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M
Mortlyn
Participant
March 7, 2017
Answered

When sending press ready Adobe Acrobat DC PDFs, overprint function is not working

  • March 7, 2017
  • 2 replies
  • 1777 views

When preparing files to be printed on an offset machine which requires plates, PDFs produced in Adobe Acrobat DC don't seem to want to recognise the "overprint" requirement.  What setting am I missing to ensure overprints come out correctly?  I check separations before I create PDF and overprints are all there.  But when I print the PDF and do a pre-press check, the overprints aren't working.

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer Dov Isaacs

The problem was resolved. Lynne was advised to export PDF with particular settings (including CMYK-only, no embedding of profiles, preserve overprint) directly from CorelDRAW X8. It did yield a PDF file that met her needs for Cyan and Black only separations and with black overprinting per her original design!

Acrobat was not part of the problem (here).

          - Dov

2 replies

Dov Isaacs
Dov IsaacsCorrect answer
Legend
March 8, 2017

The problem was resolved. Lynne was advised to export PDF with particular settings (including CMYK-only, no embedding of profiles, preserve overprint) directly from CorelDRAW X8. It did yield a PDF file that met her needs for Cyan and Black only separations and with black overprinting per her original design!

Acrobat was not part of the problem (here).

          - Dov

- Dov Isaacs, former Adobe Principal Scientist (April 30, 1990 - May 30, 2021)
Dov Isaacs
Dov Isaacs
Legend
March 7, 2017

Exactly how are you printing the PDF file?

Are you sending the PDF file, independent of Acrobat, to a PDF-based prepress system? Or are you printing to a PostScript printer from Acrobat and if that is the case, are you letting the RIP do the separations or are you having Acrobat do the separations?

You might also want to post an example of such a PDF file for us to examine.

          - Dov

- Dov Isaacs, former Adobe Principal Scientist (April 30, 1990 - May 30, 2021)
M
MortlynAuthor
Participant
March 7, 2017

Hi Dov,

Thanks for getting back to me.  I have attached an example of the file I am working with.  It is a PDF produced using the Adobe PDF printer driver.  The job is a 2-colour (Cyan and Black) offset print job.  When checking PDF using Print Production/Output preview, they Cyan separation is not correct - the black is not overprinting as set when this action is requested.  This before I forward PDF file to the commercial printer who is going to do the offset print.  Is there a setting I should be using to ensure that when I specify an overprint it actually happens?

Sorry, no attachment - how do I do this?  Have PDF ready to send to you - not sure how to upload it?

Thanks

Lynne

Dov Isaacs
Dov Isaacs
Legend
March 7, 2017

Unfortunately, except for SYSOPs, attachments other than screen shots are disabled on these forums.

However, you just provided enough information for me to assist you. Normally, PDF objects don't overprint unless you specifically requested overprint in whatever application you are using. For example, if you are using InDesign or Illustrator and specify that a particular object's color overprints, then when you export (InDesign) or save (Illustrator) PDF from that application, overprint is enabled for that object.

You indicate that you are creating PDF by distilling PostScript (i.e., using the Adobe PDF PostScript printer driver instance). This typically will not generate the type of PDF that you need complete with overprint specifications.

Please advise as to which application you are using to create your content.

          - Dov

- Dov Isaacs, former Adobe Principal Scientist (April 30, 1990 - May 30, 2021)
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