RGB to CMYK

RGB is a color mode for monitors and televisions, but printing is done with process - CMYK - colors. Sometimes colors that look great in RGB don't convert well to CMYK mode.

Download and open the file "nybuilding.jpg" in Adobe Photoshop ®. Note the embedded profile is a standard RGB profile. To see how this might appear when printed on coated paper with process inks, convert the image to CMYK mode using a profile that's provided with Adobe Photoshop called "U.S. Sheetfed Coated v2."

To see how this might appear if printed on uncoated stock without adjusting the image, assign (not convert) Photoshop's standard "U.S. Sheetfed Uncoated v2" profile to the image and watch how much it changes.

Assigning a profile doesn't really change the CMYK values, it just gives you a preview of how the image might print under different conditions. CONVERTING a file to a different profile will change the CMYK values, setting it to "real CMYK numbers" for reproduction. If you start with an RGB image, convert (not assign) the appropriate coated or uncoated profile right at the start to help keep the image looking as close as possible to the original, and to give yourself an opportunity to make adjustments to the color if you are unhappy with the results you see on screen. If you start with an image that you know will print on uncoated stock but that is already in CMYK mode and has a "coated" profile, convert it to an uncoated profile and make color adjustments to bring the image closer to your liking before placing it in your layout. We can and do process RGB images to CMYK on many jobs, but if you take some time to review your images you can save unpleasant surprises like purple skies or ruby-red face!

Using profiles is a big subject and affects not only pictures but output files, too, when profiles are honored during the workflow process. This is intended only as a brief but hopefully useful bit of information about preparing files for print. And remember, that what you see on screen is only as good as your monitor so keep up with calibration!

download file: nybuilding.jpg

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