Embedded PSD image loses clarity on PDF export

[Natia0101]

This is a sticker with text (SIDE A) done in Illustrator, and the main illustration embedded from Photoshop then matched to the print template (in illustrator).  It looks great on screen but when I export the embedded image loses quality and the white darkens slightly.  I'm exporting at Press quality and have been mindful of no compression and other output settings.  What am I missing?  Thanks. 

[Ton Frederiks]

Are the psd files RGB, Grayscale or Bitmap? Are they linked or embedded?

[Ton Frederiks]

Are you working in RGB or CMYK?

Do you have the warnings checked in your color settings for mismatches?

[Natia0101]

psd file is CMYK, same as the Illustrator one.  Not aware of warnings in color settings, how do I find that?  Thanks Ton.  

[Ton Frederiks]

You can turn the warnings for Profile Mismatches and Missing Profile On in Edit > Color Settings... > Color Management Policies.

It will warn you if there are differences to avoid color conversion.

Your image does not look like it is containing color. Would it not be better to use Grayscale in Photoshop?

[Natia0101]

OK turned that on and no problems flagged.  Changed to greyscale but it seems to lose some of the blacks so changed back. Shouldn't affect quality output tho if it's CYMK should it?  Anything else that you can think I may be missing?  Thanks.  

[Ton Frederiks]

From what I can see from your screendumps, your blacks are around 92-96 %

[Ton Frederiks]

The problems only show when you place the file, not after it is already placed.

[Natia0101]

Just replaced it and no probs flagged. 

Don't know if the forum will allow this link but here are the two files if you or anyone fancies a look.  The AI file is the main file, the PSD is just linked.  Perhaps it's not the correct way to do it but the template that I was provided was AI so that is were I worked.

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1ssT-sq3lggo5R76w65XbcdK08IAOlnmx?usp=sharing

[Ton Frederiks]

Thanks Natia, there are a couple of things I noticed.

Your Illustrator CMYK file does not have a profile but your Photoshop file does.

Your file looks like black, but is actually a 4 color file with no real black.

Saving as PDF does not give me the darkened white you mentioned, white stays 0%.

How did you check your file, did you use Acrobat's Print Production Output Preview?

Did you check the file with your printer?

[Ton Frederiks]

Checking the linked file in Illustrator shows a resolution of 2197 ppi, which is overkill.

[Natia0101]

Thanks once again Ton... Yeah the psd file is huge, I made it 300dpi in illustrator but I guess downsizing in Illustrator boosts the ppi?  The main thing that I see is not the quality of the white, but the clarity of the finer line details.  See the file I just attached.  I guess there is no quick fix to do this? I fear it may be escaping over my head!  

[Mike_Gondek]

Press quality resolution is 300ppi. Your .psd lineart is scaled down so your effective resolution is likely higher than 300ppi.

Why not place the .psd, and use image trace to make vector. That type of lineart is an excellent candidate.

As the .psd is lineart with hard edges, is entirely appropriate to be higher than 300ppi if going print. A good print that knows their equipment would be able to give you the correct resolution for black and white line art, but my suggestion is an effective resolution of about 1270 ppi would be a good amount. By going to vector on that art that makes everything better. Hi resolution lineart can really slow down Illustrator & photoshop.

[Natia0101]

Thanks.  Using image trace looks cool but it loses the detail.  I think the problem that I'm seeing is when the image is rasterized it loses definition.  Is that normal? Is there are way to export without rasterizing.  Sorry to be a total newb.  

[Ton Frederiks]

I guess that what you are seeing is the screening used during printing, probably exaggerated by the 4 color raster dots for the various shades in your image. 

This kind of black and white lineart would be better reproduced as a high resolution (which you already have) bitmap. If you scanned the artwork, try it again as bitmap.

[Ton Frederiks]

You could try this: Open the image in Photoshop and choose Image > Mode > Grayscale and click OK.

Choose Image > Adjustments > Posterize... and use 2 levels.

Choose Image > Mode > Bitmap

Flatten Layers and use a 300 Pixels/Inch Output with as Method 50% Threshold.

Save as TIFF or PSD under another name and relink to this file in Illustrator.

(you also may want to change the text color to black).

[Mike_Gondek]

You can adjust the tracing settings for more detail. The defautls are set so people do not create too complex tracings which are slow.