Ensuring consistent and accurate colors is crucial for any printing project, especially when working across different Adobe applications like Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign. Setting your color preferences in Adobe Bridge is a best practice to synchronize color settings throughout your Creative Cloud workflow. This is particularly important for printing in the USA, where specific color profiles are commonly used in the industry. Let’s explore how to configure these settings in Adobe Bridge for optimal printing results.
To begin, open Adobe Bridge and navigate to the color settings menu by selecting Edit > Color Settings.
Screenshot showing the path to Color Settings in Adobe Bridge via Edit Menu, emphasizing color management for printing workflows in USA.
If you don’t immediately see “North America” in the settings list, expand the “Expanded List of Color Setting Files” to reveal more options. For users unsure of the ideal setting, or those primarily printing to digital presses or working with photos, the “North America General Purpose” preset is often a suitable choice. This setting utilizes the sRGB color space, which is widely compatible with most digital devices used for image capture and commonly used in general printing scenarios in the USA.
However, for projects intended for professional offset printing, especially those involving CMYK plates, or when working with images in Adobe RGB (1998), “North America Prepress 2” is generally recommended. This preset uses the Adobe RGB (1998) color space, offering a broader color gamut, beneficial for high-end print reproduction commonly demanded in the US printing industry. It’s important to note that this setting will also provide warnings if you encounter color space mismatches, helping maintain color integrity throughout your workflow.
Image displaying the Color Settings dialog box in Adobe Bridge, highlighting North America General Purpose and North America Prepress 2 presets for printing in USA.
The key difference between these two presets lies in their RGB color spaces and mismatch handling. “North America General Purpose” uses sRGB and doesn’t alert you to mismatches, while “North America Prepress 2” uses Adobe RGB (1998) and provides warnings. Remember the principle: “born in the space, die in the space.” Consistent color space management is vital to prevent unexpected color shifts, particularly when transitioning between screen viewing and final print output in the USA. While sRGB is suitable for both screen and general printing, Adobe RGB (1998) is advantageous for professional printing, especially if you capture images in RAW format, allowing for a richer color range for press output, aligning with high-quality printing expectations in the USA.
For many contemporary workflows, particularly those focused on broader digital applications and general print needs, “North America General Purpose” serves as a robust default. This is also frequently the default color space within Adobe applications, making it a practical and consistent starting point for various printing tasks in the USA.
Screenshot illustrating the application of North America General Purpose preset in Adobe Bridge Color Settings, a common choice for diverse printing needs across USA.
