> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.printery.app/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Color Conversion

> Convert RGB to CMYK with precision and control

## Color Conversion Overview

**Printery** converts your RGB designs to CMYK for professional printing, using industry-standard ICC profiles for accurate color reproduction.

<Note>
  **Why convert?** Screens use RGB (light), printers use CMYK (ink). Conversion ensures your colors print as expected.
</Note>

## Accessing Color Conversion

<Steps>
  <Step title="Select Frame">
    Click the frame you want to export
  </Step>

  <Step title="Launch Plugin">
    Plugins → Printery
  </Step>

  <Step title="Color Tab">
    Click **"Color"** tab in the plugin interface
  </Step>

  <Step title="Enable CMYK Conversion">
    Toggle: **"Convert to CMYK"** ✓ ON
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Key Color Settings

### 1. CMYK Conversion Toggle

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="Enabled (Recommended)">
    **When ON**:

    * All RGB colors converted to CMYK
    * Uses selected ICC profile
    * PDF contains CMYK values
    * Ready for professional printing

    **Result**:

    ```
    RGB (255, 0, 0) → CMYK (0, 100, 100, 0)
    Screen red      → Print red
    ```

    **Use for**: Professional printing
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Disabled">
    **When OFF**:

    * Colors stay RGB
    * No conversion performed
    * PDF contains RGB values
    * Printer handles conversion (risky!)

    **Result**:

    ```
    RGB (255, 0, 0) → RGB (255, 0, 0)
    Unknown CMYK result at printer
    ```

    **Use for**: Digital-only output, screen viewing
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

### 2. ICC Profile Selection

**Most important color decision!**

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="ISO Coated v2 300%">
    **Region**: Europe, Global

    **Standard**: ISO 12647-2

    **Paper**: Coated (glossy/matte)

    **Ink Limit**: 300% TAC

    **When to use**:

    * European printing
    * Standard commercial projects
    * Magazine/brochure production
    * **Default recommendation** (works 90% of time)

    **Color characteristics**:

    * Vibrant colors
    * Good gamut
    * Industry standard
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="US Web Coated (SWOP) v2">
    **Region**: United States

    **Standard**: SWOP

    **Paper**: Coated web press

    **Ink Limit**: 300% TAC

    **When to use**:

    * US printing
    * Magazine/newspaper
    * Web offset printing

    **Color characteristics**:

    * Slightly less vibrant than ISO
    * Optimized for US standards
    * Industry standard in USA
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="GRACoL 2006">
    **Region**: United States

    **Standard**: GRACoL

    **Paper**: Coated sheet-fed

    **Ink Limit**: 300% TAC

    **When to use**:

    * US high-end printing
    * Commercial sheet printing
    * Premium quality work

    **Color characteristics**:

    * Excellent reproduction
    * Tighter tolerances
    * Premium quality
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="PSO Uncoated">
    **Region**: Europe

    **Paper**: Uncoated offset

    **Ink Limit**: 260% TAC

    **When to use**:

    * Letterhead
    * Books (uncoated)
    * Envelopes
    * Natural paper

    **Color characteristics**:

    * More subdued
    * Lower ink limit
    * Organic look
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Custom ICC">
    **Pro Feature**: Upload custom profile

    **When to use**:

    * Printer provides specific profile
    * Specialty substrates
    * Color-critical work
    * Custom press setup

    **How to**:

    1. Get .icc file from printer
    2. Click "Upload Custom Profile"
    3. Select file
    4. Appears in dropdown

    See [ICC Profiles Guide](/color/icc-profiles)
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

### 3. Rendering Intent

**How to handle out-of-gamut colors** (colors that can't be reproduced in CMYK)

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="Relative Colorimetric">
    **Method**: Shifts out-of-gamut colors to nearest CMYK equivalent

    **Characteristics**:

    * Maintains in-gamut colors exactly
    * Clips out-of-gamut to gamut edge
    * Preserves white point
    * Most predictable

    **Best for**:

    * Logos (color accuracy)
    * Brand colors
    * Spot color simulation
    * **Default choice** (90% of cases)

    **Example**:

    ```
    Bright RGB blue → Closest CMYK blue
    (slightly less vibrant)
    ```
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Perceptual">
    **Method**: Compresses entire color range to fit CMYK gamut

    **Characteristics**:

    * Maintains color relationships
    * All colors shift proportionally
    * No clipping
    * Smoother gradients

    **Best for**:

    * Photographs
    * Images with many colors
    * Gradients
    * When relationships matter more than accuracy

    **Example**:

    ```
    All colors shift slightly
    But relationships preserved
    ```
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Saturation">
    **Method**: Maximizes color vividness

