Skip to main content
infomamun
infomamun
Inspiring
May 8, 2023
Answered

Can't flatten transparency in a PDF

  • May 8, 2023
  • 2 replies
  • 2579 views

Hello There,

I have created book pages by illustrator, in where images are created by photoshop and they have transparencies. Before saving the ai files as PDF, I have done Select All>Object>Flatten Transparency. But in that PDF while I am anylyzing it by Print Production>Preflight then by a special preflight profile, made for targetting IngramSpark publishing standard. But unfortunately, I can see a lot of transpanencies there in the PDF. Then I went through Tools>Optimize PDF>Advanced Optimization and then cheked the Transparency option with High Resolution and then pressed OK.

 

After optimizing, I again have run the preflight profile and unfortunately found no improvement! The same transparency report.

 

I am not familiar with how to flatten transparencies in PDF sucessfully. Can someone guide me how to proceed?

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer Test Screen Name

Ok, we might be able to make some or all of these messages go away. This preflight profile checks you have made a PDF/X-1a file, but you haven't. So go back to Illustrator and use Save as PDF. In the Save Adobe PDF box, look for "Standard". In the pull down select "PDF/X-1a:2001". See if that makes it all work.

2 replies

T
Test Screen NameCorrect answer
Legend
May 9, 2023

Ok, we might be able to make some or all of these messages go away. This preflight profile checks you have made a PDF/X-1a file, but you haven't. So go back to Illustrator and use Save as PDF. In the Save Adobe PDF box, look for "Standard". In the pull down select "PDF/X-1a:2001". See if that makes it all work.

infomamun
infomamunAuthor
Inspiring
May 10, 2023

Hi Again,

Thankyou very much, that worked! Now only there is Excess ink coverage which is 245% which needs to be lowered down to max 240%. I have checked the Page#1, Black color of the text part are 60%,40%,40%,100%, so I assume that is not due to the black color of text. There is a subtle backgroun image on that page, I think color of that image might be 245% coverage. But is there any way to reduce down the Ink Coverage of Image in illustrator rather than editing it in photoshop?

 

 

T
Test Screen Name
Legend
May 8, 2023

You say you "can see a lot of transparencies". Can you take us through how you see them (either on screen or  in a report). Maybe a screen shot would help. This is a complex area and it can be difficult to interpret the information we are given by tools.

infomamun
infomamunAuthor
Inspiring
May 9, 2023

 

Here it is! Thank You.

Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement
Using the community Terms of use Privacy Cookie preferences Do not sell or share my personal information ad choicesAdChoices