Convert RGB ID Document to CMYK

When I create a document I convert the images to CMYK in PS before I place them. However, I have a multi-page CS ID document for printing provided by a customer that is in good order except that the photos are RGB. I need to create a high res CMYK PDF. What is the best way to proceed? I see there is an option "convert to destination" in ID when you are creating the PDF. I could make the destination "Document CMYK - U.S. Web Coated." Or I could create an RGB PDF and then convert it using Pitstop. Is there another option I should be looking at?

I have always used InDesign´s Export and it´s option to convert colors to particular destination profile.
Of course you can convert colors afterwards too, but there´s other issues like PDF version optimization that you have to take care if you use some other method. I always try to make print-ready PDF directly from InDesign.
And I usually use option Convert To Destination (Preserve Numbers), with that option InDesign keeps colors (CMYK values) of native indesign objects untouched. Convert To Destination (without Preserve Numbers) may cause unwanted color convertions to native vector graphics or texts.

Similar Messages

Convert RGB to CMYK in AI

Hi, my printing house said I sent him a RGB file and he needs CMYK for printing.
(1) How can I know the original file is RBG color mode?
(2) How to convert RGB ai file to CMYK ai file?
Thanks a lot!!!

lhcheng,
1) File>Document Color Mode.
2) Tick CMYK instead of RGB.
You should be aware that the RGB and CMYK colours are fundamentally different, so most likely you will have to create at least some colours anew, and you will have to accept certain inevitable changes.
Many RGB colours will be changed to rather muddy and messy CMYK colours, as you can see in the Color palette when selecting CMYK.
And many bright colours will become less so.

Rich black when converting RGB to CMYK

I'm working in an older version of PhotoShop (7) but any help on the topic would definitely help.
My problem is that I am converting RGB native images to CMYK and my Key (Black) comes out rich, contains equal levels of CMY and K, instead of true black, only k.
Currently my way around this is to do the standard convert to profile CMYK and with my path selected to the section I would like to be true black simply turn off all CM and Y channels and re-save the image but this is a little labor intensive.
Is there a way that I can go straight from RGB to CMYK and achieve true black without alteration?

Yes, there is. You can use a CMYK setup or ICC CMYK profile that uses Maximum black generation. Unfortunately, that will almost always hose anything photographic in your image.
Is it typographical elements that are becoming four color? If so, then they should be done in a page layout program where they can be rasterized separately from the photographic image. If it is type you're worried about, is it large type or small? If you have to set large type in Ps, then it's probably fine to let it run four color.
If it were me and I had to do everything in Ps, I would probably make two conversions of the file to CMYK - one with a standard black generation and one with Max K. I would then select the black you want from the max K version and paste into the K channel of the "normal" document, and then use that as a selection to delete from the other three channels.
A third way is to do type in Ps and leave the type as a vector type layer, then save the file out as a Photoshop PDF, which is then placed in a layout app. or just sent to the printer through his RIP. That should work too, but there are too many places for things to wrong for my taste.

Converting RGB PDF to CMYK PDF

I'm looking for a way to convert RGB PDF's to CMYK PDF for printing purposes. The RGB PDF is created by an online Flash application and I'm hoping to convert the file using Acrobat via Command line. I have tried a couple of programs e.g. PStill and PDFcreator but these just don't do the job. It's important to use the command line due to the fact that the conversion must be done automatically on a dedicated server.
Important to know is that the PDF consists of texts and images and gradients. This is a RGB example which I would like to convert. This is the CMYK output I have created manually.
Other solutions next to Acrobat are also welcome as long as they do the job

In your original message you say "the conversion must be done automatically on a dedicated server" - this implies that Acrobat is being used outside the EULA, which strictly forbids installation as a server process. Acrobat is licensed for individual interactive desktop use by one person, no other deployments are allowed.
You cannot access Acrobat's editing and batch-processing functions from the commandline at all. Adobe has server-based solutions for PDF generation (LiveCycle ES3) but they are extremely expensive and would need work to get them to do what you're looking for. Realistically, your Flash developer needs to recode his app to output in CMYK or you will need third-party software on the server to re-fry the files. I don't know of any off-the-shelf commandline tools which can perform color conversion on existing PDFs.

