Is there a way to export jpegs and pngs in CMYK from Xara pro?

[mwenz]

Is there a way to export jpegs and pngs in CMYK from Xara pro?

My manufacturers are telling me that even though Im designing in CMYK, that the file is RGB and thats why im getting printing problems.

You need to export as a CMYK TIFF. They can handle that. If they say they absolutely need CMYK JPG files, then use an image editor to open the CMYK TIFFs and resave as a CMYK JPG. I use Photoline as my main image editor, Photoshop will do the same if you have it. I wrote the distinction of CMYK TIFF and CMYK JPG, but as long as you export from your Xara application as a CMYK TIFF, one only needs to open the file in a decent image editor and resave/export as the JPG. There's nothing else you need to do.

I wouldn't recommend exporting as RGB and converting to CMYK as there will be unintended color shifting.

[gwpriester]

Mike - Then you are OK with Xara's CMYK color?

I was told quite a few years ago not long after Xara added CMYK TIFF support that Xara was not thrilled with the filter but were not going to make changing it a priority. So when I need to convert to Grayscale or CMYK I do it in Photoshop.

Each year I convert about 100 10 x 8" stereograms from PNG to RGB TIFF and submit these to our Japanese publisher and let the publisher convert the RGB to CMYK. I have been happy with the reproduction. Though I am not specifically matching colors so as long as the color looks convincing, I'm happy.

[properez5]

I 'm glad I opened up such convo. It will help others down the line.


1. Mwenz: Thank you, I will test your solution out. Xara Tiff, convert in Photoshop CS6.

2. Gwpriester: Ah that makes sense. I tried sending Tiffs in cmyk to my manufacturer. He wasn't a fan.
I have customers to keep happy when showing them a design and keeping garments close to it. especially with camo. LOL

[ernie-f]

I recommend the PS export or directly as PDF.
Then convert in PS to target color space. From Acrobat, Pro only, export as image and select CMYK with profile.
The export from Xara as CMYK-TIFF moves colors and ignores overlays with transparencies.

layout in Xara


exportet TIFF from Xara in Photoshop


PDF in Acrobat


PSD from Xara converting to CMYK color space

[properez5]

I think if Xara or Magix decided to add this one little function of exporting CMYK jpegs and pngs, it would be great!

[ernie-f]

PNGs can only have rgb as a colorprofile. For print things the png will be flatten in the PDF X-1 to become a CMYK-color. If You export it as PDF X-3 or PDF X-4 you allow the RGB-color space for Bitmap and the PNG will be still RGB.

[properez5]

Ok good to know. Thank you

[mwenz]

Mike - Then you are OK with Xara's CMYK color?

If a design is made using CMYK color, the exported CMYK TIFF matches those colors. In that sense, I am happy with the export. It doesn't matter whether I open the TIFF in PS, PL or whatever—and why this particular print establishment is even using CD versus Corel PP is beyond me. Their print software ought to be able to use either application when using DTG print processes. Anywhere I have sent DTG does so.

What I am not happy with is Xara products lack of color management. LCMS is OpenSource. There's no good reason not to roll it into the appropriate Xara products. In these couple of threads by the OP, what that means is there is not the option to characterize image output by the same color profile a particular print service is using.

As mentioned in the other thread and as Ernie mentions, PDF with an embedded profile is the surest means of color transfer to CD. An Xara application-generated PDF using the same color profile as the receiving application (in this case CD) will remain exactly as designed. If this process is followed, there is no reason at for this print service to use a bitmap. However, if that's what they want and the OP cannot choose another establishment, then that's what the OP needs to handover.

Each year I convert about 100 10 x 8" stereograms from PNG to RGB TIFF and submit these to our Japanese publisher and let the publisher convert the RGB to CMYK. I have been happy with the reproduction. Though I am not specifically matching colors so as long as the color looks convincing, I'm happy.

Unless you know exactly what profile and/or process they are using and you are happy, there's no reason to change. I don't know what process they are using, but they may not even be doing application conversion. I send stuff to some vendors frequently that RGB data is what is sent to the print device and the colors pop better than if I send CMYK. Their RIP software characterizes it specifically for the print device and that's not something one can do on the desktop application without the print device's color profile and even so, it cannot truly be embedded (characterization on-screen only, which is useful for tweaking color).

Mike