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Enabling CMYK color codes for proofing

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Level 2

11/27/23

Description:

Enabling CMYK color code for docs uploading in Proofing environment.

Why is this feature important to you:

We at Disney use Workfront for request and approval process of both digital and physical designs. We recently noticed the difference in colors in the PDF or JPEG uploaded to WorkFront so we created ticket to Adobe experience league. The issue was identified that we use CMYK color code for our proofs whereas Workfront only supports RGB. The common solution provided to this was to embed the RGB color code to the proof, but we cannot to do that in our case. As mentioned, the documents are used for both digital and physical printing purposes and the print media team only accept CMYK color coded designs.

How would you like the feature to work:

Our request would be to add the color code to Workfront Proof environment and deviate the color differences. As a developer, I know this is a big ask, but this issue stops the utmost necessity of using Workfront in our company with around more than 1000 users.

Current Behaviour:

Noticeable color variation in proofs

Alternate Solutions:

We are happy to hear any other solution for this issue.

Timeline:

Also, we would love to know if this request is being taken into consideration and the timeline for the change if approved.

Attachements:

We have attached some samples for reference. Case#00381284

 

Thanks,
Abisheik MS,

FileMaker and WorkFront Support,

Disney Music Groups.

7 Comments

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Level 10

11/28/23

We have solved this issue by embedding a CMY colour profile in our CMY proofs (for print) and an RGB profile in our RGB proofs (for screen).Screenshot 2023-10-26 at 10.19.31 am.jpg

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Level 2

12/5/23

But there is color variation in your screenshot. 

 

Also, embedding color profiles to the PDFs is not an option we prefer.

 

Thanks.

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Level 10

12/5/23

Of course there is a colour variation, RBG and CMY colours differ. CMY will never be able to display the range of colour that RGB can. The difference between additive and subtractive colour is basic colour theory.

If you don't want to embed a colour profile, you won't get accurate colour… in any system.

 

Is it that you want the colours to look the same whether it's RGB or CMY? If so, that's impossible due to the nature of subtactive vs additive colour.

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Level 2

12/5/23

@RandyRoberts I am not familiar with the color codes and design theories. But our issue is when a CYMK color coded image/PDF is added to Workfront, the Workfront proof changes the colors and variation can be seen. If we upload RGB color coded PDF, there is no variation. After reaching Workront support, I learnt that Workfront does not support CMYK color codes in Proof environment. The request was to add that in proofing. 

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Level 10

12/5/23

When you embed a colour profile, Workfront Proof honours the colour space. The notion that Workfront does not support CMY colour is wrong. As you can see from my screenshots, it works perfectly. Officially, Workfront says it's not supported probably because colour is pretty subjective. But many of us are using colour profiles and getting great results. If you want to be one of the users getting great results as well, just embed your colour profiles.

If you were to embed the CMY colour profile in your PDF, Proof would honour it and render it correctly. As would any other proofing system. See screenshot.

RGBCMYProofAcrobat.jpg

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Level 2

12/5/23

@RandyRoberts Just to be clear. Do you mean to embed my CMYK doc with RGB color profile and upload to Workfront? What happens once the proof is gone through the approval process and the last team would download it and send it to print production, where they will reject the doc because they simply won't use RGB color embedded doc for printing.

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Level 10

12/6/23

No. CMY PDFs render really well if all elements within the PDF are CMY (PSD, AI, INDD files) and a CMY profile is embedded. To render RGB files in Proof, don't embed any profile.

RGB rendering is the default so you don't have to do anything if the file's destination is digital.

CMY files should be pure CMY, meaning all the files within the PDF should be CMY as well. This is a standard decades old practice. Then embed the correct CMY profile in the document and upload to Proof. You can get CMY profiles from your print service provider if that's where they will ultimately end up. Most print houses will soft proof the file and correct any errors before print production anyway. There is never a need to embed a RGB profile in a CMY document.