Convert RGB black to CMYK black

PHOTOSHOP CS5
I have a complex black-ink line drawing in large precentages of C, M, Y, & K. I'd like to somehow SELECT ALL PIXELS and zero out all but 100% K.
I cannot figure out how to select all (nonbackground) pixels (no, Select>All does not accomplish) and then make them all 100%K, can you help?

Yes, I need to end up CMYK. As you can see by my sample Photoshop converts RGB to crazy-high CMYK percentages. All I want these lines and text to be is 100% K.

Problem when converting RGB to CMYK in illustrator CC

Today I realized I had my document in RBG mode rather than CMYK. I am drawing die lines over a CMYK TIFF file placed in the document. When I try to convert my illustrator document color mode from RGB to CMYK everything in the document goes white - including the CMYK TIFF file that I have placed in it.
I can highlight the paths and see them only when they are highlighted but Illustrator will not allow me to select a new color for them.
In older versions of Illustrator I have had it would seamlessly convert to CMYK without changing everything to white.
I tried creating a new document with CMYK color mode and pasting the items in and it still goes all white.
In illustrator CS3 it converts just fine from RGB to CMYK with no image loss and no color loss on my dieline paths. but because my version of CS3 is acting crazy it won't allow me to save files from it
any help appreciated!!
thank you so much

hi monika!
no they are just plain old paths in black. and the TIFF file is just a regular TIFF file that is being placed on the bottom layer.
thanks for any help!!

ICC profile to convert RGB to CMYK,   jpeg is ok, png format have a problem

When I use ICC profile to convert RGB to CMYK, jpeg format is ok, but png format have a problem.the color is lossy.
It means, the png file color is shallow than jpeg file after convert.Could anybody help me?
thanks
source code
import java.awt.image.BufferedImage;
import java.io.File;
import java.io.FileNotFoundException;
import java.io.FileOutputStream;
import java.io.IOException;
import java.io.OutputStream;
import java.util.Iterator;
import javax.imageio.IIOImage;
import javax.imageio.ImageIO;
import javax.imageio.ImageTypeSpecifier;
import javax.imageio.ImageWriteParam;
import javax.imageio.ImageWriter;
import javax.imageio.metadata.IIOMetadata;
import javax.imageio.metadata.IIOMetadataNode;
import javax.imageio.stream.ImageOutputStream;
import org.w3c.dom.Node;
import com.sun.image.codec.jpeg.ImageFormatException;
import com.sun.image.codec.jpeg.JPEGCodec;
import com.sun.image.codec.jpeg.JPEGEncodeParam;
import com.sun.image.codec.jpeg.JPEGImageEncoder;
public class TestImage {
     public static void main(String args[]) throws ImageFormatException, IOException{
          BufferedImage readImage = null;
          try {
              readImage = ImageIO.read(new File("C:\\TEST.jpg"));
          } catch (Exception e) {
              e.printStackTrace();
              readImage = null;
          readImage = CMYKProfile.getInstance().doChColor(readImage);
          writeImage(readImage, "C:\\TEST_after_.jpg", 1.0f);
    protected static String getSuffix(String filename) {
        int i = filename.lastIndexOf('.');
        if(i>0 && i<filename.length()-1) {
            return filename.substring(i+1).toLowerCase();
        return "";
    protected static void writeImage(BufferedImage image, String filename, float quality) {
        Iterator writers = ImageIO.getImageWritersBySuffix(getSuffix(filename));
        System.out.println("filename�F"+filename);
        if (writers.hasNext()) {
            ImageWriter writer = (ImageWriter)writers.next();
            try {
                ImageOutputStream stream
                    = ImageIO.createImageOutputStream(new File(filename));
                writer.setOutput(stream);
                ImageWriteParam param = writer.getDefaultWriteParam();
                if (param.canWriteCompressed()) {
                    param.setCompressionMode(ImageWriteParam.MODE_EXPLICIT);//NO COMPRESS
                    param.setCompressionQuality(quality);
                } else {
                    System.out.println("Compression is not supported.");
                IIOMetadata metadata = null;
                if(getSuffix(filename).equals("png") || getSuffix(filename).equals("PNG")){
                     ImageTypeSpecifier imageTypeSpecifier = new ImageTypeSpecifier(image);
                     metadata = writer.getDefaultImageMetadata(imageTypeSpecifier, param);
                        String sFormat = "javax_imageio_png_1.0";
                        Node node = metadata.getAsTree(sFormat);
                        IIOMetadataNode gammaNode = new IIOMetadataNode("gAMA");
                        String sGamma = "55556";
                        gammaNode.setAttribute("value", sGamma);
                        node.appendChild(gammaNode);
                        metadata.setFromTree(sFormat, node);
                writer.write(null, new IIOImage(image, null, metadata), param);
                writer.dispose();
                return;
            } catch (IOException ex) {
                ex.printStackTrace();
}

