I am not an advanced Illustrator user so please talk in elementary terms. ![]()
I downloaded several vector files from shutterstock.com. I need to change them from RGB to CMYK. Below shows what happens when I switch the color profile. How do I keep this from happening? Image 1 is RGB. Image 2 is CMYK.
I'm using Illustrator 5.1 on a PC.
What exactly do you do? Please name the function you are suing.
On top of that: since nobody here knows how that file is built, probably no one can tell exactly what is happening. The image contains some transparency and a lot of blend modes. Those operate slightly differently in CMYK mode.
The blending modes appear different in the different color spaces because they are not affected by color management but the biggest change is in gradients. If the artwork uses one or a few gradients just redo them in the CMYK color space and you should be fine. For best possible match in order to use color management you have to first select all and rasterize the image at the output ppi resolution. Then when you convert to CMYK only out of gamut colors if any, will cause change in appearance.
Yes, I was going to suggest rasterizing as well and doing a strategic conversion to CKMY, not just a simple CONVERT. DONE. NEXT . . . But rather do it carefully so as to maintain the appearance as best as possible.
Of course, the OP image is obviously using plently of out of gamut RGB colors. The artwork will have to re-worked in order to convert to CMYK well.
Yes, there are some out of gamut RGB colors but they are not a problem for the color management conversion if there is no gradients and certain blending modes. This is straight conversion from sRGB to u.s. web coated swap v2. using the raster image and it would be the same if using vector objects with flat colors. Given the narrower CMYK gamut, I think that's the best it can get in matching the original RGB.
Blend modes are simply ways of combining overlapping colors. CMYK and RGB use two VERY different methods for blending colors (additive vs subtractive). So the result of a screen blend mode will be different across these color models. In order to convert this artwork to CMYK, then the suggestion mentioned above -- rasterizing your artwork -- is really the only recourse you have. You can do this by choosing Object > Rasterize, and then choosing an appropriate resolution. After that, you can then convert your document to the CMYK color space.
Mordy
Yes, as I suggested earlier, if all of these circles are using the same fill and appearance, it won't be a big effort to select and change them. It is most likely the gradient of these circles that needs adjustment. The blending modes can make a difference but not such big difference as shown on the image. Probably the blending modes can remain the same but with adjusted transparency. It is the gradients that are making the big difference.
Just out of curiosity, what happens if you go to View> Overprint preview?
Try opening your file in Acrobat and go to Tools> Print Production> Convert colors> Output intent (SWOP). If you are lucky, your file will be converted to CMYK without the missing parts, and will retain the vectors, although the colors will change.
overprint preview doesn't show it any differently.
Here's what it looks like when I did what you suggested in Acrobat....better, but shows more white around the bottom of the tree.
Rasterizing it seems to work.
Some of the terminology a couple of you use I'm not sure about because I'm not advanced in Illustrator.
Thanks so much for your help.
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