Convert colors to a different color space

Depending on the color spaces you select, color conversion either preserves, converts, or maps color values from the source color space to the specified destination space as follows:

  • Objects with untagged RGB data (DeviceRGB) convert from the working space RGB profile to the CMYK gamut of the destination space. The same is done with untagged CMYK (DeviceCMYK) and grayscale (DeviceGray) values.

  • Objects in device-independent color spaces (CalGray, CalRGB, or Lab) can be preserved or converted. If converted, Acrobat uses the device-independent object’s embedded profile information.

  • Objects set in spot colors (including Separation, DeviceN, and NChannel color spaces) can be preserved, converted, or mapped (aliased) to any other ink present in the document. Spot colors can also be mapped to a CMYK process color, if the process color model of the destination space is CMYK. Spot colors mapped to other inks can be previewed in the Output Preview dialog box.

For more information on color conversion in Adobe applications, see Working with color profiles.

Convert document colors

  1. In the Convert Colors dialog box, select an option from the list of color spaces and colorants used in the document.
  2. Select an option from the Action menu:
    Option Description
    Preserve

    Keeps objects in the selected color space when the document is output.
    Convert

    Uses the destination space profile to convert color objects to a common ICC profile for an output device.
    Decalibrate

    Removes embedded profiles from the color objects in that color space (or alternate space, if one is specified for a spot color).
    Map To Process <color>

    Maps spot colors to the destination space by way of another ink, called an alias. The Convert Colors dialog box uses the settings in the Ink Manager as a starting point. If an alias is set up in the Ink Manger, it will also be set up in the Convert Colors dialog box.

  3. Specify the space to which colors will be converted. The destination profile defines the target output device for the converted color spaces.
  4. If the PDF includes groups of transparent objects, specify a blending space for the pages set for conversion. Choose a device space or an ICC profile.

    The blending space enables objects of multiple color spaces to blend when interacting transparently. If the PDF does not include transparency groups, choose Leave Unchanged.

    Note: This feature can improve output of legacy PDFs that use transparency but don’t specify a page-level blending space, such as PDFs created from non-Adobe applications, or versions of Illustrator older than Creative Suite. These older PDFs depend on the application or printer to choose the blending space.
  5. Specify the pages to convert.
  6. Select a conversion option:
    Option Description
    Embed Profile As Source Color Space

    Tags all objects with the destination profile selected in the Profile menu. As an example, a document might contain five objects: one in grayscale and two each in the RGB and CMYK color spaces. In this case, you can embed a separate color profile to calibrate the color for each color space, for a total of three profiles. This might be useful if your RIP performs color management of PDFs or if you are sharing PDFs with other users.
    Embed Profile As OutputIntent

    Uses the destination profile as the output intent. An output intent describes the color reproduction characteristics of a possible output device or production environment in which the document will be printed. The color spaces in the document will be DeviceGray, DeviceRGB, or DeviceCMYK, depending on the color model of the destination profile. This destination profile replaces any existing output intent.
    Don’t Embed Profile

    Does not tag objects with the profile.
    Preserve Black Objects

    Preserves the color values of objects drawn in CMYK, RGB, or grayscale during conversion. This option prevents text in RGB black from being converted to rich black when converted to CMYK.

Convert object colors

If certain objects in the PDF don’t match the color space of the document, you can use the TouchUp Object tool  to correct them. Unlike the Convert Colors tool , which changes the color space of all colors in a PDF, the TouchUp Object tool can change the color space of selected objects. For example, if you place an RGB image in a CMYK document, you can use this tool to change only the RGB image and not affect the colors in the rest of the PDF. You can change the color space temporarily or embed the profile with the object.

Note: The TouchUp Object tool doesn’t let you change the output intent, because that affects the entire document.
  1. Choose Tools > Advanced Editing > TouchUp Object tool, and select the objects you want to convert.
  2. Right-click/Control-click the selection, and choose Properties.
  3. Click the Color tab.
  4. From the Convert To menu, choose the profile for specifying the color space of the object. The current color space of a single object (or identical color spaces for multiple objects) appears at the top of the Color tab for reference. Different color spaces for multiple objects aren’t shown.
  5. From the Rendering Intent menu, choose the translation method appropriate for the object. (See About rendering intents.)
  6. (Optional) To embed the profile with the object, select Embed Profile.
  7. Click Convert Colors.
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