RGB? CMYK? Does it matter?

[android@adobeforums.com]

Hi -

Normally, before the days of sending a high-res PDF, everything was converted to CMYK to avoid surprises.

However, beside the fact that technology in color has come quite a way, there remains the issue of whether a file prepped in Photoshop in RGB (as a majority of mine are) needs to be converted to CMYK in certain circumstances.

One of those circumstances is why I'm asking... basically, as always, I've prepped all my graphics in Photoshop RGB. They are placed into InDesign, which handles them flawlessly.

The question is whether it's necessary to convert them to CMYK prior to exporting a press-quality PDF.

My colors are largely CMYK legal, and if some stray slightly, it is only in noncritical places (e.g. not in logos) and the hard copy made direct from RGB hasn't shown any surprised to date.

If anyone has any advice or suggestions, please share!

thanks,
Andrew

[Steve_Werner@adobeforums.com]

You haven't told us what version of InDesign you're using. If you're using InDesign CS2 (and the Creative Suite 2 applications), color management is turned on, and the CS2 applications have their color settings synchronized.

In that case, InDesign and CS2's default is to convert RGB to CMYK using the same settings files as in Photoshop. So with InDesign CS2, it won't make any difference whether Photoshop or InDesign does the conversion.

[android@adobeforums.com]

Hi Steve -

Yes, I'm using CS2. (And love it...)

Under "Color Management Policies", RGB is set to "Preserve Embedded Profiles" rather than "Convert to Working Space".

Honestly, I've never really looked into the color settings before, so if something is not as it should be (and I'm guessing "Convert to Working Space" should be used) please advise.

Thanks!
Andrew

[Steve_Werner@adobeforums.com]

I'm not much of a color management expert. You should set your color settings in Adobe Bridge, and they'll be synchronized through the Suite. (You can make up your own color settings, but to do that read the Color Guide on the installation CDs.

[Russell_Goodman@adobeforums.com]

My 2 Cents: You'd give your Printers and Pre-Press people less headaches is you prepared you files properly as CMYK.

There are colors in the RGB Gamut that can never be duplicated with ink and paper.

If you're building files for the internet or View Only PDFs, RGB is fine, but if you're building something to be printed to paper, go with CMYK.

And mixing up the two in one file is just begging for trouble.

[android@adobeforums.com]

Well -

If InDesign is essentially making the same RGB>CMYK translation as does Photoshop, I'd much rather leave the originals in RGB format.

This is what I'm trying to find out, though... is InDesign doing the conversion?

I'm not sure how to tell.

Either way, this piece has no color-critical sections.

Andrew

[colin_ej_clarke@adobeforums.com]

In response to those CMYK/RGB issues the simple answer is yes. However, to keep your colour from straying within the CMYK gamut, don't simply convert to CMYK in Photoshop, instead ask your print provider for their press profile. This will ensure the conversion is done within the press specs and colours will reproduce more accurately than simply converting. Most printers have an icc profile for this purpose.

If you wish to leave your files in 'light' mode, then please don't complain when the colours reproduced are wayyyyy off the beaten path. HOWEVER, do this in Photoshop with your originals NOT in In-Design. Don't import RGB files into In-Design, assign a CMYK colour profile and expect accuracy.

Keep in mind that your monitor is based on light emmissions, and your print is based upon ink. The ability a press has to reproduce colours in nowhere even close to that of your monitor.