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Sean M Rob
Participant
May 18, 2023
Question

Indesign 2023 color conversion changing Black-only items to "rich black" on PDF export

  • May 18, 2023
  • 2 replies
  • 696 views

Hello!

I've run into a problem with Indesign 2023. 

 

I have a layout document that has full-color items on the bottom, and 1-color 1-bit bitmaps (TIFF files) placed on top. These TIFF files are set to be printed ONLY black, with no halftoning.

 

When I export a PDF from this file in Indesign 2023, and include the color conversion to the profile requested  by our printer (Color Conversion: Convert to Destination (Preserve Numbers), Destination: PSO Uncoated V3 (FOGRA52)), then the resulting PDF file has the previously-black layer spread out over all four color channels. 

Obviously this is a problem, as registration issues could result in a blurry, unreadable text.


If I skip the color conversion, then the black stays in place, only on the Black plate (see screenshots of the Output Preview from Acrobat).

 

Does anyone have any idea what's going on here, and how to prevent it? I"ve done this kind of work many many times and never encountered this in previous versions of the program. Should I just revert to Indesign 2020 or something? 

This topic has been closed for replies.

2 replies

rob day
Community Expert
rob dayCommunity Expert
Community Expert
May 18, 2023

Hi @Sean M Rob , Double-check that your document’s assigned CMYK profile set to the printer’s requested profile—(Edit>Assign Profiles...not the Color Settings CMYK Working Space).

 

If you are including the PSO Uncoated V3 (FOGRA52) destination profile in the Export Output tab, then as @chrisg11235813  suggests, that profile would also have to be set as the Simulation Profile in Acrobat’s Output Preview, otherwise Separations would show a conversion.

 

You can aviod the conflicting Simulation Profie problem by exporting to a PDF/X preset with the Destination set to Document CMYK—PDF/X standards include an Output Intent Profile, which Acrobat uses as the default Simulation. If that doesn’t work can you share the PDF?

    S
    Sean M RobAuthor
    Participant
    May 19, 2023

    Thanks so much Rob! This is indeed an issue with the conversion in Simulation profile within Acrobat. Thanks so much, great catch from the screenshots. And I'll start using PDF/X as a baseline for export so it includes the Output Intent Profile.


    Thanks!!

    chrisg11235813
    chrisg11235813
    Participating Frequently
    May 18, 2023

    In Acrobat,  the Output Preview is using the SWOP "Simulation profile".  Change it to the colourspace you are expecting to use.  does that make the blacks appear correctly?

      S
      Sean M RobAuthor
      Participant
      May 19, 2023

      Hey hey hey, you solved it!! Thanks so much. 

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