IF YOUR CLIENTS VIEW YOUR PROOFS ON THEIR SMART PHONES OR TABLETS, this tip is for you:
It’s becoming a new trend for clients to view your print design proofs on their mobile or tablet devices. While computers and laptops are good at showing CMYK/Pantone color values close enough to get the general idea, these other devices are not. So instead, they see very bold, neon colors that don’t match your design proof at all. You’ll need to convert your file to RGB color mode.
If you’re using Photoshop or Illustrator, converting your file over from CMYK to RGB to show to a client is easy. For Photoshop select Mode and then RGB. For Illustrator select File, then Document Color Mode, then RGB. But what about InDesign? Who wants to flatten and convert individual pages and then regroup together? Not me.
Next time you’re saving a PDF for a print project where you are seeking client feedback or approval (and you know they’re not printing it out), instead of exporting it as Adobe PDF (Print), select Adobe PDF (Interactive). You can play with the settings from there, I left everything in place as is, but changed my JPEG quality to high with a resolution (ppi) of 200. Then click “ok” and you’re good to go.
Jess Watson is the CEO & Creative Director of Points North Studio. She's the co-organizer of Baltimore Womxn in Tech, a big believer in Baltimore city, and a pioneer of working remotely while traveling the globe.
