Will look like this with Document CMYK set to Coated FOGRA39:īut with Document CMYK set to PSO Uncoated, it will look more faded because the gamut is smaller: With Overprint Preview turned on they are displayed as if they were converted from their embedded RGB profile to the CMYK profile chosen as Document CMYK.įor example an RGB image looking like this: If you are a little in doubt about color profiles and don't know exactly what you are doing and why, I would always recommend to only place RGB images with an embedded color profile. They are assumed to have the RGB profile chosen as Document RGB and with Overprint Preview turned on they are displayed as if they were converted from that to the CMYK profile chosen as Document CMYK.

RGB swatchesĪlthough all swatches in a print document will be CMYK by default, it's also possible to make RGB swatches. In a print document, when you turn on View > Overprint Preview the graphics and images are displayed as they would look if they were printed according to the Document CMYK. The main reason for caring about which profile to use for your InDesign document from the beginning is that it affects the preview. So you are not confined by what the settings where when you created your document. You can also choose a different profile when exporting a PDF. Setting up Working Spaces in the Color Settings affects new documents, but you can always change the settings for an existing document later by using Edit > Assign Profiles. If you receive a print where you think the colors are a little bit off and the print house discovers that you didn't use the recommended profile, they might park the complaint right there. To use the wrong profile can affect the colors on the final print, but even if there is little difference between the profile you choose and the recommended one, there is also a responsibility issue.

Unless I absolutely have to, I wouldn't export a PDF for print before knowing where the document will be printed, on which kind of paper and which ICC profile the print house recommends for that paper. It's not possible to make a PDF which will be perfect under all circumstances. The same CMYK numbers will look differently when printed according to different standards. First of all you need to accept that different printers follow different standards.

How to install icc profile indesign