I've been spending almost 2 weeks now on this problem, I am just about ready to give up.

I created a business card with a gradient. Then, I applied to a filter to this gradient (Filters -> Scatter -> Cubes). I also linked Color Management of "US Web Coated SOAP v2" to the gradient.

Now the image looks perfect on screen. I then exported image to PNG. Using ImageMagick, I converted it to CMYK mode:

convert bc1.png -colorspace cmyk bc1.tif

After all of this, the scatter gradient (in the TIF) ends up looking a different color then what I see in the PNG/SVG image (on screen). Any idea why? How can I get it to match the same colors as what I see in the PNG/SVG?

Thanks very much!

Hope you`d accept my warm recommendation to deploy that Search box on the top right, and use "cmyk" as a key word.

First of all, thanks for replying.
Yes, I've been searching. I am not a graphics designer, I just used Inkscape (2nd time so far) twice so far, and a lot of the lingo is new to me.

I think from what I've found in the past few days:

1) Inkscape and CMYK color conversion just doesn't work for gradient/objects that were filtered. If this is the case, I am out of luck. I just need to go with what I have, even with the apparent color changes.

2) It's just the screen! The image actually looks great but the color changes since I am viewing it on screen. I should just go have it printed and it'll turn out okay.

3) I am doing something wrong.

I even wasted some time installing Adobe products but then realized it's a lot more work to go "learn" the new applications and re-do my business card in Adobe.

Which of those # can I rule out? Any obvious things I missed would be appreciated.

PS: Yes, I have been searching for reals... I've played with EPS/PDF, Adobe*, Scribus, tried to install Ubuntu in a VirtualBox to get CMYKTool etc.

I also want to add, I've tried importing into Scribus the SVG and I see everything in the card ... except the filter I've applied to the gradient. I get an error, something along the lines of "all features not supported" etc.

#3 is a "sure shot" ,)

Inkscape has so many advantages but one of it`s main flaws is a lack of cmyk support. Same goes for your expectations from filters, while it may involve some other tech issues as well.

Bare in mind that even if your print preparation is executed excellently (matching your expectations and tech recommendations), at the end it all might go bonkers if the guys from the print shop don`t maintain their machines or just don`t do it right. Spare a few spoons of patience for that part too ,)

Still, that same Serach box could lead you to the Pantone pallet which could bring you closest to the cmyk, as possible in Inkscape. Using colors from that pallet would not make your file 100% cmyk but it should provide less drastic changes when converted in proper cmyk file.

Full sails!

p.s.
It would be nice if you could achieve a desired look without filters, since that way you`ll spare me from explaining those tech details ,)

The cmyk gamut is smaller than the rgb.
If you want to print with that model, the image cannot use the whole range you see on an rgb screen.
Meaning less vivid reds, greens and blues mostly.
So all that conversion I assume would result in displaying your image with different shades already on screen.
That could be reproduced "exactly" on print, if your monitor was calibrated right.

The svg format doesn't have a support for the cmyk model, as far as I know inkscape can only show how it would look in that model.
Though maybe I'm wrong about it, I never really forced to have a cmyk file.

Actually professional printers may like an rgb image more, since they are the only one who can prepress the files to the matching colour space.

On a side note, there are art printers that use 12 different inks, that can cover the whole colour spaces available for any image format.

This is basic but a very good explanation on colors. Make sure that you create your work in CMYK when it goes to printing afterwards.

That image is misleading.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Color_space





Cmyk profile has a smaller colour range. Any conversion from an rgb to a cmyk space means losing colours.
Furthermore, there are more than one cmyk print colour profiles in use -if you convert to another one your printer is set up with, you will face another colour profile change, with the possibility of losing other colours as well.
Let the printer set up your files, pre-pressing should not be the graphic designer's job.
And have at least on screen the colours you like.

Important reading: https://forums.adobe.com/message/5344401


Also, not every printer runs cmyk.
Silkscreening use spot colours. Can set up inks with metallic colours too -out of the rgb and cmyk range for sure-.
Though for large print series that cannot produce images with gradients.

Here are some advices from an art print shop, which uses this kind of printer.