RGB - CMYK problems

i just designed a flyer in RGB and when i try to convert it for print in CMYK the colors become very dull......it might be my color settings - i dont know ?

Flyer in RGB

Flyer in CMYK


thanks,
anthony

Keep in mind that for the most part all colors will always be a rough estimation, so that your colors on screen, dtp printer and offset printer will vary even if they are the same color modules. The only way to get "actual" "actual" colors is using PMS (Pantone). An example of Pantone and it's perfect workings is to think, "Coca Cola red" you can pick up a Coke can in Seattle and one in New York and they will both be the same exact color.

Why don't we just always use Pantone colors? We can't mostly because of cost and it doesn't make sense (I don't have time for that long winded part of the answer).

When you convert from RGB to CMYK colors will always fade. Why? because the are "seeing" and producing colors in two different ways.

(The short answers)
RGB builds color with the inclusion on light, so colors will always be more vibrant.

CMYK builds colors with the addition of more colors, but since it only uses color in it's mix some times, over all, there is less color, so it is more dull (this is a bit hard to illustrate but here goes)

So we all can follow I will start with a web color (since those colors are absolute, for the most part) and use it to help compare the RGB and CMYK module.

I pick a blue...

Web color 2924FE

The RGB color breakdown to the sample blue color is R-41 B-36 B-254, so this blue uses 3 colors to create the blue.

The CMYK color breakdown to the sample color is C-87 M-78 Y-0 K-0, so this blue only uses 2 colors to create that blue.

Less color means duller color...

Why not only use RBG? Because CMYK is the standard.

Soooo... what do you do?

Try to never create a offset print piece in RGB, you will always be disappointed.

If you want vibrant colors and can't pay for Pantone? You will have to create color mixes that "simulate" the RGB color you want to approximate.

PHEW! hope this helps...

hmmm 'cos Pantone are the only people in the business of colour ;)

however the rest of the arguement makes sense in the most, obviously the most obvious answer to work created in a RGB enviroment is to colour correct as best as possible when in CMY workspace, failing that....

1st rule is, to never make print work etc.. in the CMY workspace.

Certain colours never transfer correctly, in my limited experience are, oranges and browns and a limited number of reds.

Ultimately as pointed out, limited colours, means limited options, print-wise.

This isn't my personal argument (see comment above), this is the reality of offset printing. Any magazine, book, newspaper is printed in CMYK, so to suggest not printing in CMYK?!?!?!?

If your creation is just meant to be a digital item that is going to be printed on your home computer or at your local Kinkos do it in RGB.

I do agree that reds, yellows and oranges can get very muddy.

Also, yes Pantone is an evil empire, but until another standard is set, we are in a bind...

lol - I think I may have got my wording confused - I meant to say ALWAYS designate files for print as CMYK.

If you have created it in RGB and cannot re-create it for CMYK, then the best option is to change the colourspace and then colour correct.

Sorry for my insane mumbing ;)

I got scared!

thanks for the help. i was going crazy trying to figure out what went wrong lol I pretty much fixed the color the best I could and made it a little sharper using curves



thanks again : )

design in rgb and convert to your flavor of cmyk and then color correct like both hermit and bluediva mentioned, rgb is a much more flexable fileformat more colors in the crayon box why limit yourself :D nice work to the above two people hermit and diva

i agree with everyone...

i LOVE your fliar [if it is a fliar] tho. better than what i can do =)

Heres a tip to help determine if you will suffer color shifts before you make the RGB>CMYK conversion.

When your still in RGB, go 'View/Gamut Warning'.
Photoshop will temporarily convert the trouble areas to gray.
Go back to 'View/Gamut Warning' to toogle back to normal view.

The Gamut Warning basically tells you that there is no exact equivalent CMYK color to match that of your chosen RGB one, so it will shift to the nearest possible solution.

One option to help correct this before conversion is to open the 'Window/Color Palette'.
Then select the Eyedropper Tool and click the areas that the Gamut Warning indicated.
When you click on any of the troubled areas, the Color Palette will reveal a small 'Triangle Icon' with an exclamation mark in the middle. Simple click on that icon and Photoshop will correct it to the nearest printer friendly color.

heathrowe