When it comes to Color management and PDF making from InDesign, it always made me a bit confused. Hopefully someone here can maybe enlighten me. So about the whole Color management, color profile, pdf profile thing, I find many ‘articles’, but some are older than the other (which might be outdated), and some even contradict to each other. I dont necessary need a answer saying, this is the right way to do! But more of explaining everything as it is, and why and when choosing this and that method. Is there a site, more in the sense of a Wiki than a blog, which can give a definite explanation of this matter?
I wanna try explain different scenarios and how I see it, and please correct me if I am wrong.
I understand that using PDF/X profiles is the way to go. Is it my correct impression that the different pdf preset (pdf/x-1a, pdf/x-3 and pdf/x4) are not so-called revisions of each other, but each of them are intended for different purposes and workflow? If this is the case, which different purposes? If not, can I avoid using PDF/X-1a and just stick to the latest preset?
Also, few years back I read that retaining RGB colors as long as you can, in a publishing workflow is ALWAYS the best way to go, as it keeps more color data. Is this always true? Is there some scenarios where actually converting to CMYK is better?
My biggest concern and frustration, is that I never found a copy/print center which take me serious when it comes to color management. I always try to do it the correct and best way. But, if I hand-in a pdf made in InDesign using preset Press Quality, I still dont know what the print center does with the file? How do I deal with this? If I use a PDF/X preset in this case, is it a bulletproof option to get the right color from my InDesign file?
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