Proofing in WF needs to be able to support CMYK file not just RGB

First, Proof will create a preview based on print settings. A proof is really just a print, but on screen.

Having said that, It may depend on where your document originated. I found a bug in colour space when the originating document is from InDesign in July 2021. Proof was not honoring the color profile attached to the document. Our instance was patched to correct it. The original Case is Case #00258547 from July of 21. The problem popped back up and was patched again in March of 2022. Case #00300854.

I would submit a ticket and cite these 2 cases if you're having the issue of Proof not honoring color profiles from InDesign. Remember that just beccause your document is in the CMY or RGB space does not guarantee it has the correct color profile for that color space.

I did submit a ticket and they referred me to this chat room saying this:

"It is a forum-based format, but our Product teams use those ideas to determine customer interest in new features. Any and all feature requests go through that Ideas pipeline."

So this is me asking for the Adobe WorkFront proofing to work like Adobe Acrobat and that it supports CMYK files. CMYK files and RGB files do not show up the same. So it should be reflecting in the proofing. Not to support CMYK file is just silly. I know we are in a RGB digital world but CMYK still needs to be represented. 

As you can see below, Proof honours color spaces just fine. There's no need to change anything.

Here is my example. Same CMYK file being previewed/proofed in Workfront on the left and then in Acrobat on the right. See the gradient dropping out on the left. The team at Workfront says the Workfront proofing preview can only preview in RGB which changes the artwork. 

I suspect there is something off with your original document color profiles and color spaces as Acrobat and Proof display exactly the same for my renders. I am on a color calibrated Retina monitor so it shows even the slightest color shifts and as you can see here, Acrobat displays exactly the same as Proof for RBG as well as CMY. Also, the colors displayed translate to the printed piece perfectly. The information you're getting from your support source doesn't match what's actually in real world use. Proof renders CMY color profiles as well as RGB profiles.

What I am concerned about is CMYK printed posters and magazines. Not any RGB ads.

I am requesting to have a final proof that is ready for the actual printer to be able to be proofed and stored in Workfront. 

Also:

This is what I got from the Workfront representative and I need to bring up this issue here to fix it:

"""At this time, there are no plans to add support for CYMK color profiles in Proofing. Proofing was originally built for online content. Websites, add banners, etc. As such, files being reviewed for print will require some workaround. In this case, embedding the color profile to the PDF should suffice for an online review of the file.

However, Workfront is also moving toward the complete replacement of Proofing via a native tool. With that in mind, we would strongly recommend submitting an "Idea to Experience League" detailing the value of support for CYMK (and any other color profile you see as standard). This allows our Production teams to see what customers want in the application. Right now would be the perfect time to do this, as the replacement is still in the conceptual stage."""

Just want the proofer in Workfront to support CMYK files.

Well, my Proof already has support for CMYK files and it works perfectly as evidenced in my screenshots so I hope they don't change anything.

@randyroberts @davezarski 

We always try to maintain as much a like for like experience coming from web to print but as Workfront Proof is an online tool that is never guaranteed. CMYK is not officially supported as an output format for proofs but we try to reproduce CMYK by converting files into sRGB.

This year, we‘ve switched from an external provider to an Adobe internal tool for the processing of PDF files to even better comply with Adobe Color standards and configurations. There might be differences in the way the files get converted into sRGB depending on the used processing tool; so some cases are better handled than others, such as edge cases like mixing CMYK and RGB colour profiles or where the colours are blending together. Due to the nature of complex configurations, not all cases can be handled equally well.

Thanks for the clarification @caroossmann .

I have found that CMY PDFs render really well if all elements within the PDF are CMY (PSD, AI, INDD files) and a CMY profile is embedded. This is standard practice for print files anyway so I think it behaves as it should, and really well I might add.

I think it may be a better practice for the support reps to explain that it does in fact work really well but Adobe won''t guarantee perfect colour matching. Telling folks it's not supported just makes them think it can't be done and its just another important thing Workfront can't do.

Please reference this thread as well: https://experienceleaguecommunities.adobe.com/t5/workfront-ideas/enabling-cmyk-color-codes-for-proofing/idi-p/635572