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Julie5FDF
Julie5FDF
Known Participant
Oct 22, 2026 2:29 PM UTC
Answered

PDF views as magenta

Random PDFs will view with Magenta rather than correct color, it also prints magenta so it’s not just the screen view. I have tried list below and does not help...I am using Acrobat Pro

Thanks for any suggestions.

  1. Saving PDF to different locations, different computers
  2. I do not have Replace Document Colors on
  3. I have tried changing color management setting. This seems to work but it snaps back to magenta
    Randy Hagan
    Randy HaganCorrect answer
    Community Expert
    Oct 22, 2026 4:39 PM UTC

    @Julie5FDF Alas, not that I know of. But if you can re-distill your way past the problem, you’re pretty much defining where the problem truly is.

     

    I don’t know how helpful the folks at Esko will be about this, since they’re not your vendor but your client’s, but you can try and contact them and see what they can do to help you. Otherwise, at this stage of the game I’m afraid you’re either going to have to suck it up and apply your fixes or work out some other accommodation between you and your client(s) to sidestep the complication. 

     

    Is this happening with every file you get from that client using this color build in particular? Or is that the random one that popped up in this particular file? Do other spot builds blow up, or is it only this particular one, with, say, this particular company logo? If you can isolate it to specific pieces of client art, you may be able to fix it with better versions of particular graphic file(s). Hopefully you can turn that into a billable.

     

    If not, I’m afraid I’d have to defer and lay this problem down at Esko’s corporate feet. 

     

    Wish I had better news for you,

     

    Randy

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    7 replies

    Julie5FDF
    Julie5FDFAuthor
    Known Participant
    Oct 22, 2026 4:06 PM UTC

    Yes, random PDFs not the same one. The color is supposed to be 356 green and when I place my cursor over the color it show up as 356 in the separations (no magenta). However, it looks and prints as magenta. I was going to upload a pic for you put it won’t let me.

    The properties is : PAL Processor

     

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    Randy Hagan
    Community Expert
    Randy HaganCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    Oct 22, 2026 4:19 PM UTC

    I understand that Adobe Systems, like many site operators, has turned off site uploads over the latest PHP issues in the wild. So your uploading issues aren’t on you; Adobe’s not letting uploads happen.

     

    The fact that your Pantone 356 green is going pink is interesting, especially since there’s normally no magenta color in the CMYK color build. Does the Pantone 356 color build show as a spot color in your separations preview? Or is it automatically being translated into CMYK another’s no spot color build showing in the previews? Also, are you running it through Esko Automation before opening in Acrobat? What happens if you don’t pre-process it through your Esko equipment?

     

    Randy

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    Julie5FDF
    Julie5FDFAuthor
    Known Participant
    Oct 22, 2026 4:27 PM UTC

    There is no process in the color build. It shows as a spot in the separations. I am not running it through Esko but the person who made is using Esko. I am just opening the PDF in Acrobat. If I save it as a .ps and re-distill it, it will look and print okay. But that is a pain for all the jobs I receive. I was just hoping there was a check box or something I was missing that could fix it.

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    Randy Hagan
    Community Expert
    Randy HaganCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    Oct 22, 2026 3:39 PM UTC

    I’m going to assume, with all the risks that ensues, that random PDFs are having this problem, rather than the same problems are occurring on the same files, but you’re receiving them at random.

     

    You’re already checking your PDF with print production tools, so let’s try the following and see what we get:

     

    1. Open a problematic PDF, confirm that it’s gone pinkish/full magenta on you.
    2. Open your Print Production tools, then open your Output Preview dialog box.
    3. About halfway down, you’ll see the Preview: options box. If it isn’t already selected, choose Separations.
    4. What color separations do you see selected? If the job is all process, which color plates do you see selected?
    5. Similarly, if you have spot colors included, do you see the spot color for your errant color build in the separations list? If so, are both the Spot Plates and specific spot color for your errant color build(s) checked?
    6. Finally, if you can move your cursor over the area where you’ve used errant spot color build(s) are in your document, what are the color readings for said spot color build? Do they read 100% M, do they indicate CMYK color builds for that spot color, or do they show a 100% color build for your specific spot color?

    This troubleshooting will let us know how Acrobat is building your “colors” in your PDF document, and give us insight on what may be your issue. If you can follow the steps above and give us your answers to those questions, it’ll greatly help us help you sleuth your issues and hopefully let us find a solution for you.

     

    One more thing, If you know where the PDF was built, and from what program (you can find that out by going to the File>Properties pull-down menu command and choosing the Description tab. the result will be reported to the right of the Application: text.

     

    Please get back with us and let us know what you find,

     

    Randy

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