CMYK Logo to RGB at DVinfo.net

Mark Ahrens · February 24th, 2012, 09:09 AM

How do you handle the color shift in corporate logos that are given to you as CMYK?
I've have the native AI file and change the color space to RGB and output a PNG, but it changes the corporate colors (slightly lightens them). I don't think slapping a CC on the logo in my NLE is an appropriate solution, but it's going to have to do until i figure this out.

Any advice or techniques?

Battle Vaughan · February 24th, 2012, 11:56 PM

The color shift is not predictable, because CMYK is not one color space --- (done properly) it is an image converted to match the specific ink spectrum of a particular press, paper color and dot gain.

Add to that undercolor replacement and grey component replacement (where the black plate replaces some of the colors which add up to neutrals in the c, m and y plates) and when all those extra considerations are added to the mix, it's pretty hard to return to the original, presumably RGB, image.

So I'm thinking it's an art, not a science, to AI or Photoshop the color balance and saturation to handle that specific image. I've had to do this in my checkered past as a photo editor, and each image was different....maybe your client has an original rgb version?

February 24th, 2012, 09:09 AM	#1
Mark Ahrens Major Player Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Plantation, FL Posts: 239	CMYK Logo to RGB How do you handle the color shift in corporate logos that are given to you as CMYK? I've have the native AI file and change the color space to RGB and output a PNG, but it changes the corporate colors (slightly lightens them). I don't think slapping a CC on the logo in my NLE is an appropriate solution, but it's going to have to do until i figure this out. Any advice or techniques? __________________ Mark Ahrens www.heritagefilms.net

February 24th, 2012, 11:56 PM	#2
Battle Vaughan Trustee Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Miami, FL USA Posts: 1,505	Re: CMYK Logo to RGB The color shift is not predictable, because CMYK is not one color space --- (done properly) it is an image converted to match the specific ink spectrum of a particular press, paper color and dot gain. Add to that undercolor replacement and grey component replacement (where the black plate replaces some of the colors which add up to neutrals in the c, m and y plates) and when all those extra considerations are added to the mix, it's pretty hard to return to the original, presumably RGB, image. So I'm thinking it's an art, not a science, to AI or Photoshop the color balance and saturation to handle that specific image. I've had to do this in my checkered past as a photo editor, and each image was different....maybe your client has an original rgb version? Last edited by Battle Vaughan; February 25th, 2012 at 12:30 AM. Reason: addendum