Color reference differences between Acrobat Reader 9 v Acrobat Reader DC

[granth54436419]

I have a customer that has a document that when exported to PDF, renders color differently for different versions of Acrobat Reader. People using Acrobat Reader DC 2021.001.20150 see the document as it is intended, however those using Adobe Acrobat 9 see the colors in a different hue. The customer says that updating their Acrobat 9 to a more recent version is not feasible for them. Is there any way to fix or compensate for this? The color rendition is important, as it is a corporate logo color.

[Karl Heinz Kremer]

The most likely reason for different colors is if by accident the "replace colors" feature in the accessibility options got enabled. To turn this off, go into Reader's preferences, then select "Accessibility" and turn off "Replace Document Colors". Hopefully this resolves the issue.

[granth54436419]

Hello Karl.  That option was not in effect, and the problem continues.
The desired color is the "brighter" blue.
The PDF version is 1.4.
I'm wondering if this could be how colors are handled in Acrobat 9 v. Acrobat DC?  
Acrobat Reader 9 

Acrobat Reader DC 

  

[granth54436419]

After posting my reply, it occured to me that it might not be the file or software causing the difference, but the monitor or monitor drivers being used.  

[Karl Heinz Kremer]

That would be one explanation - especially when it is only about a small difference. You can also compare the settings in the Color Management category in Acrobat's preferences between the two systems. 

[Brad @ Roaring Mouse]

Your Bright Blue is a problematic color anyway so if you are using that as a Logo Color Standard, you are in for a world of hurt. That intense a blue can only happen in a screen-based color space. What seems to be happening is that your setting in the Reader DC is set to show the closest CMYK equivalent based on the Color Mangement setting on the computer it's being viewed on and consequently your colors will go duller. Readers don't have full Color Management control but they do have ONE applicable setting that might be in play here:

Check the Preferences in the both Readers under Page Display > Default Transparency Blending Color Space: these need to be set the same. To maintain your intense blue, it should be Working RGB. If it's Working CMYK, this might be causing the issue.

[Test Screen Name]

Also check out the setting "Default transparency blending space" in Acrobat DC (Preferences.... Page Display). You can choose RGB or CMYK, while older versions of Acrobat offer no choice and blend transparency in CMYK.

[Brad @ Roaring Mouse]

Ah, yes. I thought Reader v9 had that Preference as well, but you are right, it does not. (I just happened to have an old v9 install on an old W2000 Virtual machine!)