Photoshop and Illustrator color consistencies…

AW
Posted By
Allen_W
Dec 16, 2003
Views
417
Replies
8
Status
Closed
I’m using Photoshop CS and Illustrator CS. How can I keep colors consistent when I’m pasting between files in the same (but between RGB and CMYK files) or across each program (in same or different color modes)? I currently have "North American General Purpose Defaults" set as my "color settings" for both programs. (I live in the US so I assume that’s the best color setting. I am also aware that not all RBG colors show up in CMYK, but I want to keep the in-gamut RGB colors the same in CMYK mode.) Thanks.
Related Tags
color illustrator

How to Improve Photoshop Performance

Learn how to optimize Photoshop for maximum speed, troubleshoot common issues, and keep your projects organized so that you can work faster than ever before!

L
LenHewitt
Dec 16, 2003
Allen,

That’s not the best choice…..

Better select CUSTOM and then AdobeRGB(1998) for your rgb working space and probably US Swop coated for your working CMYK. Once set SAVE your settings to a colour settings file (.CSF) from the Edit>Colour Settings d/box.

In Illustrators Edit>Colour Settings d/box LOAD the .CSF you just saved. Now you can be sure both applications are using identical colour settings.
AW
Allen_W
Dec 16, 2003
Is that the standard way to work on US systems? Thanks.
L
LenHewitt
Dec 17, 2003
Allen,

Ideally your CMYK output profile would be specific to the press for which the job was destined, and you would change it to match the press you were targeting.

Fairly obviously, you would not use the US Swop Coated if you were intending printing of uncoated stock, for instance, and you may prefer to use a sheetfed profile rather than a web profile if you are not printing on a web offset press.

IOW the profile should match the intended use, so the word ‘standard’ isn’t really applicable…..
AW
Allen_W
Dec 17, 2003
I don’t really take my work out for print. I do my all my printing needs at home on my Epson Stylus Color 740 (from mid 1999). But where my clients decide to get things printed, I have no idea. Should I have my CMYK color management settings off? What about my RGB color management (should it be off or set to my monitor model – Mitsubishi DP920)? Thanks.
E
emencz
Dec 17, 2003
This site is really helpful for color management.

<http://www.computer-darkroom.com/>
L
LenHewitt
Dec 17, 2003
Allen,

Should I have my CMYK color management settings off? <<

NO! Set it to US Swop coated.

should it be off or set to my monitor model – Mitsubishi DP920<<

Neither – it should be set to AdobeRGB(1998), and you should have created a profile for your monitor with Adobe Gamma….
AW
Allen_W
Dec 17, 2003
CMYK = Set it to US Swop coated.

RBG = Neither – it should be set to AdobeRGB(1998), and you should have created a profile for your monitor with Adobe Gamma….

———

I take it those are the standard settings to use in the US?

BTW: If I never used Adobe Gamma on this computer, does that mean I don’t have a profile?
L
LenHewitt
Dec 18, 2003
Allen,

I take it those are the standard settings to use in the US?<<

"common" would be a better description than "standard"

If I never used Adobe Gamma on this computer, does that mean I don’t have
a profile?<<

It means you do not have an accurate MONITOR profile for your specific monitor, and you cannot rely that what you see on screen is representative of the data in the file.

How to Improve Photoshop Performance

Learn how to optimize Photoshop for maximum speed, troubleshoot common issues, and keep your projects organized so that you can work faster than ever before!

Related Discussion Topics

Nice and short text about related topics in discussion sections