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

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Converting RGB to CMYK for printing.

So I went in to the Apple Store yesterday and told the guy that I'd like to design my own DVD cover for a presentation reel. I was about to spring for the teacher's edition of Photoshop, but he convinced me to buy the cheaper one with a Bamboo tablet...which was the same price as buying the program but included the tablet.
Hours later after designing my DVD cover, I find out that elements doesn't use CMYK mode. Ridiculous! This is my first time doing something like this so I wasn't entirely sure how to proceed... I thought.. oh well maybe I just switch modes later and I'm good. I guess this program was designed for less intense designers that print from a desktop at home, but I had other plans from the start. Anyways, what would you do? Here are my questions:
Should I take back the program/tablet and exchange it for one with CMYK capabilities? If I do this, will the document that I've used in elements be able to work in CMYK mode so I can send it to a printer? ...or do I make a really good print to a desktop printer and then just duplicate those for my cover?
Thanks for the help.

I came across a great web site where you can perform free RGB to CMYK conversions on your image files (up to 5mb). They offer a choice of numerous CMYK profiles. For U.S. commercial offset printing of your DVD cover, I'd recommend choosing GRACoL2006_Coated1v2.icc
http://www.rgb2cmyk.org/

Converting Images to CMYK for Print Publication

When in my workflow should I be converting images to CMYK for print publication?
Currently, I shoot RAW photographs with my DSLR in Adobe RGB, import the images into Photoshop for manipulation and then convert the final, sized image to CMYK before placing it in my Indesign document. Before going to print, I convert my files to PDF using the [PDF/X-1a:2001] preset. I use a calibrated system with a profile set for my monitor.
Since many of my pictures have shades of green, I'm often disappointed with the conversion to CMYK because I lose saturation and brightness. Am I doing anything wrong? Is there a better way of preserving the quality of colour in my images when going to a commercial printer?

To see in InDesign what color shifts will occur, use View=>Proof Colors.
I would also recommend View=>Overprint Preview.
Yes there are color shifts when converting RGB to CMYK, but those are due to the fact that the gamut of CMYK is significantly less than AdobeRGB or even sRGB. The same color shifts going to CMYK will occur whether you convert the image in Photoshop or in InDesign during PDF export or at the RIP.
Keeping the color in ICC color managed RGB has the advantage that last minute changes can be made as to what CMYK printing conditions are used, i.e. all CMYK is not the same. Furthermore, if you convert RGB to CMYK early in the workflow, you lose the ability to maintain the color gamut for display of the PDF as well as for printing to high fidelity color devices, i.e., offset or digital (especially inkjet) devices that have extra colorants such as light cyan, light magenta, orange, and/or green to dramatically expand the gamut. Once you lose the gamut in your imagery via conversion to CMYK, you can't go back.
- Dov

RGB to CMYK (For Print)

How can i convert the RGB Color poroperly convert to CMYK.
I have a color RGB - R-0, G-5, B-55, how can i get the CMYK color for the same.
Please help

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

HELP! Convert JPG to CMYK for print on Epson Stylus Pro 4880 problems

Hello all!
I need to print a JPG file to an Epson Stylus Pro 4880 printer and keep the original colors. The JPG file is of a company logo containging text/graphic. I use CS5 to convert the file to CMYK and save it as an Adobe PDF. When I print it everything looks good but there is a reddish outline around everything. Anyone have an idea how I can get rid of the outline? I am using the US Coated (SWOP) v2 for the CMYK scheme.
Help! I need to print out some logo tags for the customer.
Thanks in advance, Your assistance will be greatly appreciated.

wish I could help but I am Mac and Essentials is not in my work flow!

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.

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.

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).

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

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.

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.

I'm sorry, I have to convert the mov file. for use with fce and / or imovie11, better ProRes422 or intermediate codec?

I'm sorry, I have to convert the mov file. for use with fce and / or imovie11, better ProRes422 or intermediate codec?

FCE only used AIC for HD.
Al

I just purchased an ibook for my mac for the first time and it started with two pages then switched to one with notes and i can't change it back. Anyone else having this problem?

I just purchased an ibook for my mac for the first time and it started with two pages then switched to one with notes and i can't change it back. Anyone else having this problem?

Up the top where the three buttons are (red yellow green) are three images. Click on the third image that looks like a notepad (not the first which is a library book), and that should get rid of 'Notes'. To read using two pages make the window bigger.

RGB Logo uses Overlay transparency... need in CMYK for print but color changes in overlay

I am working with a logo someone else created in RGB using the Overlay transparency. When I convert it to CMYK just one area seems to "change color".
I tried inserting both versions here - but it isn't working too well. Basically, in the image below the outline of the "scales" appears darker in the CMYK version for printing. Any ideas on how I can adjust it to print in the same vibrant color the RGB is showing?

fill in info RGB is light (like on your screen) and adds more light when mixed, CMYK are pigments and adds more color or multiplies, when mixed

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

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