The exclamation point means you have an out of gamut color selected.
What color mode are you in?
It happens when I’m in CMYK or RGB… it didn’t always do this… did I change something in my printer without knowing it?
it didn’t always do this
It’s been a feature in Photoshop for as long as I can remember. You just never noticed it or never used an out of gamut color.
Bob
The exclamation point means that a particular color wont convert 100% correctly when going to CMYK, the color it shows you is the color that WILL convert to CMYK.
The fact that you cant select that color in RGB mode is strange.
What color are you trying to select? What’s the percentage/build?
Thanks Jason!
It’s with almost all colors, almost all blues…The color options are very limiting. And what I meant by "it didn’t always do this" was that I used to be able to access most colors. The way it is now,with most colors I select it tells me I can only use a dingy version of it… always…very frustrating… I really don’t think this is normal…
It’s perfectly normal. The CMYK color gamut is much narrower than the RGB color gamut. There’s no sense in letting you use a color that you can’t possibly print.
Bob
Though if she is working in RGB as she says she does (at least some of the time) then she should be able to define and use out-of-gamut colors.
In the small window next to the one that reveals the color I have chosen there is an exclamation mark and then the color that will be seen, which is different from the color I have chosen
That little box under the "!" is the closest in-gamut color to the one you are selecting, but it should NOT indicate the color you will end up with unless you are working in CMYK.
Clicking on that box will redefine your color to in-gamut, but if you don’t do that you should still be able to use the brighter colors of within the wider RGB gamut.
A prime example would be 255R/0G/255B which in any setup should look like a very vibrant magenta, whereas the closest in-gamut color is very very dull looking by comparison.
When you specify 255R/0G/255B in the RGB fields of the color picker, while working in RGB can you fill with that vibrant color?
I don’t know enough about the proof preview, but if this was somehow permanently on, it would account for not being able to see out-of-gamut colors in RGB.
Perhaps, but it never did it before and it limits ALL colors. I am talking about the most basic blue, green, whatever… And it’s in RGB as well. I am telling you- whatever color I go to, no matter how standard, that exclamation mark comes up… in RGB and CYMK. It can’t be the printer because I can print these colors on other programs… If you saw how limited my color spectrum is you’d understand… I can’t work! It wont let me use ANYTHING…
Pehaps something got hosed somewhere, then. Try trashing your prefs. Details are in the FAQs.
Bob
OK what happens if in the color picker you type these numbers in the RGB fields:
R: 160
G: 200
B: 160
Kind of a light minty green. Couldn’t be out of gamut, no how no way.
Are you saying you get a gamut warning on THAT color too???
If so, delete your preferences.
It’s possible you hit control+Y which sends you into proof colors mode (and the default is CMYK) which would change your view even in RGB mode. Go to view>proof colors and un-check it. This would display at the top of your window as (RGB/8/CMYK).
Thanks, John, I didn’t see your post when I replied last…
I put in those numbers and still- the exclamation… when I click on the box below the exclamation mark, it still wont change to the color I am trying to access. The default color it goes to when I put in your numbers was: 188R/90G/157B. Weird… and very ugly…I am willing to try anything…
Thanks, Sandy… I tried that but it doesn’t seem to make a difference…
John,
No, that color is okay. Really anything that is greyish I can access, the minute I start going toward a brighter color, like with this color, if I move the color picker up I’m okay until about: 177R/227G/123B then it’s exclamations all the way. If I move the color picker to the side it’s okay until: 123G/192G/123B.
Thanks for all of your help, everybody!!
How do I trash my preferences?
Sounds about right. I go out of gamut at about the same point you do.
I don’t think there is anything wrong on your end.
Do me a favor.
Type:
R: 255
G: 0
B: 255
In the color picker, and say OK.
Now fill an RGB file with that color.
Also fill a CMYK file with that color.
Those 2 files should look very different.
Bring up the color picker again.
Does the fill in the RGB file look like the bright magenta color and the CMYK file like the duller darker purpler color in the little square?
uh, okay, I trashed my preferences and it doesn’t make a difference! MAAAAAN!!!
Any other suggestions?
okay, John, I think I did what you wanted me to…I colored a file with that magenta. The exclamation is coming up, but the color I am seeing is the correct color… I don’t know what that means, but at least I can SEE the right color…
There is nothing wrong.
There never was.
You just never noticed what was happening in the color picker.
I don’t know what that means
It means you are working in RGB using out-of-gamut colors to your CMYK destination.
Google "color gamuts" and read up.
But when I printed before, I never noticed the colors being dingy until recently… And is it normal to have your colors be so limited? Even the most basic colors? Shouldn’t the color gamut include a basic blue?
What kind of printer?
Bob
Yes it is normal.
The graphical representation in the color picker is designed to include a much wider gamut than any CMYK gamut.
Shouldn’t the color gamut include a basic blue?
Type:
C: 100
M: 75
Y: 0
K: 0
In the color picker.
Basic blue: No exclamation point.
I have an inexpensive printer, but it does okay- it’s a canon S750… so, you guys are saying it’s the printer?
No we’re saying it is the nature of printing with 4 inks, CMYK.
The colors you can produce are limited, even on a very very expensive printing press.
You should not be using CMYK with that printer. CMYK is for postscript output only.
Bob
I usually use RGB… the only reason I went to CYMK was because of this particluar problem. I was trying to see if that made a difference- obviously not!! HA! OH WELL!!!
But your printer is CMYK, and even though it is best to send it RGB numbers and let it do the conversion, you are still limited in your printable colors.
If you profiled it you could get a decent proof preview.
Printing in RGB will yield much brighter colors than printing in CMYK.
Bob
OOOOHHHHH! How do I do that?
By the way, thanks fo rall of the help!! I appreciate it!
There is no such thing as printing in RGB.
You can send RGB data, but it comes out CMYK on the paper.
If you used Red Green and Blue inks how would you ever get a yellow?
Semantics.
Use RGB data to print to any non-postscript printer. You will get far better results.
Bob
Okay… so how do I get it printed in all its vibrancy? Any suggestions?
Use RGB and good paper. Make sure your print settings are correct.
Bob
….and don’t expect " all its vibrancy", just an improvement over sending CMYK data.
OKAY, thanks you guys! I appreciate it! I run a non-profit and because of lack of funds I end up wearing a lot of hats (like graphic designer) even though that’s not what I am. So, I appreciate your input. Forgive me if I sound like a novice. I will try your suggestions.
Check out our site: www.iwantchange.org, you’ll see what I mean about wanting a certain "vibrancy"
Thanks again!!
Lara.
<color noob>Is it possible Lara has assigned an odd profile (on purpose or by accident) to her image or her output that wasn’t there before?</CN>
Not if she’s in RGB and NOT soft proofing.
<color noob>ok. maybe not then… i was thinking you could set a printer profile that would muck up her output. or is that what soft proofing is? (I thought that was viewing a sw approximation of a given destination profile?)</cn>
