How to print coloured pages as black and white?

[adwul62]

I have a PDF document with pages that are all some kind of purple. 
Am seeking a way to print it to a new PDF as black and white.
In "Print Production" > "Output Preview" I may check 'Simulate black ink' and check 'Process Black'

So far that looks fine then.

However, whilst having the Output Preview on screen, what is the   next   step?
If I close that panel (Output Preview) the settings won't stick, i.e. it changes back to purple.

Have no idea how to proceed.

Appreciate help on this.

Thanks!

[ls_rbls]

Hi @adwul62 ,

Please find other recommended tips in a recent discussion linked below:

• https://community.adobe.com/t5/acrobat-discussions/how-do-i-invert-colors-on-document/m-p/13623070#M...

[adwul62]

Thanks for the feedback.
I forgot to mention: I am using Acrobat Pro 2020. The file is 250 pages.
Is there no way then to print the document to a new PDF using the above settings?
That would mean that I get the right 'Output Preview' but would not be able to actually create a new PDF like output preview..?
I went back and forth in the Print > Advanced dialog. I might use grey scale but don't get the white background as like above.
Hence asking here.

[Luke Jennings3]

You can run a Preflight profile to map a specific color to black. Here is a link to a related discussion with instructions:

https://community.adobe.com/t5/acrobat-discussions/how-to-convert-all-text-in-a-book-from-cmyk-to-bl...

Note, I believe some printers will use cmy toner, even if the pdf is 100% black.

[Amal.]

Hi @adwul62 

++ Adding to the discussion

Please go to edit (Win), Adobe Acrobat (Mac) > preferences > accessibility > and change the page background to white as shown in the screenshot below:

Let us know how it goes.

Regards

Amal

Hey! Spread the word and help others by marking the correct answer so future users can benefit from your experience.

[adwul62]

@amal - regretfully that did not work.

@Luke Jennings3 

Just for good order's sake, this is the idea. On the left you see pages being purple
Then "Tools" > "Print Production" > "Output Preview", uncheck colours only leaving "Process Black" checked.
Result is on the right.
Now it looks fine, but as said, the next step is, how to save the document like that, or print as a new document,
or how to achieve the same in Print > Advanced?

Thanks.
p.s. note that I am not familiar with things like 'preflight profile' - I add above and below screenshot, so as to avoid misunderstandings on what I am trying to achieve.

 

[Luke Jennings3]

Your screen shot helps alot. I misunderstood your question. I still think using a preflight profile is your best option. (Tools> Print Production> Preflight> Fixups). This allows you to select a color (the purple) and map it to white, no printing necessary. It looks complicated, but is actually pretty easy. Can you upload a sample page pdf?

[adwul62]

Thanks again. I went in there (Fixups), there are trillion options... Most options are greyed out, except custom fixups...

Have attached 2 pages from the file.
Maybe you can find a way? 
But ... if it is too complicated and/or it takes too much time, forget it.
Let's say it is 'it would be great'-thing. Otherwise - so be it.
I was merely hoping to be able to print a new PDF or save to a new PDF like the Output Preview, but that seems imposssible.
Thanks in advance for all the work!!

(Again, drop it, if it is to complicated)

[ls_rbls]

@adwul62  and @Luke Jennings3 @Amal. ,

++UPDATE,

The shared file was already OCR'ed. so I was able to employ the Edit PDF with  Print Production => Preflight => Edit Object

After that you just need to Print the file normally without the need to mess around with the Print Properties.

See slides:

EXAMPLE OF USING THE EDIT PDF TOOL AFTER AN IMAGE WAS OCR'ed:

RESULT OF DOCUMENT WITHOUT IMAGE BACKGROUND SHOWN BEHIND THE PRINT DIALOG WINDOW:

[ls_rbls]

@Luke Jennings3 ,

I also would like to outline that the screenshot shows a scanned image.

I am not sure how to separate that background image layer content from the text layer content with Preflight, unless the Scan & OCR tool is employed before Preflight.

I am not very experienced with Preflight, but are you suggesting that the Fixups methods would take care of an scanned image that is not fully flattened?

[Luke Jennings3]

Yes, the preflight profile should work on a scanned image. I will test your pdf later tonight.

[ls_rbls]

Thank you!

Always learning something new.

[Luke Jennings3]

The supplied test pdf contains an RGB purple background with some scanned text images (the dots), the pdf also has OCR type in gray. My attempts to preflight out the purple resulted in removing everything (included the wanted dots), or just the purple created from the scan around the type. I want to fiddle with it more when I have time, as this should work with the right settings. I have attached the two converted pdfs. Note, the OCR is inconsistent (the dot spacing) so the scans should be re-done or the copy re-set, if this is important.

[adwul62]

Thanks for the efforts.
Please... let it rest...

I spent the last 4-5 hours on trying to fix this. I don't remember what all I have been trying out.
I give up.
It is not worth spending time on.

@ls_rbls Thanks for the solution, I tried to figure out what I needed to select where. Searched and searched for the Print Production => Preflight => Edit Object
No idea. There is an "Edit Object" entry under Print Production, nothing happens though when clicking on it.
Have a nice to you all.

Again, thank you both for all attempts. Truly appreciated!
I'd suggest to let this rest.

p.s. a little off-topic 
what is the use of "Output preview", or better, what is it used for?
Background: the Output Preview gets the right results, but one can not use it to actually create new document, or save it to some settings and use them in advanced (printing) or something.

[adwul62]

LATER

I think I have found a reasonable workaround.
Open File - Select Print...
(2) Printer: select Adobe PDF and

(3) click on 'Advanced'
(4) Settings (at the top): Acrobat Default

(5) At "Output" - select "Separations" from the Color: drop down menu

(6) Click on the printer buttons at Cyan, Magenta and Yellow to disable them

(7) click [OK]

(8) Print

(9) Results

Attached PDF. Likely there are better solutions, but the results are 'acceptable'.

I hesitate to upload all the images (too many/too large), hence the pdf.