    **Characteristics**:

    * Ignores accurate color matching
    * Maximizes saturation
    * Shifts colors significantly
    * Vibrant output

    **Best for**:

    * Charts and graphs
    * Presentations
    * When impact > accuracy
    * Bold designs

    **Rarely used** for professional print
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Absolute Colorimetric">
    **Method**: Exact color simulation, including paper white

    **Characteristics**:

    * Most accurate possible
    * Simulates paper color
    * No white point adaptation
    * Used for proofing

    **Best for**:

    * Color proofing
    * Simulating one printer on another
    * Special applications

    **Almost never used** for normal printing
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

**Recommendation**: Use **Relative Colorimetric** for 95% of projects

### 4. Black Generation Method

**How CMYK black is created**

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="GCR (Gray Component Replacement)">
    **Method**: Replaces CMY gray with K (black ink)

    **How it works**:

    ```
    Instead of: C50 M50 Y50 K0 (gray from colors)
    Use: C10 M10 Y10 K70 (gray from black ink)
    ```

    **Characteristics**:

    * Lower total ink
    * Faster drying
    * Better neutrals
    * Industry standard

    **Advantages**:

    * Reduced TAC
    * Cleaner grays
    * Better registration (less critical)
    * Cost savings (less CMY ink)

    **Best for**: Most modern printing

    ✅ **Default recommendation**
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="UCR (Under Color Removal)">
    **Method**: Removes CMY only in dark areas (shadows)

    **How it works**:

    * Neutral shadows use black
    * Colors stay rich (more CMY)
    * Traditional method

    **Characteristics**:

    * Richer colors
    * Higher TAC
    * More ink used
    * Older standard

    **Advantages**:

    * Slightly richer colors
    * Some printers prefer

    **Disadvantages**:

    * Higher ink coverage
    * Longer drying
    * More critical registration

    **Best for**: Traditional presses, when requested
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Maximum GCR">
    **Method**: Maximum black, minimum CMY

    **How it works**:

    * Replaces CMY with K wherever possible
    * Very low total ink
    * Aggressive black generation

    **Characteristics**:

    * Lowest TAC
    * Fastest drying
    * Less vibrant colors

    **Best for**:

    * Newspaper printing
    * Low-quality paper
    * Fast-turnaround work

    **Rarely used** for quality printing
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

**Recommendation**: Use **GCR (Medium)** - the default ICC profile setting

### 5. Black Handling

**How to treat black elements**

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="Automatic">
    **Smart black conversion**:

    * Text → Pure black (K100)
    * Small elements → Pure black
    * Large areas → Rich black

    **Settings**:

    * Text \< 18pt: K100
    * Lines \< 2pt: K100
    * Shapes > 1 inch²: Rich black (C60 M40 Y40 K100)

    **Result**: Best of both worlds

    ✅ **Recommended** for most projects
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="All Pure Black">
    **Everything becomes K100**:

    * Text: K100
    * Shapes: K100
    * Backgrounds: K100

    **Characteristics**:

    * Safest choice
    * No registration issues
    * Lighter black appearance

    **Best for**:

    * Text-heavy documents
    * When registration is concern
    * Desktop printing

    **Trade-off**: Less dramatic black
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="All Rich Black">
    **Everything uses rich black**:

    * Formula: C60 M40 Y40 K100

    **Characteristics**:

    * Deepest black
    * Maximum impact
    * Registration-sensitive

    **⚠️ Warning**: NOT for text!

    **Best for**: Large solid areas only

    **Risk**: Text will blur
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Custom Formula">
    **Pro Feature**: Specify rich black recipe

    **Options**:

    * Cyan: 0-100%
    * Magenta: 0-100%
    * Yellow: 0-100%
    * Black: 90-100%

    **Example recipes**:

    * Cool: C60 M40 Y40 K100
    * Warm: C40 M60 Y60 K100
    * Neutral: C30 M30 Y30 K100

    **Check**: Total TAC ≤ 300%

    See [Black Handling Guide](/color/black-handling)
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

### 6. Spot Colors (Pro)

**Add Pantone or special inks**

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="Enable Spot Colors">
    **Toggle**: "Add Spot Colors" ✓

    **What it does**:

    * Converts specific colors to spot plates
    * Adds Pantone to CMYK
    * Creates separate ink plate

    **Use for**:

    * Brand colors (exact match)
    * Colors outside CMYK gamut
    * Metallic/fluorescent inks

    **Pro feature**: Requires Pro subscription
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Add Spot Color">
    **Process**:

    1. Click "Add Spot Color"
    2. Choose Pantone from library
    3. Or enter Pantone number (e.g., "185 C")
    4. Map to RGB color in design

