How to Convert Your File To CMYK In Different Softwares for Printing?

How to Convert Your File To CMYK In Different Softwares for Printing?

 

At certain points during your work (or play) you will have to convert images from RGB to the CMYK color space. Any respectable image editor or file layout prorgam has a option for it. Sometimes it can be tricky to fine the specific option to convert to CMYK.

 

Here is a list of several common programs with instructions on how to convert the color space to CMYK.

 

Adobe Photoshop

If the file already exists select the following menu options: Image > Mode > CMYK When starting a new file select CMYK for the mode before clicking OK.

Adobe InDesign

Use the following menu options: Window > Swatches and Window > Color. Double click color in Swatches Change color mode to CMYK and color type to Process. Any colors created in the document that are not in the Swatches palette, need to be changed to the CMYK color space. Select each object you want to convert and make sure the Color palette reflects the CMYK percentages. Click top right arrow in the palette to change to CMYK if necessary.

 YellowPrinting.com

Corel Draw

Select each object you want to convert. Select the Fill tool and click Fill Color Dialog. Make sure the Color model is CMYK. For each object with an outline: Select the Outline tool and click the Outline Color Dialog. Make sure the Color model is CMYK.

 

Adobe Illustrator

Use the following menu options. For an existing file select Edit > Select All and then Filter > Colors > Convert to CMYK. For a new file, select File > New and select CMYK color for the Color Mode.

 

Quark Xpress

Use the following menu options: Edit > Edit Colors > Show Colors in Use > Highlight Color and click Edit. Change model to CMYK and deselect Spot color.

 

Adobe Pagemaker

Use the following menu options: Window > Show Colors. Double click "colors" in palette and select Model to be CMYK and Type to be Process. Please be advised that Pagemaker does not successfully represent CMYK color on the monitor. YellowPrinting.com

 

Is converting images to CMYK important?

Yes! It's very important if you are working on a print document. Commercial printers mostly accept RGB images wihout question but using images with a RBG color space can seriously screw up your image. I've seen black and white images, twisted color spectrums and more terrible stuff. Printers who accept RBG images auto-convert images to CMYK without checking the outcome.

 

Make sure you convert images to CMYK yourself, so you can do ajustments on the CMYK outcome if needed and keep 100% control over image quality.