Color and black appears faded when Illustrator files are saved to PDF. Help asap Plz

[rochellej13287377]

When i save my  Illustrator files as PDF and open it in Adobe Acrobat Pro DC Version 2020, the colors are faded. how can i change that? I am using the latest versionof Illustrator as well. Also will it print like that? Either way i want it to be fixed before i can share artwork with clients.

see pics attached for how it looks in Illustrator and then how it looks when saved as a pdf

[Doug A Roberts]

What colour mode is your document?

What is the composition of the black you are using?

What options are set under Preferences > Appearance of Black?

[rochellej13287377]

The artwork is for print. Color mode is CMYK so at the top of the doc it reads CMYK/GPU Preview....i attached a screenshot of the appearance of Black under Preferences. 

[Ton Frederiks]

If the second image is a screendump from the PDF, then it looks as expected, checking with Photoshop shows an RGB black. 

You can check the black in Acrobat (as well as Illustrator) in the separations preview.

[rochellej13287377]

the screen shot is the preferences for Illustrator. Its an Illustratot document and Photoshop is not involved at all. How do i check black in Acrobat. i actually need assistance with how to fix the matter if someone knows how to

[Ton Frederiks]

I was talking about your screenshot: Screen Shot 2021-01-26 at 10.19.51 AM

In Acrobat go to View > Tools > Print Production > Open and select Output Preview to check the black.

[rochellej13287377]

[rochellej13287377]

not seeing  "Print Production > Open and select Output Preview " as an option...even checked under Preferences

[Ton Frederiks]

Add the shortcut from the Tools option (next to Home)

[rochellej13287377]

what should it be? ..can you please be specific and tell me what i should be looking for and what should be in place to resolve the issue? I am not an expert.

[Monika Gause · Accepted solution]

https://helpx.adobe.com/acrobat/using/print-production-tools-overview-acrobat.html

[Ton Frederiks · Accepted solution]

Be aware that a printing ink black will never be as dark as an RGB black or a rich black (100% K and various percentages of CMY). So the "faded" black is actually correctly previewed in Acrobat.

[rochellej13287377]

hmmm...ok thnks

[rochellej13287377]

so even though it looks like that on display, it wont print like that?

[Ton Frederiks]

If it is printed on a printing press, it is printed as 100% black (which is never as dark as an RGB black).