If you’re using Adobe software, here’s how to set up your colour mode for a new project.
How to set the colour mode in Photoshop
The Colour Mode setting in Photoshop is included in the New Document window
When you create a new document in Photoshop, the Colour Mode option will be included with other parameters in the New Document window.
How to set the colour mode in Illustrator
The Colour Mode setting in Illustrator is hidden within the Advanced Options menu in the New Document window
When you create a new document in Illustrator, the Colour Mode option will be hidden under the Advanced Options collapsable menu. Click on the arrow to expand this menu.
How to set the colour mode in InDesign
The colour mode is automatically set depending on whether you choose a Print (CMYK) or Web/Mobile (RGB) document
You can set the colour space of individual swatches by using the Colour Mode dropdown menu in the Swatch Options panel
InDesign automatically sets the default colour mode depending on which type of document you choose (either in the Print or Web/Mobile category, which translate to CMYK or RGB respectively).
When you work with colours inside the program, you’ll notice that swatches will already be measured in RGB or CMYK values depending on which type of document you are working in. Because InDesign allows you to mix colour spaces, you can change the colour mode of individual swatches whenever you create one, but in general it is best to keep colours consistent.
How to check whether your document is in RGB or CMYK mode
If you can’t remember what mode you set your document to or you are working with someone else’s file, here’s how you check the colour mode.
How to check the colour mode in Photoshop
Image > Mode
In Photoshop, the colour mode is listed in parenthesis in the document’s tab. You can also find it by navigating to Image > Mode. The document’s colour mode will have a checkmark next to it.
How to check the colour mode in Illustrator
File > Document Colour Mode
In Illustrator, the colour mode is listed in parenthesis in the document’s tab. You can also find it by navigating to File > Document Colour Mode. The document’s colour mode will have a checkmark next to it.
How to check the colour mode in InDesign
CMYK colour mode is shown in the Colours panel
One easy way to check the colour mode in InDesign is to use the Colour panel. Navigate to Window > Colour > Colour to bring up the Colour panel if it is not already open. You will see colours measured in individual percentages of CMYK or RGB, depending on your document’s colour mode.
How to convert between RGB and CMYK
Some of you may be thinking, “Well, this article would have come in handy when I first started the project!”
Don’t despair. Yes, it’s important to start a project in the correct format, but it’s still possible to convert between RGB and CMYK if you need to.
Be prepared for the colours to look different (darker or lighter due to additive or subtractive mixing). If you are a designer, you will have to explain this to your client. And in addition to changing the document’s colour space, you may need to change the colours themselves to find an approximation of what you had before.
Here’s how to use design software to convert between RGB and CMYK colour modes.
How to change the colour space in Photoshop
Edit > Convert to Profile
Use the Destination Space dropdown menu to change the colour mode
To change the colour mode of your Photoshop document, navigate to Edit > Convert to Profile. This will bring up a dialogue box. What you want to pay attention to is the Destination Space field. Use the dropdown to select your desired colour mode.
There are different libraries of RGB and CMYK colours, which is why you will see multiple options. For general purposes, the first two options are fine, but you may want to check with your printer beforehand to be sure of what they need.
If your image is not already flattened, check the Flatten Image to Preserve Appearance box as your colours may not come out as well in multiple layers with blending/transparency between them. Once you’re ready, hit OK and you will see the colour mode information change in the tab at the top of your document.
How to change the colour space in Illustrator
Edit > Edit Colours, select the colour space you want to convert to
To change the colour mode of your Illustrator file, select all objects in your document. Navigate to Edit > Edit Colours and select your desired colour space.
How to change the colour space in InDesign
File > Adobe PDF Presets > [Press Quality]
Select Output on the left side and use the Destination dropdown menu to convert the colour mode
You can change the colour mode of your InDesign document in the export process. Navigate to File > Adobe PDF Presets > [Press Quality] and select a save destination. In the Export Adobe PDF popup box, select Output on the left side and use the Destination dropdown menu in the Colour section to choose your desired colour mode.
This method can be helpful in a pinch, but if you are working with a lot of different images, it is best to change the image’s colour mode through their native programs (like Photoshop or Illustrator) assuming you have linked them. For more tips on how all three Adobe programs work together, check out this blog post.
Know Your Colour Modes
Knowing how the colours interact to define a pigment can give you greater control over how the final colour looks, and therefore greater control over your final design. The more you work within a particular colour mode the better you’ll get at predicting how the design file will translate to an end product. That’s why if you want picture-perfect colours every time, it’s best to hire a professional designer.