Matching CMYK colours to RGB colours in Adobe Photoshop CS2

E
Posted By
Eyl
Nov 10, 2005
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404
Replies
2
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Closed
Hello,

I am relatively new to Photoshop.

I am designing a letterhead with a photo. The picture is bright green with yellow tones in RGB – luminous all over. However, as soon as I change it to CMYK Color in 16-bits/Channel (for printing), it becomes a much matter, bluer picture with much less yellow tones.

Although I have done a few things in Photoshop already, I am effectively a newbie as far as changing from RGB to CMYK for printing. I was the layout artist in my previous job with all photos being handled by a specialist because of the volume of incoming photos and the required quick turnaround. In my new job I now do everything myself.

Could someone give me guidance on how to proceed in order to have the CMYK photo match the colours of the RGB photo. I do realise that CMYK will never be as luminous as RGB, but my problem is right from the start matching the CMYK colours as near as possible to RGB (I want the balance to be right).

Thank you very much.

Eyl
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C
Clyde
Nov 10, 2005
Eyl wrote:
Hello,

I am relatively new to Photoshop.

I am designing a letterhead with a photo. The picture is bright green with yellow tones in RGB – luminous all over. However, as soon as I change it to CMYK Color in 16-bits/Channel (for printing), it becomes a much matter, bluer picture with much less yellow tones.

Although I have done a few things in Photoshop already, I am effectively a newbie as far as changing from RGB to CMYK for printing. I was the layout artist in my previous job with all photos being handled by a specialist because of the volume of incoming photos and the required quick turnaround. In my new job I now do everything myself.
Could someone give me guidance on how to proceed in order to have the CMYK photo match the colours of the RGB photo. I do realise that CMYK will never be as luminous as RGB, but my problem is right from the start matching the CMYK colours as near as possible to RGB (I want the balance to be right).

Thank you very much.

Eyl

Don’t change the picture to CMYK! CMYK is only for four color press printing. If you are making separations for 4 color printing (i.e. for magazines, etc.), then you have to convert to CMYK. Otherwise ignore it completely.

All print drivers for Windows or OS X are designed to accept RGB files. The print driver then converts from RGB to its own flavor of CMYK, CcMYyK, CMYRBKk, or whatever it uses. If you send it CMYK files, the translation will be all screwed up.

CMYK is a much smaller set of colors than RGB – usually. Therefore CMYK has a hard time printing certain colors. By doing this conversion, you may be loosing some colors.

However, the most probably cause is that you aren’t working from a properly calibrated monitor. You should buy a tool that will calibrate your monitor, but you can try to use Adobe Gamma. That came with your Photoshop and is buried somewhere in your Control Panel (Windows). Having an uncalibrated monitor will regularly give odd color shifts when Photoshop converts between color settings and systems.

Clyde
E
Eyl
Nov 10, 2005
Clyde,

I have to use CMYK as my letterhead is going to a 4 color commercial printing press. What you’ve said has clarified it for me though, and yes, I realise now I do need to calibrate my monitor as a first step.

Thanks,

Eyl

"Clyde" wrote in message
Eyl wrote:
Hello,

I am relatively new to Photoshop.

I am designing a letterhead with a photo. The picture is bright green with yellow tones in RGB – luminous all over. However, as soon as I change it to CMYK Color in 16-bits/Channel (for printing), it becomes a
much matter, bluer picture with much less yellow tones.

Although I have done a few things in Photoshop already, I am effectively
a newbie as far as changing from RGB to CMYK for printing. I was the layout artist in my previous job with all photos being handled by a specialist because of the volume of incoming photos and the required quick turnaround. In my new job I now do everything myself.
Could someone give me guidance on how to proceed in order to have the CMYK photo match the colours of the RGB photo. I do realise that CMYK will never be as luminous as RGB, but my problem is right from the start
matching the CMYK colours as near as possible to RGB (I want the balance
to be right).

Thank you very much.

Eyl

Don’t change the picture to CMYK! CMYK is only for four color press printing. If you are making separations for 4 color printing (i.e. for magazines, etc.), then you have to convert to CMYK. Otherwise ignore it completely.

All print drivers for Windows or OS X are designed to accept RGB files. The print driver then converts from RGB to its own flavor of CMYK, CcMYyK, CMYRBKk, or whatever it uses. If you send it CMYK files, the translation will be all screwed up.

CMYK is a much smaller set of colors than RGB – usually. Therefore CMYK has a hard time printing certain colors. By doing this conversion, you may be loosing some colors.

However, the most probably cause is that you aren’t working from a properly calibrated monitor. You should buy a tool that will calibrate your monitor, but you can try to use Adobe Gamma. That came with your Photoshop and is buried somewhere in your Control Panel (Windows). Having an uncalibrated monitor will regularly give odd color shifts when Photoshop converts between color settings and systems.

Clyde

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