Hi,
I am having similar problems. I have read somewhere that png format can not handle CMYK colorspace anyway, which I find odd (and plainly stupid IM(NS)HO) which would mean that converting to RGB and therefore using profiles is mandatory.
May be you should check if the internal format of the png files claims it is RGB or CMYK (using ImageMagick's "identify" command for example).
HTH
JG

Is there as easy way of batch converting RGB files to CMYK in OS Lion?

Is there as easy way of batch converting RGB files to CMYK in OS Lion?
I was using a photoshop droplet on my desktop but this no longer works due to the fact it requires rosetta support.
Thx P

From another forum after googling:
Your computer came with everything you need, because ColorSync can do that and Apple provided AppleScripts for it. Go to your Applications folder and look for the AppleScript folder. Double click on the 'Example Scripts' alias and then open the ColorSync scripts. Drag and drop your images on the the 'Match to CMYK' script.
You can open AppleScript Editor from Launchpad (it's in Utilities). Go to Help to Open Example Scripts Folder. In the ColorSync folder is a Match application. Double click to make it run.
Now you know what it does you may need to change it for batch conversion.
Go to AppleScript Editor and open what you've just found. And I'm sorry that's as far as my knowledge goes, hope some one can fill in the gaps.
Or you may just want to look at something like Graphic Converter?
Regards,
Colin R.

Hi, cannot convert RGB to CMYK...

I cannot find such an option in the Elements? Can anyone help how can I convert the files to CMYK from RGB using this tool...
Thanks
ansu

Elements can't convert RGB to CMYK. You'd need the full Photoshop.
Otherwise you can google 'RGB to CMYK' conversion to find online or software tools that can do that.
The real question is why do you need CMYK. If it's a request from a printer shop, it's their job and responsibility to do the conversion, since such a conversion can only be properly done when you know the specificity of your printing tools, inks and papers.

Color converting RGB to CMYK mode???

Is it possible to convert RGB to CMYK color mode in Elements 10?

No, not really. If you google around, Richard Lynch had a sort of workaround for this for very early versions of PSE that could possibly be adapted for current use, but a proper CMYK conversion is much more complex, even with the proper tools, than going from sRGB to Adobe RGB, for example.
If you have a mac you can do a mode conversion in Preview, but you may not like what you get from the print shop using that method.

Converting RGB to CMYK color

Hi All,
I have few BASIC Questions on converting RGB to CMYK in Photoshop and Illustrator. Hope could get some professional insights here.
1, Are all the DTG printers set only in CMYK color mode ?
2, If there is no difference after viewing RGB image with 'Gamaut Warning' (Photoshop), Does that mean I'll have the exact print result as monitor view ?
and Basically no need for CMYK conversion ?
3, Please list some the most effective way to convert RGB to CMYK, and keep the final CMYK color result as close as the RGB.
4, when I simply convert one RGB image to CMYK color, why Ps/AI don't allow me to save as PNG file ?
( I save the file as PDF, but I cannot edit this PDF using apple preview app )
5, compare Photoshop to Illustrator, which one result better final CMYK color image ?