    **Example**:

    ```
    Design color: RGB (200, 16, 46)
    Maps to: Pantone 185 C
    PDF plate: Pantone 185 C (spot)
    ```
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Spot Color Settings">
    **Density**: 0-100%

    * 100% = Full strength (standard)
    * 50% = Half tint
    * Custom = Special effects

    **Overprint**: Yes/No

    * Yes = Prints over CMYK
    * No = Knocks out background

    **Type**:

    * Coated (C) - Glossy paper
    * Uncoated (U) - Matte paper

    See [Spot Colors Guide](/color/spot-colors)
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

## Color Conversion Process

### What Happens Behind the Scenes

<Steps>
  <Step title="1. Color Detection">
    **Plugin scans your design**:

    * All fills (shapes, text)
    * All strokes (borders, lines)
    * All images (raster graphics)
    * All effects (shadows, glows)

    Identifies: RGB, HEX, HSL values
  </Step>

  <Step title="2. Profile Application">
    **ICC profile loaded**:

    * Selected profile (e.g., ISO Coated v2)
    * Contains color space definition
    * Defines conversion rules

    Creates: RGB → CMYK lookup table
  </Step>

  <Step title="3. Color Mapping">
    **Each color converted**:

    * RGB value input
    * Profile lookup
    * CMYK value output

    **Example**:

    ```
    RGB (255, 0, 0)  [Red]
    ↓ (ISO Coated v2 profile)
    CMYK (0, 100, 100, 0)  [Red]
    ```
  </Step>

  <Step title="4. Gamut Handling">
    **For out-of-gamut colors**:

    * Rendering intent applies
    * Relative: Shift to nearest
    * Perceptual: Compress range
    * Saturation: Maximize vividness

    **Result**: All colors within CMYK gamut
  </Step>

  <Step title="5. Black Generation">
    **For neutral/dark colors**:

    * GCR or UCR applied
    * CMY replaced with K where appropriate
    * TAC reduced

    **Example**:

    ```
    C50 M50 Y50 K0  (240% TAC)
    ↓ (GCR applied)
    C10 M10 Y10 K70  (100% TAC)
    ```
  </Step>

  <Step title="6. Special Handling">
    **Black elements**:

    * Automatic detection
    * Text → K100
    * Large shapes → Rich black

    **Spot colors** (if enabled):

    * Mapped colors → Pantone
    * Separate plates created
  </Step>

  <Step title="7. PDF Generation">
    **Final output**:

    * All colors now CMYK
    * ICC profile embedded
    * Spot color plates (if used)
    * Color space: DeviceCMYK
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Gamut Mapping

### Understanding CMYK Gamut

**RGB vs CMYK color range**:

```
RGB Gamut (Screen):
 ┌────────────────────┐
 │   Wider range      │
 │  ┌──────────────┐  │
 │  │ CMYK Gamut   │  │ Some RGB colors
 │  │ (Printable)  │  │ can't be printed
 │  └──────────────┘  │
 └────────────────────┘
```

**Problem areas**:

* **Bright blues**: RGB brighter than CMYK
* **Vivid greens**: RGB more saturated
* **Neon colors**: Impossible in CMYK
* **Bright oranges/reds**: Slight shift

### Out-of-Gamut Warning

**Plugin shows warnings**:

<Warning>
  **⚠️ 15 colors out of gamut**

  These RGB colors cannot be accurately reproduced in CMYK:

  * Bright blue (#00FFFF) - will be duller
  * Neon green (#00FF00) - will be less vibrant
  * ...

  Preview shows closest CMYK match
</Warning>

**Options**:

1. **Accept conversion** - Use closest CMYK match
2. **Adjust design** - Use CMYK-friendly colors
3. **Use spot colors** - Add Pantone for critical hues

## TAC (Total Area Coverage)

### TAC Limits by Profile

**Plugin enforces TAC limits**:

| Profile       | TAC Limit |
| ------------- | --------- |
| ISO Coated v2 | 300%      |
| FOGRA39       | 300%      |
| SWOP          | 300%      |
| GRACoL        | 300%      |
| PSO Uncoated  | 260%      |
| Japan Color   | 350%      |

### TAC Calculation

**Formula**:

```
TAC = C% + M% + Y% + K%
```

**Examples**:

```
✓ C60 + M40 + Y40 + K100 = 240% (OK for 300% limit)
✓ C30 + M30 + Y30 + K100 = 190% (OK)
✗ C100 + M100 + Y100 + K100 = 400% (EXCEEDS 300%)
```

### Automatic TAC Control

**Plugin automatically**:

* Calculates TAC for all colors
* Reduces if exceeds limit
* Applies GCR to lower total
* Ensures compliance

