Color shows correctly on AI file but not in file preview

[sacredheartsclub]

I keep running into this issue and for the life of me can't figure out how to fix it. As shown in the images below, I have a block of text that is red. Shows correctly on the AI file and on AI homepage preview. When I go to upload the file to Dropbox or view it in Finder, the color is showing as gray. All other components of the AI file keep their color. I am working in RGB color mode.

I have tried to delete the text, create a new text box, create a new layer, updating my app, and nothing seems to work. Help is much appreciated! Thank you in advance

[Monika Gause]

Please select that red text and show us the Appearance panel and the layers panel (click on the magnifier glass icon to find it in the panel)

[sacredheartsclub]

 

 

[Monika Gause]

Can you please show that in the Appearance panel, which is Window > Appearance?

I think there might be some transparency applied to the text. It might be in the red fill. This is the only reason I can think of that this might happen. Apple Preview is just not very good with transparency.

[Kevin Stohlmeyer]

You may be working in RGB color mode but is the block of text a spot color?

[sacredheartsclub]

Had to do a quick google search on spot colors, but if I'm understanding you correctly I took our hex code for the brand color and got the specific RGB values -- I referenced the color on the AI file and all the RGB values were already correct

[Kevin Stohlmeyer]

Ive seen this same behavior in Illustrator previews specifically on the Mac OS when a global color (or spot color) is used. Certain systems cannot rectify a global or spot color so it comes across as an alpha channel/grayscale preview.

1 is a normal color swatch

2 is a global color swatch

3 is a spot color swatch

[Anubhav M]

Hello @sacredheartsclub,

Thanks for reaching out. I hope the suggestions shared by Monika and Kevin helped resolve the problem. If not, kindly share a sample file (https://community.adobe.com/t5/illustrator-discussions/share-your-files-in-6-simple-steps/td-p/12967...) so that we can check it on our end.

Looking forward to your response.

Thanks,

Anubhav

[sacredheartsclub]

Thank you Anubhav! Here's the sample file link

[Ton Frederiks]

If I show or delete the Hybrid layer, it looks ok, but I cannot find anything special with that layer.

[Brad @ Roaring Mouse · Accepted solution]

Well, this weird. I am experiencing the same issue here. In fact, if you moved the red type to a different layer, it shows a completely different weirdness. In my case, if I move the title down a few layers, ALL the type now appeared RED in the preview.

 

However, if I copy and paste all the objects from your file into a brand new file, maintaining the same layer structure and all, the issue goes away. So, I'm not sure what is about your file that's causing that.

 

[sacredheartsclub]

Exactly I can't tell what's wrong with the file itself but you were so right, the issue went away when I just copy and pasted everything into a new file. Thank you!