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mahmood1369m
mahmood1369m
Participant
March 17, 2017
Question

mode [Will there be any issues in switching from RGB to CMYK during the design process?]

  • March 17, 2017
  • 4 replies
  • 408 views

hi. i want to know if i change the mode form rgb to cmyk in the middle of design make difference at the end for the the design that going to end up  on print? or i should just begin with the cmyk?

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    4 replies

    Derek Cross
    Community Expert
    Derek CrossCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    March 17, 2017

    As mentioned, always work in RGB, it gives you the greatest flexibility for your eventual output, which may include images for the web (RGB) and images to be placed in InDesign for commercial printing where you would probably export to PDF/X-4, or to a desk-top inkjet printer where the printers software might convert your RBG to CMYK+.

    c.pfaffenbichler
    Community Expert
    c.pfaffenbichlerCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    March 17, 2017
    As mentioned, always work in RGB

    As long as halftone images are the issue, in case of graphical designs (for which Photoshop would not seem to be the ideal application anyway) involving small black texts or linework working in CMYK can make sense.

    D Fosse
    Community Expert
    D FosseCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    March 17, 2017

    You need to know the final CMYK profile that will actually be used. You'll get this from the printer.

    If you don't know, stay in RGB until you do.

    The Image > Mode command misleads a lot of people into thinking that there actually is a generic "CMYK mode". There isn't. CMYK is always "device dependent", it describes the actual printing process - the specific press/paper/ink used.

    Image > Mode converts to whatever you have set up as working CMYK in color settings.

    The Photoshop default arbitrarily happens to be US Web Coated SWOP v2, just because there has to be some default. Web Coated SWOP is fairly consistent with common press conditions in the US and some other places, but in other parts of the world it will be totally wrong. You have to ask.

      mahmood1369m
      mahmood1369mAuthor
      Participant
      March 17, 2017

      i understand your answer but i don't think that we have such things in our country.the cmyk or rgb are the only things that are important to press operator. but anyway you did not answer my question . i want to know the harm of switching form rgb to cmyk during the design? it has or it has not?

      c.pfaffenbichler
      Community Expert
      c.pfaffenbichlerCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      March 17, 2017

      What kind of design? (Graphic, photographic images, texts, …)

      Why CMYK and which CMYK? (Working in CMYK entails certain risks, in particular if one does not fully appreciate the principal difference between additive and subtractive color models.)

      mahmood1369m
      mahmood1369mAuthor
      Participant
      March 17, 2017

      design for print.offset

      gener7
      Community Expert
      gener7Community Expert
      Community Expert
      March 17, 2017

      I'm going to repeat stock advice. Talk to your printer and ask how the files should be prepared.

      Some require Adobe RGB and they like to make the conversions, so you should work closely with them.

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