Don't Convert Your Images to CMYK!

Рет қаралды 15,868

Жыл бұрын

There was a time when we had to convert RGB images to CMYK for (offset-) printing. But that was in the 20th century. Nowadays there is color management and converting RGB files to CMYK files is no longer necessary. In fact, it's counterproductive.
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@elviodesenvolvimento 8 ай бұрын

Hi, I have worked for almost 30 years as a specialist in color, variable data, and workflow software at a major manufacturer of digital printers (laser, LEDs, and inkjets) for production, and your explanation is perfect, straight to the point. And as you mentioned, there is no need to convert RGB files to CMYK color space in environments with a good color management system. Congratulations on the video!

@hoffmann-photography-Syke 8 ай бұрын

Thank you very much for your kind reply. Your remark on "environments with good color management" is very important, though. Some smaller print providers over here still don't have color management. In the 21st century ...

@elviodesenvolvimento 8 ай бұрын

@@hoffmann-photography-Syke, I'm from Brazil and here just a few understand what means color management... The vast majority of print providers (offset or digital) simply waste a lot on paper, inks, supplies, and even customers due to not using the color management concepts and equipment that have been available for decades.

@angelito2144 10 ай бұрын

I've been working with printers and designers for twenty years and I've never heard a better explanation than this. Thank you so much! 😃 In my new computer (Linux) I use GIMP 2.10.34, so I can't work in CMYK by now, but thanks to this video now I know how to organize my work better.

@hoffmann-photography-Syke 10 ай бұрын

Thanks a lot for your kind words. I'm always happy when I can help.

@jaypeacemyth Жыл бұрын

Good video, but remember,... The advice in this video is for images (photos and raster-based illustration) specifically, not ALL print files. There are many instances where you might want single-color text on a printed piece (small text and body copy) or even jobs to be printed with less than 4-colors. That is impossible when designing everything in RGB. The biggest mistake I see from novice designers is working in RGB for all elements, including text and logos (usually in photoshop), just as they would for online work, when switching over to print jobs. That practice not only converts all their colors to 4-c mixes (even those that should stay pure 1-color black, yellow cyan or magenta), but can lead to lower output DPI on their vector-based items (text, logos, etc) depending on how they treated those within the files, and what file format they delivered them to the printer.

@hoffmann-photography-Syke Жыл бұрын

Oh yes, absolutely! Of course this only pertains to pixel images. I haven't made that clear enough. Thanks for the heads up!

@BarbaraTostes 6 ай бұрын

For offset printing, simply choose the appropriate ICC profile and export to PDF/X-1a (which will convert everything, bitmaps and vectors, to CMYK)!

@ceeblack5448 Ай бұрын

But what about placing a RGB jpg into a CMYK file that contains transparency? Back in the day, with an Epson large scale printer, I used to get weird boxes if I mixed color modes within a print document. I don't think all printers have new RIPs that solve this problem and you don't always have the ability to switch printers.

@mrlima2953 3 ай бұрын

Thank you! It definitely helped me. I was so confused if I should converter my digital art work or not. Thanks for clarifying it.

@numinoos 8 ай бұрын

Very clear and concise. Thank you.

@hoffmann-photography-Syke 8 ай бұрын

Glad I could help!

@danielerogazzo4540 9 ай бұрын

👏 Great, very clear! Thank you

@hoffmann-photography-Syke 9 ай бұрын

Thank you very much. Glad I could help.

@user-zd7nn5om2x 11 ай бұрын

Thank you Very important information

@hoffmann-photography-Syke 11 ай бұрын

Glad I could help.

@Jharries1971 21 күн бұрын

I'm not sure why anyone would convert a single image like that into CMYK unless it was a clean format poster. But the biggest issue with what you're saying is the customers' expectations. The final printed image is sometimes so different, they are not happy. I have one question regarding the ICC profiles you use. Why not fogra 27/39?

@hoffmann-photography-Syke 21 күн бұрын

Well, I still get images from customers converted to CMYK despite the fact, that it is not yet clear, on which paper it will be printed. And that's somewhat silly in my opinion. I do use Fogra 27/39 of course for 4c offset printing. But it is less than optimal for inkjet printing with more than 4 colors. Modern inkjet printers use nine or even twelve colors that can print a wider gamut than simple 4c offset printing.

@Jharries1971 21 күн бұрын

Thank you for your reply. It's a good topic which I also find graphic schools just don't teach their students enough about. People constantly send us designs, not only in RGB, but without bleed and registration. It can be frustrating.

@hoffmann-photography-Syke 21 күн бұрын

@@Jharries1971 Well, of course graphics should be in CMYK, but photos shouldn't.

@danielprieto6194 Жыл бұрын

Fantastic video Thanks

@hoffmann-photography-Syke Жыл бұрын

Glad you liked it!

@CeeTeeUSA 8 ай бұрын

I usually like. png files. They allow transparency and are compatible with most things and can be high quality.

@hoffmann-photography-Syke 8 ай бұрын

Yes, indeed. You are quite right, .png is the way to go. JPGs have become more or less obsolete.

@jocargua 8 ай бұрын

Nice..!!!

@hoffmann-photography-Syke 8 ай бұрын

Thanks ;-)

@PremiereHell 8 ай бұрын

Yeah, The format is just another way to store data converting Won't really change anything unless it's in the conversion program to do so

@hoffmann-photography-Syke 8 ай бұрын

Thanks for your comment.

@PremiereHell 8 ай бұрын

Im trying convert a brown to another brown but red in the list is always selected so far, im working with rgb and python

@PremiereHell 8 ай бұрын

This gave an idea that I think is going to fix my problem

@hoffmann-photography-Syke 8 ай бұрын

@@PremiereHell Ah, that's good! Did it work?

@ceegeevibes1335 5 ай бұрын

@BarbaraTostes 6 ай бұрын

Nice! Welcome 21st century! Hahahaha

@hoffmann-photography-Syke 6 ай бұрын

He he, but believe it or not, there are still print shops around that request CMYK files ...

@BarbaraTostes 6 ай бұрын

@@hoffmann-photography-Syke I own a large format printing company and I always send photos and files in RGB to the "machine" to convert using its ICC profile, which we previously configured. Many customers don't believe it! I always said that! Who knows, maybe now they can learn from you!