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Exporting black in illustrator is dull (gray)

Forum|Forum|9 years ago
November 12, 2016
3 replies
64938 views

I have created a simple logo in illustrator cc. The background is black and text is white. When exported the logo to jpg, tiff, pdf, etc the black is dull looking like gray. The Document Color Mode is set for CYMK. In "Preferences" I changed the "Appearance of Black" Printing /Exporting to "Output All Blacks Accurately" but that did not help. Does anyone have a suggestion to resolve this issue?

Correct answer Mike_Gondek10189183

Hi Michael,

Thanks for your input. I realized it was my mistake. I should have setup the logo in RGB because for now, it is just going to be for the screen not for printing. I will keep your suggestions in mind if I have to print the logo and I am having the problem with the color looking dull.

Thanks again,

Adrian

Do a File >> Document Color Mode >> RGB, then adjust your RGB to 000 for a rich black

M

MissCatD

Participating Frequently

For any poor soul experiencing this, the previous "correct answer" is incorrect, and no program setting is going to fix it. The reason for this is that Illustrator automatically assumes black as C 0% M 0% Y 0% K 100%. Meaning that when printing, your printer will only use 100% Black ink, and not any of the other colors. This will turn the color semi-gray, and when exporting to Photoshop, Photoshop equally simulates this as semi-gray.

How to fix it, is to set all colors/inks to 100%. When you set C 100% M 100% Y 100% K 100%, you will get the strongest, richest black, that will successfully reflect as a true-black on both a Photoshop export, and on paper. It took me a long time and much printing experience to learn this for myself, since for some reason this information does not appear to be easily discoverable on the internet.

Always make sure that all of your CMYK's are set to 100%, if you want the richest black to reflect on both a PSD export, and on paper, when printing.

Ton Frederiks

Community Expert

When you work in CMYK, you are preparing your work for a printing press.

Setting all your inks to 100% will create havoc during printing. Paper will tear, inks won't dry, sheets will stick together.

You are probably printing to a desktop printer. If so, it is better to work in RGB and let color management decide how to convert an RGB black to the inks of your printer.

M

MissCatD

Participating Frequently

You must be using cheap paper, then. Don't make assumptions. I have many years of experience printing on Cover Silk stocks using laser printers, and various Photo Paper stocks using inkjet. I favor Canon Satin Luster photo paper, which I print using my Canon Pixma Pro-100 printer - a very expensive printer. Setting all colors to 100% is the most effective way to get the richest black on both PSD Export and especially on print. If you print on a quality printer, you should always use quality, heavy weight stock. I have never experienced bleed-through, tearing or sticky prints. I can always tell when a print is accidentally made with anything less than 100% on all colors, and it is unacceptable. For people who value true black, this is your best option.

barbara_a7746676

Community Expert

When you select "Output All Blacks Accurately" the black will appear as a dark gray because it is 100% black.

If you are using your file for on-screen viewing, output as rich black.

If you are using your file for print, for instance on a printing press, then output all blacks accurately. Otherwise you may end up paying for extra ink colors on press. That's because while rich black looks like a nice deep rich black, other colors are added to the 100% black to make it look better.

adrians95881813Author

Participant

I have tried it both ways "Display All Blacks as Rich Black" and Output All Blacks Accurately" and have the same issue. If I can't figure out soon I just create the logo in photoshop because I am not a time crunch. Then may just uninstall and reinstall illustrator.

barbara_a7746676

Community Expert

It is possible that the color settings in Photoshop and Illustrator are using a different working space. Go to Edit > Color Settings in both programs and make sure that the settings are identical. It's a good idea to turn on "Profile Mismatches: Ask when opening" so that you'll be warned if the profiles don't match. At the top of the dialog box, it should say that your applications are synchronized.

Let us know if this helps.

Monika Gause

Community Expert

When color management is turned on in the viewing application 100K black just won't be pitch black, because it won't be printed that way.

You might want to tell us some details about how your color and color management is set up and of course which application you use to view the file.

adrians95881813Author

Participant

I am using the default color settings in Illustrator cc. I haven't made any changes to the color management. I am viewing the file in Adobe bridge, Photoshop and in windows image viewer and seeing the same thing. I know it is not my monitor needing calibration because the file looks great in Illustrator where I create it. I am just having the issue when exporting the file. I never have this issue in previous versions until I upgrade to Illustrator cc. I notice too even if I drag the file into photoshop from illustrator I get the same grayish look.

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