Thanks for the detailed reply. Sure clear some of the doubts.
I just start to draw/design in Photoshop and illustrator, I save my files most as PNG, for a transparent background.
After I went to officework do the poster printing, I found the color of my print image are not as vivid as Mac preview.
To be precise, the poster I printed looks like has a very thin grey layer, it is not much noticeable, but it indeed lost some vivid color. As I want to print out my works and keep color as close exact as Mac preview, here is the issue of coverting RGB CMYK.
Please feel free to add for below:
1, Should I set color space in CMYK before drawing in PS/AI
2, in PS, I convert profile from PNG file to CMYK save as psd file, that psd file preview exactly same as PNG.
But when saved as PDF, the file preview a bit grey. Can someone explain this?
3, Now im thinking, since CMYK is all about printers, it really should be the profession in printing shop who shall check my image, and edit/convert to the right color space to fit their printers.

Converting RGB to CMYK without flattening

So I made a big mistake and designed something for a client in RGB format Theres only 2 layers out of 14 with colour so how do I go about changing the whole document to CMYK without flattening the document? Or are there any other alternatives?
Thanks

When you choose Image > Mode and check CMYK you will be presented with this optioin:
Having written that, I suggest you check with your client or client's lithographer. He may prefer to do the RGB-to-CMYK conversion himself so that it accommodates his print profile,

Convert rgb to cmyk in bridge

I am working on a MAC & Photoshop CS2. I
need a how-to action for converting RGB
to CMYK & how to image process it in Bridge.
Many thanks.

If you create an RGB>CMYK action in Photoshop you can easily pick images in Bridge and call up a Batch operation from within Bridge...but it's Photoshop doing the work cause Bridge ain't an image processor (as others have said).

Script to convert RGB values to CMYK values

I want a script that can help me convert RGB value to CMYK values.
I've seen this thread which explains a script to round up and down:
http://forums.adobe.com/thread/1079041
but is there a script that i can actually define lets say the colour is yellow and in RGB it looks ok because its in RGB mode so you change it to CMYK and you have 6% - 9% cyan and you only want yellow
is there a script out there that i can say
if
cyan = 6%
yellow = 80%
magenta = 0%
black = 0%
then change to
cyan = 0%
yellow = 80&
mangenta = 0%
black = 0%
I don't mind writting the code for each colour that needs to be converted as it would only need defining once but how would i make this script?
any clues?

Hi Carlos,
I've got a bit further with applescript as i've used it a little but i've got an error this is my code so far:
tell application "Adobe Illustrator"
          if exists color is equal to "C=0 M=0 Y=0 K=90" then
                    set color to "C=0 M=0 Y=0 K=100"
          end if
end tell
The error i'm getting is "can't get color"
the color is there however i believe i must not be using the correct variable any clues?

Converting RGB to CMYK for print causes darkening and loss of detail on page.

I work in CS5 to create illustrations in a very broad range of colors. I use filters and adjustment layers to achieve the desired effects, so my images feature gradients and high contrast design. I usually would work only for the web, so I never had a need to convert my images into a CMYK workspace. I have started making prints of some of my work, and I have noticed that I am losing not only detail, but vibrancy as well. A lot of the darker areas are smudging together, and some of the areas with light contrasted against dark look less intelligible than when I created it on screen.
My first attempt at printing was at a Staples, which could be part of the problem. I had TIFF and JPEG files saved as CMYK. The TIFF files looked awful, but the JPEG had slightly more clarity in the print. One of my TIFF files displayed on the Staples computer as being completely stretched out and grayscale, though it looked fine on my own device.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated, as I am attempting to learn all that I can about this subject. Thanks!

DOn't bither with CMYK for any form if " home printing". Their printers don't work any different from your own inkjet and exoect images to directly come from digital cameras etc. And are calibrated accordingly. Otherwise you have a lot of reading to do on color management, color calibration, gamut etc.
Mylenium

Convert RGB ID Document to CMYK

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