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chloeaz
Participant
October 9, 2019
Question

Using Color Picker In CMYK Doc Results In Darker Colors On Canvas

  • October 9, 2019
  • 2 replies
  • 391 views

Overview before I describe the problem:

 

  • I use Photoshop CC v 20.0.6 on a Mac desktop.
  • I've been working exclusively in RGB until recently.
  • The issue only happens in a CMYK doc.
  • This issue persists even in a brand new document.
  • It happens whether I'm using the Pencil tool or the Brush tool.
  • The Eye Dropper is set to one pixel.
  • I tried resetting Photoshop Preferences & rebooting PS but this did not resolve it.
  • Doc settings: 300ppi / CMYK Color / 8 bit / US Web Coated (SWOP) v2

 

Description of the problem:

 

  1. I use the Color Picker to choose a color.
  2. I draw using the Pencil or Brush.
  3. The color appears darker on the canvas.
  4. I confirm by reopening the Color Picker. The color I chose is still there, exactly where I selected it.
  5. I use the eyedropper on the canvas where I drew.
  6. The color in the Color Picker shifts significantly down and to the left, to a darker color.

 

As an example, I might pick a bright green (C=57 Y=0 M=100 K=0, RGB = 4dff00) in the Color Picker, hit OK, draw with a Pencil, and the color is considerably darker. I open the Color Picker again and click in the very center of the are of color on the canvas and I get the result in the Color Picker showing the same CMYK but an RGB of 7bc143. Does this mean I'm picking a CMYK color in the Picker but seeing an RGB equivalent on the canvas? I'm so confused!

 

Potentially revelant info:

 

  • If I select a saved Swatch, the color stays true to the selection.
  • The first time I open a document and use the Color Picker and draw, the color stays true or nearly identical to the color I picked. The second time (and every time thereafter) the color changes significantly from what I picked, as described above.

 

Help, please?

 

I've searched pretty intensely and can't find anything current with a solution that deals with this situation. Is this a peculiarity of CMYK in Photoshop that I'm not aware of? Regardless, I very much appreciate any help you can give!

This topic has been closed for replies.

2 replies

D Fosse
Community Expert
D FosseCommunity Expert
Community Expert
October 9, 2019

4dff00 equals 77-255-0, which is far out of gamut for any CMYK profile. It can't be reproduced in CMYK, not by a long shot. What you get is the closest reproducible color.

 

In addition, you should be aware that 4dff00 will produce different colors according to which RGB color space you put those numbers into. People think hex numbers are specific, but they aren't. It's one color in sRGB, another in Adobe RGB etc. Just like standard RGB numbers.

 

The color picker reads document numbers according to the document's embedded profile. But for any roundtripping, the working spaces apply. So if this was a borderline case, it would matter what your working RGB was set to. In this case it doesn't since it's outside regardless.

Derek Cross
Community Expert
Derek CrossCommunity Expert
Community Expert
October 9, 2019

Many RGB colors, particularly bright greens and bright oranges cannot be reproduced in CMYK color mode and appear duller. You  can use a Pantone spot color to overcome this (if you have the budget for the extra printing cost).

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