Convert to CMYK or Export PDF?

I am putting together a big catalog project. In previous projects I converted all images to cmyk before ripping the pdf for final press print. Since the pdf export can convert to cmyk can I leave everything as is (RGB) and do the convert on export or can this cause prepress issues?
rob

There shouldn't be any prepress issues, but there are potential quality considerations.
Converting to CMYK first allows you to tweak the color and do the sharpening after conversion. Doing the conversion during export means you have to sharpen first and accept the default color. In many cases this is not a big deal, but some folks, like me, are real control freaks. :)
The big downside to doing the conversion first is you are stuck with a single output destination. Leaving things as RGB allows you to convert to to a variety of press conditions on the fly from the same file.
Peter

Similar Messages

  • Do duotones have to be converted to CMYK prior to PDF for publication?

    Hi, we have a series of duotone images for publication, created in Photoshop CS4.
    The duotones are saved as EPS files, imported into InDesign and exported as PDF files.
    We thought that would have been fine, but sight-unseen the printer is telling us he doesn't even know what duotones are (!) and that those duotones will have to be converted to CMYK and then exported again as PDF files.
    Does this sound right? Do we have to do convert every image, or else it won't print?
    It seemed to us that the duotone "mode" was designed for publication of b&w images, to increase tonality in the print. We figured that if they were saved as duotones and exported to PDF, that the PDF file would be sufficient. So, what then is the point of converting duotones if the printer is then going to turn around and say, nope, can't do it that way?
    I checked instructional tutorials and Adobe "help," but can't find the answer.
    Help would be greatly appreciated.
    Thank you, Kelli & Dave
    (*cross-posted at the PhotoShop forum.)

    If you make use of spot colors n your duotones and your printer only accepts CMYK files some action may be needed somewhere.
    Easiest approach: convert to CMYK using Acrobat Pro (Convert colors feature) or specialized Acrobat plug-ins/tools like pdfToolbox 4 from callas software.
    Olaf
    callas software

  • Images: CMYK to RGB in photoshop or just export PDF in Indesign as CMYK?

    Hello again,
    This community has been of great help no end thus far.
    For my booklet, i would say 90% of the layout is images created in Illustrator. What is best practice here for scans or images which have been screen printed or ar basically RGB?
    I am unsure whether it is worthwhile converting images to CMYK in photsohop and then playing with them in Illustrator and then finally placing in Illustrator because of the following:
    Why do this if on "export PDF"  i can use press settings. Would this not convert EVERYTHING in my Indesign booklet to CMYK ready material???
    I'm unsure what to do?
    Best Regards
    Don

    The only reason you might want to convert to CMYK before export is if, and this is the most important factor, you already know the correct output profile for the device on which this will be printed and you will NEVER want to repurpose the art for another device, and if you want to be able to tweak the image and sharpen after conversion.
    If all you were going to do in Photoshop is convert to CMYK, and not do addtional edits after, there is no advantage, at all, to doing that over converting on export from ID.

  • Export PDF that is totally CMYK compliant

    Hi, I'm using the PDFX1A settings when exporting from Indesign. My PDF is CMYK when any RGB images are used, which is what I want. But if I have an illustrator eps that uses spot colour (logo) linked to the the indesign document, that doesn't convert to CMYK on the PDF. How do I get a total CMYK PDF. Opening and converting source files is not an option in the workflow.
    Thanks, Tim

    Tim, I just noticed you need to skip keyline so it would be:
    tell application "Adobe InDesign CS5"
    activate
    set myDocument to active document
    tell myDocument
    set docInks to inks
    repeat with x from 1 to count docInks
    --you can skip an ink via scripting
    if is process ink of item x of docInks is false and name of item x of docInks is not "keyline" then
    set convert to process of item x of docInks to true
    end if
    end repeat
    end tell
    end tell

  • I just purchased Adobe Export PDF, but I still cannot convert my .pdf document to Ms. Word.  I have a PC

    Hello, someone please help me.  I don't know why on line tech support is unavailable.
    I just purchased Adobe Export PDF in an attempt to be able to export documents from .pdf to Ms. Word.  I have a PC.  When I open the document in .pdf my name appears in the top right hand corner.  When I click on it and select export to Ms. Word, I get nothing.  Can someone instruct me on how to do this?

    Hi dorisw,
    Are you trying to export your files via Reader or the ExportPDF web interface at https://cloud.acrobat.com?
    If you're using the web interface, please clear the browser cache, and then log back in to the URL I supplied above. Then, you can follow the steps in this document to convert your files: Getting Started with ExportPDF | Adobe Community
    Let us know how it goes!
    Best,
    Sara

  • Q: How do I convert a pdf file to Word using Adobe Export PDF? - all my attempts are scrambled.

    Q: How do I convert a pdf file to Word using Acrobat Export PDF - all my attempts are scrambled

    Do you subscribe an Adobe Export PDF account? If you do not have an account, please go to https://www.acrobat.com/exportpdf/en/home.html?trackingid=JPZKN to subscribe.
    If you have an account, make sure verify your email address and sign in from https://exportpdf.acrobat.com/SignIn.html
    Jyh-Jiun Liou

  • Word I convert a PDF to WORD format. I have signed up to Export PDF but everytime I try to covert all it asks is that I sign in again and I cant get past it.

    convert a PDF to WORD format. I have signed up to Export PDF but every time I try to covert all it asks is that I sign in again and I cant get past ti and the covert button is not available.anyone else having this problem or know how to fix it.

