Sponsored by the National Association of Photoshop Professionals. Learn More

Once You’re In CMYK Mode, Stay There

 

You’ve read some techniques in this chapter that require you to be in either RGB mode or Lab Color mode; however, if for any reason your image is already in CMYK mode, do not (I repeat, do not) convert to RGB or Lab mode for any reason. Once you’ve converted to CMYK mode, the data loss from the conversion has already occurred, and switching back to RGB mode won’t bring back those lost colors. What’s worse is, if you switch from CMYK to RGB (or Lab), when you convert back to CMYK mode, you’ll go through another CMYK conversion and damage your image even more. The moral of this story is-once you’re in CMYK mode, stay there.

3 Comments

  1. Chris said on — July 29, 2009 @ 6:09 pm

    Suddenly, in the last two weeks, I cannot access CMYK mode in Photoshop. It is not grayed out… it has completely disappeared from the list. I use this feature every week to convert files for offset printing. I’m using Photoshop 10.0.1 (CS3) with Mac OS 10.5.7

    Something else that happened… the Photoshop desktop takes over the entire monitor. I cannot have two images visible at the same time.

    Very bizarre. Very counter-productive

    HELP!

  2. Cliff said on — February 5, 2010 @ 5:57 pm

    Chris, did you get your Photoshop to work? My CMYK disappeared too and I can’t get it back.

  3. Cristi said on — July 14, 2010 @ 12:48 am

    Reset your Photoshop workspace to default under Window -> Workspace. This will bring back all missing menu items.

RSS feed for comments on this post. TrackBack URI

Leave a comment

Photoshop Tutorials

  • Flare Effects

    Corey has a cool trick for creating a flare brush and see how one effect can lead to another.

  • Hollywood Touch-Ups

    See how you can add some subtle touches to give that green screen studio shot the Hollywood treatment.

  • 3D Christmas Ornaments

    Corey shows how to create reflective holiday ornaments using 3D in Photoshop.

  • 3D Distortions

    This week Corey has a cool new trick for using 3D reflections in a rather creative way!

Premium Video Tutorials From NAPP


 

Create A Composite Layer

If you have a multilayer composition and you
want to apply an effect to all the layers at once, don’t flatten the layers–use a composite layer instead. Hide the layers you want excluded, and press Shift-Command-Option-E (PC: Shift-Ctrl-Alt-E). A new layer will be created at the top containing a merged copy of all the visible layers.

Another option is to create a new layer at the top of the stack and make it active. Command-click (PC: Ctrl-click) each layer you want to include to make those layers active, as well. Press Option-Command-E (PC: Alt-Ctrl-E).
by Colin Smith

Read More Tips

Tip of the Day
 
 
Kelby Training
 
DVD Special
Online Training
Kelby Training