How to Convert RGB to CYMK and Export to PDF
Digital documents and print documents create colors in different ways. Digital documents use an RGB color space, which combines red, green and blue light. Print documents, however, use cyan, magenta, yellow and black ink. Consequently, RGB colors may look different when printed. To approximate how the printed image will look, you can change an RGB color space into CMYK. You can also export the converted file into a PDF so others can view it. Many of Adobe's digital design programs, such as Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign, can help you accomplish both of these tasks.
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Instructions
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Photoshop
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Open the document in Adobe Photoshop.
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Choose "Mode" from the Image menu, then select "CMYK."
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Click on the "File" menu and choose "Save As."
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Name the document, then select a target location.
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Choose "Photoshop PDF" from the Format drop-down menu, then click "Save." The Save Adobe PDF dialog box will appear.
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Select a PDF preset that best suits the target format of your document, or create custom settings.
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Click "Save PDF."
Illustrator
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Open the document in Adobe Illustrator.
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Select "Document Color Mode" from the File menu, then choose "CMYK Color."
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Click on the "File" menu and choose "Save As."
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Name the document, then select a target location.
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Choose "Adobe PDF" from the "Format" drop-down menu, then click "Save." The Save Adobe PDF dialog box will appear.
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Select a PDF preset that best suits the target format of your document or create custom settings.
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Click "Save PDF."
InDesign
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Import the file into InDesign by clicking the File menu and selecting "Place."
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Resize the image to fill the document, if necessary.
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Click on the "File" menu and choose "Export."
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Name the file, then select a destination location.
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Choose "Adobe PDF" from the Save As drop-down menu in Windows or from the Format drop-down menu on a Mac.
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Click "Save." A pop-up window will appear containing PDF settings.
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Select a PDF preset that best suits the target format of your document.
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Select "Output" from the categories on the left side of the dialog box.
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Select "Convert to Destination" from the "Color Conversion" drop-down menu.
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Select "U.S. Web Coated (SWOP) v2" from the Destination drop-down menu. This instructs the program to save the document in the CMYK color standard for publication.
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Choose "U.S. Web Coated (SWOP) v2" from the Output Intent Profile Name drop-down menu, if available.
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Click "Export" or "Save" to begin conversion to a CMYK PDF file.
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References
- Adobe Photoshop CS5 Help: Convert An Image to Another Color Mode
- Adobe Photoshop CS5 Help: Save a File in Photoshop PDF Format
- Adobe Illustrator CS5 Help: Change the Color Mode of a Document
- Adobe Illustrator CS5 Help: Create Adobe PDF Files
- Adobe InDesign CS5 & CS5.5 Help: Place (Import) Graphics
- Adobe InDesign CS5 & CS5.5 Help: Export to PDF for Printing
Resources
- Photo Credit Photodisc/Photodisc/Getty Images
