Duplicated objects (within the same doc) are printing with different color/effect.

[JGus2456]

I've had one document so far print one half of the page at a seemingly high saturation, or like a layer was set on multiply. The only difference between the first half and second half of the page is that the second half is a copy. I tried alt-drag copying, duplicating the layers, and even copying the original art and setting up a new document then copying. They all print the same way. AI, PDF (with and without editing), both print with this abberation. The only way I've been able to circumvent it is to export to a flattened Tiff, so I know there's no physical layer or effect causing the difference. I don't think it's a transparency reading issue since the original half prints correctly! The problem literally is in the act of duplicating the objects, so frustrating. Any thoughts?

I am working in Illustrator CC with a CMYK file and printing to a sublimation printer using Ergosoft RIP software.

[c.pfaffenbichler]

The problem literally is in the act of duplicating the objects, so frustrating. Any thoughts?

Could there be locked elements (that won’t copy because they are not selected)?

Could you provide the file?

[JGus2456]

"Could there be locked elements (that won’t copy because they are not selected)?"  (I'm not sure how to pull out a quote, first time using the forum)

Unfortunately no. I was thinking the same thing, but when the object is copied to an entirely new document then duplicated, the same end result is achieved: the first half prints correctly, and the copied half prints with the mottled color. I was hoping it would have been something I could click on or off, but when I save to a tiff, the color prints correctly, so there isn't any extra or missing layers, just the wrong color info printing (I'm thinking). But how I don't know.

I will inquiry if providing the file would be okay, as it's a printing file I've created for work.

[c.pfaffenbichler]

I will inquiry if providing the file would be okay, as it's a printing file I've created for work.

Feel free to remove all the other elements (if the effect is maintained, that is).

[JGus2456]

Ok, so, I can't share the actual file causing the problems with the forum, but I was able to replicate the issue on a more basic level. I've included a link to the .pdf file which we open and operate in illustrator. (We were instructed to use PDF for our file-printer color conversion, the issue still appears when saved as an .ai file as well. There isn't an issue on an .eps file type, but the file sizes get so large it's not sustainable for our print load timing.) I've also included a photo of what happens when I print this file. The image is mirrored, so the duplicated side is the left in the photo, but the right side in the document. All the file is, is 4 jpegs of watercolor washes topped with 2 shapes that are white fill, black stroke set to multiply. Only the layer with the 2 shapes has a transparency effect. After playing around a bit, the issue seems to be in the layer transparency setting, once I remove any layer transparency settings, the two sides print as expected. In some cases, like this file, I could change the shapes to stroke only with no fill and no layer style is needed, but this is only an example of the issue, and we have other files that I cannot remove the fill, and still require the layer transparency effects.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1820WAV2kmxXBuhmtTkFnM2ZBLvccR6Wk

[Lhemz0527]

You seem to be trying to fill up a page with multiple copies of the same image.

It appears also that you are working on a scanned copy of a coloring book page.

Why not try to do the printing using Photoshop, using the following steps:

• Convert to Layer - Double-Click the layer and click OK
• Double the Canvas size: Image Menu -. Canvas Size -> Relative/200%
  Width or height depending on the orientation of your printing.
• Alt+Drag the Layer (duplicate) and position accordingly.

If you don't have Photoshop and insist on using Illustrator, ensure the following:

• There are only two copies of the image
• In Transparency panel, the blending modes are all Normal for each image.

Otherwise, you might be running out of ink.

[JGus2456]

Thank you, unfortunately the image is not a one layer scan, but 4 or 5 layers of different watercolor washes and outlines I created for a pattern, some have multiply settings. But yes, essentially they are each scans, and I didn't happen to need to add any additional vector work in illustrator for this pattern, so I probably could have set it up in Photoshop. The problem lies in that all our sizing templates are in Illustrator since we usually have to add vector work and some labeling text over the images. Out of curiosity, I may play around and see if photoshop produces the same color change. This freak color shift is usually not a problem, thus I migrate all the work to end in Illustrator for layout and labeling.

I did see your suggestion about the inks; levels are good, print was run multiple times with this issue and the "bad" side is the side with more ink.

Thank you for your time though, I appreciate the help.

[Lhemz0527]

You might want to check if you have applied any blending to the the layer.

Yes, it is possible to apply a property to a layer and it won't show up on any of your object properties.

• On the layer panel, click the circle at the right side of a layer.
• Then check the transparency and appearance panel
• Do this for all your layers
• If there is nothing wrong with each layer, then I am wrong

Next step...

You are working on multiple washes on top of another, you have applied a multiply blending mode on the watercolor washes. This is good.

But you might also verify if you also added an overprint stroke or fill in some of your vector objects.

Combining overprint and multiply is redundant and sometimes lead to darkening (in my experience).

This will not show up until you view it in Overprint Preview (View Menu).

[JGus2456]

There are no extra layer settings when I comb through the appearance panel and could not find if any of the objects had a different over print setting. I didn't know about Overprint preview (thank you!), so I turned it on as suggested, but the appearance of the two sides looks correct on my screen. I posted an example file a moment ago in response to another contributor, trying to simplify the issue, it seems to lie in the use of a transparency layer in general, as once the one top layer is no longer set to multiply, the file prints as expected. I dunno, we've resorted to saving a working file, and then flattening the artwork for those files that are affected for now.