Question

Exporting image to PDF from indesign changes black

Forum|Forum|5 months ago
December 17, 2025
3 replies
306 views

Hi,

I originally created a cover design in Illustrator and placed that in Indesign for my project. When previewed in Indesign it looks as desired (image 1) when exported to PDF the black of the foreground shape changes and doesn't match the illustration in the background (image 2). I've tried changing the format of the file that I place in Indesign (Ai file, tiff file) and the same thing happens. I'm unsure if its just a crappy print preview on the PDF and it will actually print as desired or if it will print like the PDF displays. Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks, Matt

Screenshot 2025-12-17 at 15.19.02.pngScreenshot 2025-12-17 at 15.19.34.png

Frans v.d. Geest

Community Expert

Looks like an RGB black rendered to CMYK. Check your colour managent setting (like profiles) and your Transparency Blend Space*

(*but if it is intended for print, an RGB black rendered to K will look and print duller compared to the RGB rendering on screen, try testing on screen with the correct print profile and Overprint on.)

M

Matt_Dunlop_DAuthor

I don't understand where the RGB black is coming from because the Ai file that I made it in is CMYK. When you say check your colour management settings, I have it as 'Europe General Purpose 3.' Here's my settings - do you see anything that could be causing the issue?Screenshot 2025-12-17 at 16.26.03.png

Peter Spier

Community Expert

If you check the numbers in the separations previeww in both InDesign and Acrobat do they match?

You probably need to make that background a darker CMYK rich black.

Peter Spier

Community Expert

Also, make sure that you have your InDesign Prefs set to display all blacks accurately rather than as rich black or your screen preview could be misleading.