Expert: Scott Valentine - 8/4/2008

Question
I am using Windows XP Photoshop Elements. I am using the Version 5.1 Service Pack 2.
I am just wondering what steps I would need to take to go about changing a RGB file to CMYK for printing purposes. Thanks!

Answer
Hi Kira,

First, be certain you really need to convert to CMYK. If you are sending your file to a print house, they should be able to convert it for you. Check with them for any equipment profiles you may need, also. If you are printing to a home inkjet printer, don't convert as the printer software will do this for you.

Since I don't use Elements, I can't give you exact steps, but you may be able to find the 'Color Space' settings in the help file. It is usually a simple process to convert, but there are caveats. The spaces are different, so colors will not map exactly, and some RGB colors don't exist in CMYK space. You will also need to read up on gamut warning to see what colors don't get mapped properly, and how to fix it.

This topic is pretty big, so I recommend getting a book on professional color management if you plan to do this a lot. And you might consider upgrading to Photoshop or Lightroom if you will be doing a lot of processing.

I hope this helps you get going in the right direction. Please let me know if you have further questions!

-Scott