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laurag5456310
laurag5456310
Participating Frequently
May 9, 2019
Answered

Preflight Grayscale Conversion Not Working 100%

  • May 9, 2019
  • 5 replies
  • 8301 views

So, I have a file that I'm trying to convert to grayscale via Preflight in Acrobat. I run the Analyze and Fix script and some elements are converted but others are not.

I tried doing color conversion as well but nothing seems to change. I have been told this works better in Acrobat 9 but I do not have a license for that version.

    Correct answer Dov Isaacs

    I grabbed the file and tested it with Preflight.

    Using the Convert to grayscale fixup in Acrobat Pro DC (latest version), I got the same results as reported. This is very unexpected and wrong. I then tried applying the fixup a second time (just for the hell of it) on the output of that conversion and surprising enough, what wasn't converted the first time was converted properly the second time.

    I've attached the original file, the result of the first conversion, and the result of converting the first conversion.

    Thus, workaround for the time being is to apply the fixup multiple times. Yes, this is a bug! I'm submitting to our Preflight group for their analysis and fix.

              - Dov

    5 replies

    Dan Greyhound
    Dan Greyhound
    Inspiring
    October 11, 2024

    This still happens in the latest version. I wish they'd fix it

      S_S
      Community Manager
      S_SCommunity Manager
      Community Manager
      February 13, 2025

      Hi @Dan Greyhound,

       

      Hope you are doing well. Sorry for the trouble, and the delayed response.

       

      The team released a fix for the issue with the subsequent updates.

       

      Would you mind updating the app to the latest version (2024.005.20xxx) and letting us know if the issue is fixed?

      To do so, go to Menu-> Help-> Check for Updates.


      -Souvik

      H
      Harry5E34
      New Participant
      August 18, 2020

      I am having the same problem but no amount of repeated convert-to-grayscale and digital-print makes the CMY go away. I put one of the problem files hereL https://drive.google.com/file/d/1JAgcys7cjTPqc0bKJC40dNd6f35zX33n/view?usp=sharing

      I am using Acrobat Pro DC version 2020.012.20041. Any tips would be appreciated. Book is supposed to go to printer in a couple of days!!!

      Dov Isaacs
      Dov IsaacsCorrect answer
      Brainiac
      May 9, 2019

      I grabbed the file and tested it with Preflight.

      Using the Convert to grayscale fixup in Acrobat Pro DC (latest version), I got the same results as reported. This is very unexpected and wrong. I then tried applying the fixup a second time (just for the hell of it) on the output of that conversion and surprising enough, what wasn't converted the first time was converted properly the second time.

      I've attached the original file, the result of the first conversion, and the result of converting the first conversion.

      Thus, workaround for the time being is to apply the fixup multiple times. Yes, this is a bug! I'm submitting to our Preflight group for their analysis and fix.

                - Dov

      - Dov Isaacs, former Adobe Principal Scientist (April 30, 1990 - May 30, 2021)
        laurag5456310
        laurag5456310Author
        Participating Frequently
        May 9, 2019

        Thanks Dov Isaacs! I thought I was taking crazy pills! Hopefully there will be a fix. At least there can be a workaround.

        laurag5456310
        laurag5456310Author
        Participating Frequently
        May 9, 2019

        Here is a link to the file.

        Dropbox - DailyParagraphEditing_3:4_ibc.pdf - Simplify your life

        Abambo
        Abambo
        Community Expert
        May 9, 2019

        Looks like there is no problem to get this in bw!

        ABAMBO | Hard- and Software Engineer | Photographer
        Dov Isaacs
        Dov Isaacs
        Brainiac
        May 9, 2019

        I just tried with Digital printing b/w:

        ... and it worked right the first time

        and in addition I tried now only the bw convert:

        and the result is the same bw... Dropbox - DailyParagraphEditing_3_4_ibc.pdf - Simplify your life


        Yeah, but that profile contains other stuff as well. The Convert to Grayscale should do it correctly in one pass! See the workaround I have provided - run Convert to Grayscale multiple times!

                  - Dov

        - Dov Isaacs, former Adobe Principal Scientist (April 30, 1990 - May 30, 2021)
        Abambo
        Abambo
        Community Expert
        May 9, 2019

        please share the original PDF file with us!

        ABAMBO | Hard- and Software Engineer | Photographer
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