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.

Similar Messages

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.

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

How do I find out if a photo in iPhoto is RGB or CMYK color? How do I change from RGB to CMYK?

How do I find out if a photo in iPhoto is RGB or CMYK color? How do I change from RGB to CMYK?

Open the file with Preview, type Command + i to bring up the Info pane and it's color mode and profile will be listed as shown here:
To change the color mode to CMYK you'll need a 3rd party image editor like Photoshotp or GraphicConverter to do it. Why do you need CMYK?
OT

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.

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).

Problem with color after converting RGB to CMYK

In RGB, I'm using #0000FF blue with some transparancy over a textured background. The result is a bright, textured blue. But when I convert to CMYK, the resulting blue is very dull. It improves somewhat if I changed the transparency to 0%, but then I lose the texture and it's still not as bright. Any help would be appreciated.
Here's some pictures to help understand:
RGB
CMYK

robr2 - there is generally speaking no way to print a blue color that is so saturated. When you convert to CMYK, Photoshop splits your bright saturated colours into only 4 inks. In the case of bright blue, what makes it a bright blue is mainly the fact that there is no yellow in it. The most saturated blue achievable in CMYK printing is right there, previewing loosely in front of your eyes.
CMYK on screen attempts to display what the printed version of the image will look like. It looks washed out? yes, thats because someone a long time ago made a decision that Photoshop would display CMYK colors with that gamut. And believe it or not, your judgment is surprisingly relative. None of that makes any sense? - welcome to the world of Color Management.

Automatically convert from RGB to CMYK color mode

I have over 900 barcodes provided in EPS format. When I open them in illustrator, they are coming in as an RGB color space file. I need them gray scale solid black in CMYK color mode. I can batch using actions to convert the artwork using "Edit Colors > Convert to Grayscale". However, the document color mode remains RGB. It appears, even after using "Convert to Grayscale", that the RGB color mode goofs up the placed .ai file in InDesign, treating it as RGB and seeing it as a mix of CMYK rather than the 100% black only it needs to be for proper sharp printing.
The actions pallet doesn't record converting the document color mode. Is there a way to automate that file conversion so they are all saved as CMYK rather than RGB, or am I stuck opening each of the 900+ files manually?

While recording the action, from the popup menu in the Actions Panel choose Insert Menu Item, then from the main menu choose File > Document Color Mode > CMYK color.

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!!

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.

How to make a script to convert RGB to CMYK as black 100%?

Hi guy
my customer sent me a book (144 pages) for print but all of them are RGB and Tiff, she scan them. there are on the page some texts and pictures. The text are R=30 G=30 B=30.I think if I can make a script I will do it very soon to black 100%, but unfortunately I dont know anything to make script
anybody can help me ?anybody can make it for me ?

We need to know some more information.
1. The book consists of 144 pages, and each page is in fact an RGB image in TIFF format.
    Correct?
    That means, the text is already rasterized, but with low resolution (no more than 300ppi).
    A very bad starting point, in my humble opinion. For offset printing this is not acceptable.
2. Is the printing process offset printing or by digital printing?
Nevertheless we may think about a conversion of these images into CMYK K-only (one plate
per page) .
a) Increase contrast until R=G=B=0 for text.
b) Convert each image into Grayscale, using a so-called Black-Ink-Profile, for instance
    Black-Ink-ISOCoated-v2-eci (can be explained later)
c) Make empty CMYK image, here for ISOCoated-v2-eci, and paste the Grayscale into the
    K-channel. All further handling happens as CMYK file for the process ISOCoated-v2-eci.
    Void plates CMY don't matter.
    Post #12 here:
    Re: Colour shift (from CMYK = 0 0 0 20 to Grayscale K = 22 !)
All this can be done by an action (I hope so...).
Much better would be a new start by InDesign with typographical text (K-only vector instead of raster)
with images in RGB or CMYK, taking into account the intended process.
Note: Photoshop can deliver vector text, if exported as PDF.
Best regards --Gernot Hoffmann

How to select matching RGB and CMYK colors

Starting from scratch for a client, how do I select matching RGB and CMYK pairs?
Say we find a nice red colour in RGB for screen use, how do I then find the correct CMYK for print? And what assumptions do I have to make when doing this, if any?
Would it be the same for the other way around (choose CMYK first for print and then find the RGB equivalent)
Is it more sensible to start with a Pantone colour and then find the RGB and CMYK equivalents for that?
Many thanks
RobbieG
(I'm working with Ai, Ps and Id CS6)

Yes. Better to start with Pantone reference books where you are viewing the color in a reflective environment. As already mentioned, color on the monitor can be deceptive. And, I think the others are basiclt saying that you should have everything calibrated and use color management policies in your apps. There is a way to find CMYK equivalents using Photoshop's color palette. Let's say you have an RGB Red as the foreground color in Photoshop. If you double click on the swatch you will get Photoshop's color palette which lists the RGB percentages, CMYK percentages, LAB percentages, and HEX web color for that Red. You can go further and select "Custom" and the Pasntone Spot color palette opens and gives you the closest Spot color value for that Red. This however, depends on your color settings. That's why I recommend you start with the Pantone swatch book and get the perecentages of CMYK from their formula guide which is set to industry standard color.

Having troubles converting RGB to CMYK

@Hi guys
I having massive issues with converting my business logo form RGB to CMYK. I need to place this logo on my business card ready for printing. I created the logo in RGB format to start of with, but it keeps coming out darker and abit grayscaled
once the conversation is set. Can anyone help me out with this issue, and if so, can you also provide the steps in how to resolve this issue for future references. Im using Adobe Photoshop CS5 for this execise. I can also provide the actual image attached below as the second image,.

These bright pink and purple colours are obviously way out of gamut so they convert badly to CMYK. Exactly how they convert depends on what colour profile you are using
It will probably be best to either rework the design using mixtures of cyan and magenta only or else use mixtures of Pantone colours.
The Pantone solution will only work for offset printing but is no use for a home printer.
Read up on colour management like Mylenium says and learn to think in terms of inks rather than screen colours.

Which versions of photoshop can convert rgb to cmyk?

Hi all, I'm needing to convert high quality graphics from rgb to cmyk for publication and I'm trying to figure out which version of photoshop I should get for the job. I know that photoshop elements does not have the rgb to cmyk function, but am unsure otherwise. In particular, I'm looking at creative suite 5 as an option. Will that allow me to do this? Thanks for the help

You actually needed to have version 2.0 in order to have CMYK function. The year was 1991.

Converting RGB to CMYK color

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for