When you create a project for printing, it’s recommended you change RGB to CMYK to avoid potential colour accuracy issues.
The vast majority of printers for both home and commercial use employ a different colour model from electronic display devices such mobile device screens and computer monitors.
Many graphics software programs give you the choice to work in either RGB or CMYK. These are called “colour spaces”.
What happens if we don’t change RGB to CMYK before printing?
If you don’t change RGB to CMYK before you print, your printer will automatically make the switch. The problem with this automated change is that you will not get to see an approximation of the end product until you get your final print, which can lead to an unpleasant surprise. This can be important for businesses that use specific colours as part of their branding.
Converting to the CMYK Colour Space
Here is a list of several common programs with instructions on how to make sure you are working in the CMYK colour space. If your program or version is not listed here, don’t worry. Most of these instructions will apply to all versions of a program.If at any time you need further help, please call us for assistance. We are happy to talk you through the steps needed to get your document into the CMYK colour space.
Adobe InDesign
Open the swatches panel located under the window menu. In the swatches panel, double click on each colour listed, and change the colour mode to CMYK and colour type to Process. Any colours created in the document that are not in the swatches palette, need to be changed to the CMYK colour space, by selecting each object you need to convert, and make sure the colour palette (Window > Colour) reflects the CMYK percentages. Click the top right arrow in the palette to change to CMYK if necessary. All images and object placed into the InDesign file, need to be converted to CMYK in their native application (eg. Adobe Photoshop or Adobe Illustrator).Adobe Illustrator
Select File/Document colour mode/CMYK colour. Select all object and go to Edit > Edit Colours and click on ‘Convert to CMYK.’Adobe Photoshop
If the file already exists select the following menu options: Image > Mode > CMYK. When creating a new file, select CMYK for the mode before clicking OK.Adobe Pagemaker
Use the following menu options: Window/Show Colours. Double click “colours” in palette and select Model to be CMYK and Type to be Process. Please be advised that Pagemaker does not successfully represent CMYK colour on the monitor.Microsoft Publisher 2000
Microsoft Publisher defaults to RGB. It is easy to convert everything to a CMYK colour space or to start a new document using the CMYK colour space. Use the following menu options: Tools > Commercial Printing Tools > Colour Printing and select Process colours (CMYK). Please note that all images incorporated into a layout need to be linked and not embedded in order to maintain the CMYK colour space within the image. Using the following menu options does this: Tools > Commercial Printing Tools > Graphics Manager and highlight the embedded image. Click Link and click Browse to locate the original file and link to it. You will then need to send both the images and the layout file to us for printing.Microsoft Publisher 2003-2007 or later
Select File Tab, then select Info. Select Commercial Print Settings. Select Choose Colour Model, then Select Process Colours (CMYK).Corel Draw
Select each object you want to convert. Select the Fill tool and click Fill Colour Dialog. Make sure the Colour model is CMYK. For each object with an outline: Select the Outline tool and click the Outline Colour Dialog. Make sure the Colour model is CMYK.Quark Xpress
Use the following menu options: Edit > Edit Colours > Show Colours in Use/Highlight Colour and click Edit. Change model to CMYK and deselect Spot colour. The following programs do not have the capability to convert to CMYK. No worry, we will convert it for you free of charge!- Adobe Photoshop LE
- Adobe PhotoDeluxe
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Powerpoint
- Microsoft Works
- Microsoft PhotoDraw
- Picture It Publishing