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Question

PDF [High Quality Print] Transparency Issues

Forum|Forum|3 years ago
January 8, 2023
3 replies
569 views

My InDesign document has 2 Pages that contain slightly different versions of the same Illustrator file. The bottom half is different, but the top parts are exactly identical.

When I export [High Quality Print] PDF, both of these pages look great on screen.

When I go to print, however, Page 1 prints its Illustrator image beautifully while the Page 2 has all sorts of transparency issues with its Illustrator image. On Page 2, I can see vague outlines around shapes, some cutoffs, and blocks behind text that should be transparent. None of these issues show up on Page 1.

I can't explain why these issues are happening when all documents have the same CMYK color profile and the parts of the images in question are literally identical to each other. Image #2 is made from a copy of Image #1 where nothing was altered in this portion of the image.

My main question is this: the InDesign PDF I'm trying to create will be for sale to everyday users and needs to be printed on common inkjet office printers. I cannot assume the end user has updated software or high quality printers. What PDF settings should I use? I would prefer the Adobe default but these discrepancies are driving me crazy.

Thanks for any help.

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Willi Adelberger

Community Expert

When you place images in InDesign as PDF/X-4 or AI.

When you export for print, use as PDF/X setting, which one is up to the printer’s requirements. High uality Print is NOT for commercial printing, it is for a small household printer. A X-standard is required.

rob day

Community Expert

Hi Willy, Maybe @WM_WM can confirm this, but don’t think the expected output is an offset press, which is why I suggested a flattened RGB PDF. Most composite printers use “RGB” drivers and may not always handle transparency flattening very well.

My main question is this: the InDesign PDF I'm trying to create will be for sale to everyday users and needs to be printed on common inkjet office printers. I cannot assume the end user has updated software or high quality printers.

rob day

Community Expert

Try Exporting a flattened RGB PDF by setting the Output Compatibility to Acrobat 4 with the Destination as Document RGB including all profiles:

Robert at ID-Tasker

Legend

Do you have anything else on the 2nd page?

Can you try end export as JPEG - single pages and as spread - if those are facing pages?

Any chance you can share your INDD document + those AI files?

One more thing - those AI files - what format? EPS / AI / PDF?

If it's not PDF - can you Save As PDF and relink?

W

WM_WMAuthor

Participant

Just going to follow up here, as I found the solution. It was actually related the Import Options for the Place function. I did not use them, so InDesign was creating slightly different dimensions for the imported images even though they are the exact same dimensions in Illustrator. Once I fixed this (using Crop to: Media), the transparency issues and print issues resolved. It seems Image #2 must have been resized in a way that was not in ratio with original file's dimensions. I still don't understand why that caused file transparency issues only when printing, but whatever.

I wish Adobe would leave that setting on by default. As a new user I didn't see it, and I just assumed InDesign would import faithfully from the Illustrator dimensions. This has led to a few different issues that were unrelated to this one.

Thanks for your offer to help!

Peter Spier

Community Expert

Your import options are "sticky" and will remain on the last options you chose until you make a new selection.

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