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Larry29731486lwom
Known Participant
October 7, 2024
Question

Illustrator default pdf doesn't preserve color profiles

  • October 7, 2024
  • 1 reply
  • 401 views

I"m still learning best practices with color profiles, and just discovered this glaring deficiency in Illustrator. The default setting when saving out a pdf ("Illustrator Default" preset) non-destructively preserves all other Illustrator editing, but has a destructive setting by not including color profiles. I think this should be reversed, or at least allow the user to edit the default setting so profiles can be preserved.

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1 reply

Monika Gause
Community Expert
Monika GauseCommunity Expert
Community Expert
October 7, 2024

The best practice is to discuss the matter with your print service provider. Almost certainly they will not ask for a "Illustrator Default" PDF, but rather for a PDF/X one of some sort (1,3 or 4).

And then maybe you would need to set up some other specifics, so you would have to create several custom PDF presets anyway.

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Larry29731486lwomAuthor
Known Participant
October 8, 2024

Thanks that does seem like the ideal scenario. I guess my post was two parts:

 

-The default settings for an editable Illustrator pdf should not be destructive, i.e. include color profiles. I’ve been un-knowingly sending print-ready pdfs out without realizing the profiles weren’t included, because I assumed there wouldn’t really be any difference between an editable default pdf and a regular .ai file.

 

-For print-ready pdfs the method I’ve been using is a “universal” setting since I have many different print vendors and project types and almost never have direct contact or specifications. Open file > outline all text > embed all images > save as Illustrator Default pdf. So far for the past couple decades no complaints, but that could just be me being blissfully unaware. It’s only recently I’ve been getting more serious about color profiles.

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