that i dpn't accidentally overwrite the file.

Surely there is a better way?"

file > duplicate flatten, (convert to the required colourspace if needed), resize as appropriate sharpen -  save as Jpeg. 

Archive the layered original 

I hope this helps
neil barstow, colourmanagement net - adobe forum volunteer - co-author: 'getting colour right'
google me "neil barstow colourmanagement" for lots of free articles on colour management