How to convert RGB to CMYK

When creating your artwork, it is best to set up your file using CMYK settings. In apps like Adobe InDesign and Illustrator, this means selecting the ‘Print’ option when creating your file initially and converting images and creating colors in CMYK as you work.

In some circumstances you may need to work in RGB (for example you want to use certain filters in Photoshop, certain colors in Illustrator, or are saving files for web as well as print), or you may be working with artwork you have been sent. In those instances here is our best practice guide to converting RGB to CMYK.

To accurately convert your document follow these steps:

1. Select ‘Edit’ > ‘Convert To Profile’.
2. You will see two options under ‘Destination Space’. Leave the ‘RGB Profile’ as is, but change the ‘CMYK Profile’ to ‘Coated GRACoL 2006 (ISO 12647-2:2004)’ - this is Mixam’s preferred CMYK profile.
3. Go to the ‘Conversion Options’ and select ‘Adobe (ACE)’ as your conversion engine. Choose ‘Relative Colorimetric’ for your ‘Intent’. (Choosing this preserves all RGB colors that can be accurately used in CMYK. It will also automatically replace any colors that cannot be replicated in CMYK with an appropriate equivalent.)
4. Click ‘OK’.

While it may be tempting to simply select ‘convert to CMYK’ options in your app, this is not always the most accurate method. There are a number of different CMYK color profiles available and it is important that you select the right one to match your printer’s chosen profile.

When exporting your artwork to PDF, Adobe applications offer a variety of presets. This is our quick guide to exporting in InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop. (Other apps may offer similar functionality)

Exporting via Adobe InDesign

Once you have finished your artwork checks in Adobe InDesign, go to File > Export. In the Save Destination panel make sure to select Adobe PDF (Print) option in the Format drop down. In the Export Adobe PDF panel, select ‘Press Quality’ which will provide you with the majority of settings we require. For more information, you can read our full guide to exporting a PDF here.

While the default color settings in ‘Print Quality’ cover most of our needs, we do recommend that under the Output section, you make sure that ‘Color Conversion’ is set to ‘No Color Conversion’ and the ‘Profile Inclusion Policy’ is set as ‘Don’t Include Profiles’. If you have not set everything up exactly as we require, this will avoid conflicting information being included in the PDF.

Exporting via Adobe Illustrator

Unlike InDesign, there is no option to Export as a PDF in Adobe Illustrator. Instead you need to select File > Save As and then save a copy as a PDF. You will encounter the same PDF creation panel as in InDesign; use the same settings mentioned in the section above. When saving, make sure to select ‘Save As A Copy’ or else you can lose any unsaved work.

Save as Adobe PDF in Photoshop

Adobe Photoshop also uses a ‘Save As’ technique for creating a PDF. Go to File > Save As and select Photoshop PDF from the Format drop down menu. it is also best to select Save As A Copy here to avoid losing any unsaved work.

TIP: If you are exporting artwork for us on a regular basis, you can set up a Print Preset and label it ‘Mixam’ in order to make sure you have the same color settings for every export.