    Hi bouerbird,
    I just l looked at your account using the same email address that you use here in the forums, and don't see any order history for you. Is it possible that you signed up using a different email address?
    Best,
    Sara

  • I have a paid "Adobe Export PDF, Annual" subscription, so why can't I convert a Word Document to PDF? It keeps asking me to do an upgrade.

    Does the Adobe Export PDF Annual subscription not include converting Word docs to PDF?

    Hi ethanw41133789,
    Please message me your email id so that i can check your subscription details.
    Regards,
    Rahul

  • Why do I get an error message saying FILE FAILED TO BE CONVERTED USING ADOBE EXPORT PDF ONLINE?

    Can I find some help about why my Adobe online service suddenly start giving me an error message that says FILE FAILED TO BE CONVERTED USING ADOBE EXPORT PDF ONLINE?

    Are you trying to convert through Adobe Reader (what version?), or directly at the https://cloud.acrobat.com/exportpdf website?
    [topic moved to Acrobat.com Services forum]

  • Rec'd error msg "File failed to be converted using Adobe Export PDF online"

    Rec'd error msg "File failed to be converted using Adobe Export PDF online" when attempting to save a .PDF as a .DOC

    Are you trying to convert through Adobe Reader (what version?), or directly at the https://cloud.acrobat.com/exportpdf website?
    [topic moved to Acrobat.com Services forum]

  • Using Adobe Export PDF, I converted a PDF document into MS Word. However, all the images are missing

    Using Adobe Export PDF, I converted a PDF document into MS Word. However, all the images are missing--replaced by black rectangles. How can I fix this? Thanks for any assistance.

    Hi Ravinder,
    As I mentioned in my email to you, I wasn't able to reproduce the behavior your described.  The images appear properly.
    Please let me know if you have any questions.
    -David

  • After Preflighting a PDF, using Convert to CMYK, Flatten Transparency and Prepress Profile Convert to CMYK only the resultant PDF has a grubby halo along the edge of some white type sitting on an image. The type is part of the image.

    I am using a 27" iMac 3.2 GHz Intel Core 5, 8 GB Memory, running Yosemite 10.10.1. 
    The version of Acrobat that I am using is: Acrobat XI Version 11.0.10
    After Preflighting a PDF, using Convert to CMYK, Flatten Transparency (high resolution) and Prepress Profile "Convert to CMYK only" the resultant PDF has a grubby halo along the edge of some white type sitting on an image. The type is part of the image which is 300 dpi.
    It is like the image isn't really 300 dpi but has been artificially boosted to that to avoid being tagged by Preflighting, but when Preflighting the file it knows the original resolution.
    I have screen grabs which illustrate the problem perfectly but do not know how to post them, if indeed they can be.
    Any help or comments gratefully received.

    Without the files and possibly screen prints, it is virtually impossible to assist you.
              - Dov

  • Export PDF converts filled PDF form without the data - Turns filled PDF form onto blank Word doc. Is there a solution to this or did Adobe just sell me a service that doesn't work?

    Export PDF converts filled PDF form without the data - Turns filled PDF form onto blank Word doc. Is there a solution to this or did Adobe just sell me a service that doesn't work?

    ExportPDF is not for forms. In general, converting forms to Word is a really, really bad idea which can even cause legal problems. Work with the form as a PDF. Acrobat (not Reader) can export form data as simple text for example.

  • Do any instances of RGB get converted to CMYK on output to PDF?

    Hi,
    I'm producing a HUGE catalogue that I've inherited from another designer. It will be going to print soon and I'll be providing the printers with a press ready PDF. The catalogue contains hundreds of individual blocks of colour (used to show colour options for a product). All of them are currently made of an RGB mix. Without having to go through each and every one changing to CMYK (there's no instance of each colour in the swatches pallet), is there a quicker way? Also, is it necessary anyway if I'm providing a PDF - I assume they get converted to CMYK in the final PDF?
    I've used InDesign for years but never inherited a previous design with so many RGB items in it!
    Thanks.

    It can also be done via scripting. This is AppleScript:
    tell application "Adobe InDesign CC 2014"
        tell document 1
            repeat with a from 1 to count of every color
                try
                    set space of color a to CMYK
                end try
            end repeat
        end tell
    end tell
    Also the converted CMYK numbers you get depends on the document's assigned CMYK profile (or the Color Settings' CMYK Working Space if there's no assignment). And the Intent and Black Point Compensation you choose in Color Settings can have a significant effect on the conversion numbers.

  • Export PDF converts ONLY PART of PDF to excel - first table skipped, second table OK

    A single PDF contains two tables (income and expense) but Export PDF converts ONLY the second table and completely ignores the first table.  (The two tables may actually be parts of one larger table, but in that case it is the first part which is ignored.)

    Hi dgoldh,
    Do you know how the PDF was created? (Choose File > Properties, and check the Description tab. It may be that the PDF was created by a third-party application and doesn't contain the proper data to ensure a clean conversion. Please see Will Adobe ExportPDF convert both text and form... | Adobe Community.
    Best,
    Sara

Maybe you are looking for