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Adam Morley
Participating Frequently
May 3, 2024
Answered

2 spot colour gradient overprint issue

  • May 3, 2024
  • 2 replies
  • 896 views

Hello, I'm experiencing an issue in Indesign 24 (Mac ) 


An object with a gradient with 2 different spot colours won't overprint. Attributes are of course set to overprint, overprint preview shows no overprint occuring and a test pdf shows no overprint when checking the file separations in acrobat.

 

it's also worth noting, if I do a gradient with 1 spot colour to a process colour overprint works normally. Is there an issue with 2 different spot colours in 1 gradient set to overprint?

 

Any help or advice on this would be greatfully appreciated.

 

Adam 

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer Brad @ Roaring Mouse

Okay, here's your issue. In the left one, with two spots, you are dealing with what's called Simple Overprint mode. This is how overprints were handled in the "olden days". You could overprint DIFFERENT colours, but not the same colour. Only one value can occupy a spot at any one time, and the one on top wins out. So your tint of 811 at a spot near the left overrides the darker value beneath it.

What you want to do instead is assign a Multiply Transparency effect to your heart object. this does more modern detailed calculations on the interaction between colours. Give that a shot instead.

2 replies

J
Community Expert
Jeffrey_SmithCommunity Expert
Community Expert
May 3, 2024

Have you tried setting the object (with gradient of 2 different spot colours) to multiple, instead of overprint?

    A
    Adam MorleyAuthor
    Participating Frequently
    May 3, 2024

    Cheers Jeffrey, going to give that a go.

     

    Brad @ Roaring Mouse
    Community Expert
    Brad @ Roaring MouseCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    May 3, 2024

    Is this an object created in InDesign? There's no reason to worry about overprint in that gradient, the two spot colours would separate accordingly.

    Unless there's something else you're trying to accomplish. Can you show us what you're trying to do?

     

    A
    Adam MorleyAuthor
    Participating Frequently
    May 3, 2024

    Hi Brad,

     

    Came across the issue when working in illustrator but it also happens in indesign either with object created inside indesign or brought in from illustrator.

     

    The file doesn't seperate correctly accordingly to the overprint. 

    Brad @ Roaring Mouse
    Community Expert
    Brad @ Roaring MouseCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
    Community Expert
    May 3, 2024

    Okay, here's your issue. In the left one, with two spots, you are dealing with what's called Simple Overprint mode. This is how overprints were handled in the "olden days". You could overprint DIFFERENT colours, but not the same colour. Only one value can occupy a spot at any one time, and the one on top wins out. So your tint of 811 at a spot near the left overrides the darker value beneath it.

    What you want to do instead is assign a Multiply Transparency effect to your heart object. this does more modern detailed calculations on the interaction between colours. Give that a shot instead.

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