**What you see**:

```
Before: C80 M80 Y80 K50 (290% TAC) ✓
After GCR: C40 M40 Y40 K90 (210% TAC) ✓
```

## Color Accuracy

### Factors Affecting Accuracy

| Factor                  | Impact | Your Control               |
| ----------------------- | ------ | -------------------------- |
| **ICC Profile choice**  | High   | ✓ Select correct profile   |
| **Rendering intent**    | Medium | ✓ Choose intent            |
| **Source colors**       | High   | ✓ Design CMYK-friendly     |
| **Printer calibration** | High   | ✗ Printer's responsibility |
| **Paper type**          | Medium | ✓ Specify coated/uncoated  |
| **Monitor calibration** | High   | ✓ Calibrate if possible    |

### Improving Color Accuracy

<Steps>
  <Step title="1. Ask Your Printer">
    **Get specifications**:

    * Preferred ICC profile
    * TAC limit
    * Paper type
    * Special requirements

    **Why**: Eliminates guesswork
  </Step>

  <Step title="2. Use Correct Profile">
    **Match printer's spec**:

    * If US: SWOP or GRACoL
    * If Europe: ISO Coated v2
    * If custom: Upload their profile

    **Impact**: Biggest accuracy factor
  </Step>

  <Step title="3. Order Physical Proof">
    **Before full run**:

    * \$10-50 test print
    * Actual paper and ink
    * Verify colors in person

    **Adjust** if needed, then proceed
  </Step>

  <Step title="4. Design CMYK-Friendly">
    **Avoid problem colors**:

    * Neon/fluorescent
    * Bright RGB blues
    * Extreme saturation

    **Use**: CMYK color picker when designing
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Preview Before Converting

### Soft Proofing

**See CMYK preview before exporting**:

<Steps>
  <Step title="Enable Soft Proof">
    In plugin: "Preview CMYK Conversion" ✓
  </Step>

  <Step title="Side-by-Side Comparison">
    View:

    * Left: Original RGB
    * Right: Converted CMYK

    Compare colors
  </Step>

  <Step title="Identify Issues">
    Look for:

    * Major color shifts
    * Loss of vibrance
    * Unexpected changes
  </Step>

  <Step title="Adjust if Needed">
    * Change design colors
    * Try different profile
    * Add spot colors
    * Accept trade-offs
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Troubleshooting Color Conversion

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Colors look dull after conversion" icon="circle-half-stroke">
    **Cause**: RGB gamut larger than CMYK

    **Normal**: Some shift expected

    **Solutions**:

    * Use CMYK-friendly colors in design
    * Try Perceptual rendering intent
    * Add spot colors for critical hues
    * Order proof to verify
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="TAC exceeds limit error" icon="triangle-exclamation">
    **Cause**: Too much total ink

    **Plugin action**: Automatically reduces

    **Manual fix**:

    * Enable GCR
    * Reduce rich black formula
    * Check dark colors

    **Verify**: TAC ≤ profile limit
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Black looks wrong (too light or too colorful)" icon="circle">
    **Cause**: Black handling setting

    **Solutions**:

    * Text: Set to Pure Black (K100)
    * Backgrounds: Set to Rich Black
    * Check automatic mode enabled
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Printer says wrong color space" icon="palette">
    **Cause**: Incorrect ICC profile

    **Fix**:

    * Ask printer for profile name
    * Select correct profile
    * Re-export PDF
    * Verify with printer
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Color Conversion Checklist

Before exporting:

* [ ] **CMYK conversion enabled**: Toggle ON
* [ ] **ICC profile selected**: ISO Coated v2 or printer-specified
* [ ] **Rendering intent**: Relative Colorimetric (usually)
* [ ] **Black generation**: GCR enabled
* [ ] **Black handling**: Automatic (text=K100, shapes=rich)
* [ ] **TAC compliance**: ≤ 300% (or profile limit)
* [ ] **Spot colors configured**: If using Pantone
* [ ] **Preview checked**: Soft proof reviewed

## Learn More

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="ICC Profiles Guide" icon="palette" href="/color/icc-profiles">
    Choose the right profile
  </Card>

  <Card title="RGB vs CMYK" icon="code-compare" href="/color/rgb-vs-cmyk">
    Deep dive into color models
  </Card>

  <Card title="Black Handling" icon="circle" href="/color/black-handling">
    Pure vs rich black
  </Card>

  <Card title="Spot Colors" icon="droplet" href="/color/spot-colors">
    Pantone and special inks
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

***

<Info>
  **Pro Tip**: 95% of projects work perfectly with: ISO Coated v2 + Relative Colorimetric + GCR + Automatic black handling!
</Info>