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Participating Frequently
January 26, 2021
Answered

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

  • January 26, 2021
  • 3 replies
  • 3857 views

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

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer Monika Gause

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.


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

3 replies

Ton Frederiks
Community Expert
Community Expert
January 26, 2021

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.

Participating Frequently
January 26, 2021

hmmm...ok thnks

Participating Frequently
January 26, 2021

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

Ton Frederiks
Community Expert
Community Expert
January 26, 2021

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.

Participating Frequently
January 26, 2021

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
Community Expert
Community Expert
January 26, 2021

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.

Doug A Roberts
Community Expert
Community Expert
January 26, 2021

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?

Participating Frequently
January 26, 2021

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.