Photoshop - How to convert the RGB colour mode to CMYK
Digital printing services,postcard,business cards,poster,flyers,letterhead,fridge magnet,docket book > Preparing files, help & links > RGB to CMYK > Photoshop - How to convert RGB to CMYKThis page is set up in two sections:
- Setting up a Photoshop file in the CMYK colour gamut, and
- Converting the colour mode of your file on Photoshop from RGB to CMYK.
Selecting the CMYK colour mode on a new Photoshop file
First, open a new file in Photoshop (see below image)
Your PC screen will look similar to the screen-shot below (but there will NOT be any read arrows).
The next step is to fill in all the details such as the name of the file, the measurements of the file, and so on.
When you get to the colour mode option (see read arrow above), click on the box and a drop-down menu will appear (see image below).
Click on CMYK as the colour mode.
Click "OK" and your Photoshop file is now set up for the CMYK colour mode.
Converting the colour mode from RGB to CMYK on an existing Photoshop file
If you have already set up a Photoshop file, and you are not sure what the colour mode is; or, if you know your Photoshop files is set in RGB and you need to change the colour mode to CMYK, then the solution is very easy.
Choose: "Image" > "Mode".
The Photoshop file in the below image is already set on CMYK (i.e.: CMYK has a 'tick' against it), so the colour mode does NOT need to be changed.
If the "RGB Color" had a 'tick' against it, the Photoshop file would be RGB and it would need to be changed to CMYK. This is done by 'clicking' on the "CMYK Color" tag — and your Photoshop file would then be in the correct CMYK colour mode.
If you need more help on setting up Photoshop files, then try our "How to prepare Adobe Photoshop files for printing" pages.
