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madelinel446780
madelinel446780
Participant
September 22, 2019
Question

converting to cmyk - 'convert to profile' vs. 'color settings'

  • September 22, 2019
  • 1 reply
  • 8829 views

I am trying to understand how to convert from rgb to cmyk for printing in photoshop. I know that you can select image-->mode-->and then cmyk color. I also saw that you can select edit-->convert to profile and seemingly convert to cmyk that way as well. What does destination space mean? I also saw that you can go to edit-->color settings and also convert to cmyk through that?

 

Which one should be used to convert to cmyk for printing? Why would someone use 'convert to profile' over 'color settings' or vice versa?

 

Thanks!

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    1 reply

    D Fosse
    Community Expert
    D FosseCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    September 22, 2019

    Color Settings / working spaces are just defaults for new files and missing profiles. It has no effect on existing files.

     

    Convert to Profile is the way to do it. You need to know what specific CMYK profile to use - there's no such thing as a generic CMYK. A CMYK profile characterizes a specific print process, a certain press/paper/ink combination. Presses are calibrated to different standards around the world, and different inks are used. That's why we have a long list of CMYK profiles.

     

    You always need to ask the printer which profile to use. If you use the wrong profile you can get color shifts and a whole range of technical problems.

      madelinel446780
      madelinel446780Author
      Participant
      September 22, 2019
      Thank you! I know you are saying that Convert to Profile is the way to do it, but really there isn't a difference between converting in Color Settings (then clicking image-->mode-->cmyk color) and doing it in Convert to Profile, correct? I have tried using both methods to convert and seem to be getting the same result.
      Stephen Marsh
      Community Expert
      Stephen MarshCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      September 22, 2019
      Yes, if both use the same settings, the result is the same. The Image > Mode command was around long before Convert to Profile. Image > Mode uses the “locked in” colour settings, while Convert to Profile can change settings “on the fly” with live preview. For most conversions Image > Mode has been depreciated and Convert to Profile is recommended as it is more flexible. Image > Mode still has uses for “special use cases” which are generally based around channels.
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