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T
tansco
Participant
July 13, 2018
Question

Save As or Export As

  • July 13, 2018
  • 4 replies
  • 724 views

I converted an image from phone camera to CMYK using "convert to profile" in Photoshop. Then, how should I save the CMYK format image? The "save as" and "export as" (with the sRGB unticked) gave slightly different look. Which one is the correct method way to save?

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4 replies

Eugenio.NYC
Eugenio.NYC
Participating Frequently
July 13, 2018

Hi there,

In my opinion always is depend what do you want to do with the file, but generally speaking

Keep the file in RGB (like Derek says), if you want to place those files into InDesign or Illustrator place the files in RGB mode and from there you can convert an RGB or CMYK PDF.

But first we ned to know what do you do with your images?

Do you print?

Do you save for web?

Do you place the images in to InDesign or Illustrator?

Regards

Eugenio

T
tanscoAuthor
Participant
July 13, 2018

Thank you everyone for responding to my post. I converted my image to CMYK, so that I could get it to the print shop for banner printing. I used Adobe Illustrator designing the banner. Am I doing it right?

D Fosse
Community Expert
D FosseCommunity Expert
Community Expert
July 14, 2018

I read some articles, and now I am quite confused. First in Illustrator, I create new document and do some changes in the more settings (the profile and size).

Here is the confusing part: I always convert my image to "U.S. Web Coated (SWOP) V2" using Photoshop with "convert to profile" before importing to Illustrator. Is this incorrect?

Could you guys please provide me the correct working process to start designing? What do you guys normally do at the beginning of designing process?


Assuming by "banner" you mean a large wall-sized print, I'd strongly recommend you get a decent camera instead of using a phone...

If the printer wants CMYK, always ask which one. US Web Coated SWOP may not be the right one. Don't ask the customer relations people, they usually have no clue, ask the people who will actually print it.

For this type of work the application of choice is InDesign, not Illustrator. You can place RGB images in ID and export a press-ready CMYK PDF to any printer specification.

Derek Cross
Community Expert
Derek CrossCommunity Expert
Community Expert
July 13, 2018

Stay in the color mode, RBG, there's no point in converting to CMYK, you loose about a third of your color information.

If you're printing to a high end inkjet printer (such as a one with CMYKplus) you use the printer's software to convert to CMYK+ and you'll get a much wider gamut. For commercial litho printing, where you might place the image in an InDesign document, you use (unless you've been given a different spec by your printer) a PDF and select PDF/X-4 to do the conversion from RGB to CMYK.

T
Test Screen Name
Legend
July 13, 2018

The key thing is knowing which CMYK to convert to. There are many different ones.

Once you've converted, use Save, not Export. Adobe don’t tell you this but Export is only for web graphics - so it will remove resolution and convert back to RGB...

Mylenium
Mylenium
Legend
July 13, 2018

With your crooked workflow it doesn't matter. Any conversion to CMYK first and foremost requires to work with proper color management, which is clearly not the case with what you do. You have to educate yourself about this stuff. Just arbitrarily mangling your images through a profile conversion doesn't constitute CM. Hence the color shifts. No quick fixes here, you really have to read up.

Mylenium

T
tanscoAuthor
Participant
July 13, 2018

I educated myself with a Youtube video. What is the proper color management? Any helpful links for me to read?

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