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oliver_5572
Participating Frequently
October 15, 2024
Question

Background Color Mismatch with Text/Objects in Print, But Not in PDF

  • October 15, 2024
  • 7 replies
  • 4786 views

Our magazine had a print issue and I am trying to figure out what went wrong--I was not involved in this issue and I want to prevent this problem from arising again.

 

The attached images show the background color of the page does not match when there are objects or text in front of it. The "background" of the text/objects should be transparent, so there should be no color difference.  Keep in mind, there is no highlight on the text, and the issue does not show up in the PDFs--only in print.

 

Can anyone help figure out what went wrong? What issue is this?

 

 

<Title renamed by MOD>

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7 replies

Brad @ Roaring Mouse
Community Expert
Brad @ Roaring MouseCommunity Expert
Community Expert
October 16, 2024

This appears to be a flattening issue. Whether your PDF was exported properly or not, we don't know what the printer's workflow did with it. And it appears that each flattened object is having a different color management policy applied.

Was a proof provided? If the proof was okay and was signed off on, then it's the printer's problem.

Can you provide a PDF? (in particular I'd like to see the one with the text against the yellow/orange photo). I will test it on one of my RIPs.

    O
    oliver_5572Author
    Participating Frequently
    October 16, 2024

    Proofs were not provided, but my understanding is that there was some kind of timing/lateness issue (I was not involved with this edition). I have attached a PDF. I suspect the PDF was not exported properly, as the bleeds were also wrong, and the previous issue had no problems. Thank you so much for your help!

    rob day
    Community Expert
    rob dayCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    October 15, 2024

    Hi @oliver_5572 , What is the output device? Is it separated offset printing or some kind of shortrun composite printer? Can you share the PDF?

    O
    oliver_5572Author
    Participating Frequently
    October 16, 2024

    It is probably shortrun composite printer as only 750 copies were printed. I have attached the PDF.

    Luke Jennings3
    Community Expert
    Luke Jennings3Community Expert
    Community Expert
    October 15, 2024

    The pdf must be viewed in Acrobat or Reader only, with the page display preference for overprint preview set to "always".

    If everything looks good here, it's the printer's fault. You can probably prevent future issues by requesting a pdf proof from the printer before going to press.

      O
      oliver_5572Author
      Participating Frequently
      October 16, 2024

      Ok, I did that and it looks good. I wasn't involved with the issue, and my understanding is that no proofs were received from the printer at the time. 

      O
      oliver_5572Author
      Participating Frequently
      October 16, 2024

      But with those view settings, there are some idiosyncracies, like this number having a transparency effect which does not show up at all in print.

      BobLevine
      Community Expert
      BobLevineCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      October 15, 2024

      BTW, screen shots and pics are worthless in this case. We'd need to see the PDF AND know the exact export settings.

        O
        oliver_5572Author
        Participating Frequently
        October 16, 2024

        Ok, I have attached the PDF we sent to the printer. I also have attached screenshots of the settings that were most likely used. 

        I'm not sure if this is relevant but I believe the PDFs were exported individually and then compiled into one master PDF (the one I attached below).

        BobLevine
        Community Expert
        BobLevineCommunity Expert
        Community Expert
        October 15, 2024

        Did you ask the printer?

        Robert at ID-Tasker
        Robert at ID-Tasker
        Legend
        October 15, 2024

        @oliver_5572

         

        If there are no problems when viewing in Acrobat - then RIP is at fault.

         

          Bill Silbert
          Community Expert
          Bill SilbertCommunity Expert
          Community Expert
          October 15, 2024

          Do the imported images have any transparency effects applied in their original programs? This kind of background interference is not uncommon with silhouetted objects containing transparency such as a drop shadow and will often show up in PDFs as well as in print. I am guessing that the PDFs that were correct for you had their standard set as PDF/X-4:2010 in the Export Adobe PDF dialog window. This type of PDF is the best when transparency is involved. I would suggest in the future that you have your printer use these PDFs in their printing process rather than printing directly out of InDesign. 

          Willi Adelberger
          Community Expert
          Willi AdelbergerCommunity Expert
          Community Expert
          October 15, 2024

          Is the text rasterized? If so, why? Use no pixel text 

          Is any transparency effect applied to the text?

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