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scottpigeon33
scottpigeon33
Known Participant
May 11, 2023
Answered

PNG bar code in Rich Black can't change it to 100% black

  • May 11, 2023
  • 5 replies
  • 4620 views

I have a GS1 bar code that has to be in 100% black. The PNG supplied by GS1 is coming out as rich black in ai. I have tried everything (10 hours trying and counting) but cannot get the black to change correctly.

We have tried changing it to red, to see if we can do that but no luck.

So, how does one change a rich black PNG into a 100% black?

Thanks!

p,s We are using the latest Adobe Illustrator.

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer Ton Frederiks

Thanks, I downloaded your PNG, placed it embedded (although you can embed it afterwards using the, Control, Links or Properties panel), selected it and went to Edit > Edit Colors >  Convert to Greyscale.

I checked it by opening the Window > Separations Preview and turning off black to see if any other colors were present.

5 replies

Dave Creamer of IDEAS
Community Expert
Dave Creamer of IDEASCommunity Expert
Community Expert
May 11, 2023

While you were able to create a work-around, you should really modify your workflow in the future. 

PNGs are always RGB, although you were able to force it to (black-only) grayscale in AI.

Color images (RGB, CMYK, and GS) will process as an image and will be screened and anti-aliased. 

 

For this type of art, you really need a high-res (1200-1500 ppi) image, save in Bitmap mode, and saved as TIFF.

Since you already have a PNG, I'm assuming it is about 300 ppi. You could up the resolution using the nearest neighbor setting in Photoshop, convert to GS, convert to Bitmap, save as TIFF.

 

David Creamer: Community Expert (ACI and ACE 1995-2023)
Ton Frederiks
Community Expert
Ton FrederiksCommunity Expert
Community Expert
May 11, 2023

David, greyscale PNGs do exist.

As long as you don't scale the barcode that was shown (300ppi) the lines will print perfectly clean.

The text will be screened because it is already anti-aliased.

If you really want a bitmap, you can do that in Illustrator. Object > Rasterize... will let you create a bitmap at the resolutions you mentioned 1200-1500 ppi.

Dave Creamer of IDEAS
Community Expert
Dave Creamer of IDEASCommunity Expert
Community Expert
May 12, 2023

Thanks Ton. I stand corrected (well... sitting actually!)

 

However, it will still print as a photo-type image--either color or grayscale. A monochrome bitmap image is the best thing for this type of black-only art.

 

David Creamer: Community Expert (ACI and ACE 1995-2023)
Ton Frederiks
Community Expert
Ton FrederiksCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
Community Expert
May 11, 2023

Thanks, I downloaded your PNG, placed it embedded (although you can embed it afterwards using the, Control, Links or Properties panel), selected it and went to Edit > Edit Colors >  Convert to Greyscale.

I checked it by opening the Window > Separations Preview and turning off black to see if any other colors were present.

    scottpigeon33
    scottpigeon33Author
    Known Participant
    May 11, 2023

    Ok, let me try this again. Will be as quick as poss.

    scottpigeon33
    scottpigeon33Author
    Known Participant
    May 11, 2023

    Dang Nabbit, that works. Think we got to focused on turning it red to see if we could understand the process. We didn't check the separations preview. School boy error.

    Thank you Ton, at least I can get some sleep this eve :).

    T
    Test Screen Name
    Legend
    May 11, 2023

    You're working in CMYK? If so, black in a PNG is certain to be rich black, since a PNG can never be greyscale, nor CMYK. Open it in Photoshop, turn it to greyscale. Save a TIFF (not PNG, because that turns it back to RGB) and not JPEG.

    Ton Frederiks
    Community Expert
    Ton FrederiksCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    May 11, 2023

    No need to open it in Photoshop, just convert it to Greyscale in Illustrator.

    Ton Frederiks
    Community Expert
    Ton FrederiksCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    May 11, 2023

    Try to select the PNG (needs to be embedded) and choose Edit > Edit Colors > Convert to Grayscale

    scottpigeon33
    scottpigeon33Author
    Known Participant
    May 11, 2023

    Thx Ton,

    When we open and select the image, choose Edit > Edit Colours then "Convert to gretscale" is greyed out.

    is the "needs to be embedded" bit the issue?

     

    scottpigeon33
    scottpigeon33Author
    Known Participant
    May 11, 2023

    You can do it afterwards (click Embed image) or do it during placing, select Options in the Place dialog and uncheck Link.


    we have it in as an image now (as opposed to a link) but still can't do anything with it. Would like to turn it green to see if it works but no luck 😞

    Anubhav M
    Community Manager
    Anubhav MCommunity Manager
    Community Manager
    May 11, 2023

    Hello @scottpigeon33,

     

    Thanks for reaching out. Would you mind trying to change the Appearance of Black for Export under Illustrator's preferences and checking if it helps?

    Looking forward to hearing from you.

     

    Thanks,

    Anubhav

    scottpigeon33
    scottpigeon33Author
    Known Participant
    May 11, 2023

    Hey Anu

     

    Current settings are display and output all blacks accurately. This is necessary for the rest of the product the bar code is attached to? We sadly don't see hpw this will change anything.

     

    To us it should be simple to open the bar caode as a separate file, ensure it is 100% black and then import it into the finished artwork. We can't change it in it's own file?  Ay idea what we are doing wrong?

    Thanks

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