Skip to main content
W
Writer_Rob
Participant
July 16, 2018
Answered

How can I be sure my PDF text is 100% black?

  • July 16, 2018
  • 3 replies
  • 15682 views

I'm an Indie author and I use Word to block my books and Acrobat to convert for print. I have been having a problem with  my books coming back from the printer with light areas in the text. The printer----Ingram/Spark----says my PDF file is not 100% black. Apparently making it 100% black is arcane knowledge. Can you help me?

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer Stephen Marsh

MS Word creates RGB content, which if not correctly converted may result in CMYK text or a grayscale tint that is not solid. Try these direct links to related posts tagged with Adobe Acrobat Pro at my Prepression blog:

Acrobat Pro – Converting RGB Black PDF Content to CMYK Black

Acrobat Pro – Preflight Fixup to Convert Black Tint to Solid Black

Acrobat Pro – Preflight Fixup to Convert Rich Black to CMYK Black

Acrobat Pro – Grayscale PDF Conversions

Use the Tools > Print Production > Output Preview – Preview: Object Inspector (not the default Separations option) and then click on text to ensure that it is black only (separations preview may be misleading).

3 replies

Luke Jennings
Luke Jennings
Inspiring
July 20, 2018

FWIW,

If you export your Word document using the ISO19005-1 option (PDF/A) the RGB black type will convert to Gray*. You can open and re-save it to a different PDF/X version using Acrobat Pro, if you need to. Your printer should specify which version of PDF they prefer. PDF/A (1) does not honor transparent features, so you should use it with caution on complex files, and I don't think it's an option using Word for Mac.

*Gray will print as black only. It appears any equal value of RGB will convert to a percentage of Gray, when a Word file is exported as PDF/A, but I just tested one file and this might not apply to every version of Word on every OS.

I'm not saying this method is better than using an Acrobat Preflight to change the type color, but it may be another option.

W
Writer_RobAuthor
Participant
July 18, 2018

Thank you Stephen!  I have suffered with this problem for a couple of years and as many indie authors that use Acrobat to finalize their content for print, I am surprised that it is so hidden. The printer was no help.

Thanks Again.

Rob Dorsey

    Abambo
    Community Expert
    AbamboCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    July 18, 2018

    The problem is that Word is not a good program for creating print ready files (even that it can be done and that I’ve done it before).

    So you need to do some post processing. For all reading this, you will need Acrobat pro for doing that with Acrobat tools.

    But there is more as just black characters when preparing a print. I would primarily look for a typesetting (DTP) program like Indesign (to stay with Adobe, but there are alternatives).

    And you need some basic knowledge on how the printjob works. You do not need to be a professional printer, but, as with all you do, you need to know what your printer expects.

    That your printer is of no help is probably due to 2 things: you are looking fir the cheapest printer around, not letting him the means to give advice to you (and if he would, next time you would do better and change to the cheapest printer...) and second the printer is offereing a typesetting service that he wants to sell together with the print job.

    ABAMBO | Hard- and Software Engineer | Photographer
      Stephen Marsh
      Community Expert
      Stephen MarshCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
      Community Expert
      July 17, 2018

      MS Word creates RGB content, which if not correctly converted may result in CMYK text or a grayscale tint that is not solid. Try these direct links to related posts tagged with Adobe Acrobat Pro at my Prepression blog:

      Acrobat Pro – Converting RGB Black PDF Content to CMYK Black

      Acrobat Pro – Preflight Fixup to Convert Black Tint to Solid Black

      Acrobat Pro – Preflight Fixup to Convert Rich Black to CMYK Black

      Acrobat Pro – Grayscale PDF Conversions

      Use the Tools > Print Production > Output Preview – Preview: Object Inspector (not the default Separations option) and then click on text to ensure that it is black only (separations preview may be misleading).

        Dov Isaacs
        Dov Isaacs
        Legend
        July 18, 2018

        These are excellent articles. Preflight is definitely one of the best kept secrets of Acrobat. Problem is that full and proper use of Preflight requires a fairly deep understanding of PDF, color management, the characteristics of PDF's data types, etc. as well as a time, willingness, and patience to “try out” this Swiss Army Knife set of tools! 

                  - Dov

        - Dov Isaacs, former Adobe Principal Scientist (April 30, 1990 - May 30, 2021)
          Stephen Marsh
          Community Expert
          Stephen MarshCommunity Expert
          Community Expert
          July 19, 2018

          Thank you Dov, high praise indeed!

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