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Chaia22981687gkvz
Participant
February 3, 2022
Question

Exporting to .pdf and my files are black

  • February 3, 2022
  • 2 replies
  • 3003 views

I designed an image in procreate (CMYK) and exported as Best quality .pdf. I placed the file into illustrator and when I saved it out as another .pdf (so I could print) it exported black, or an inverted color of what I have. I've done this exact method when designing before and this has never happened. 

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2 replies

Brad @ Roaring Mouse
Community Expert
Brad @ Roaring MouseCommunity Expert
Community Expert
February 4, 2022

I suspect a conflict between ICC profiles.

Can you share one of the procreate pdfs?

In the meantime, try this: If you export as PSD instead, does that work any better? Since you are placing these into Illustrator anyway, you don't have to use PDF as the export format.

Anyway, from what I know of procreate, is that it's actually an RGB based tool. The only benefit from selecting a CMYK Canvas is to limit your available colors to those in the range of whatever CMYK profile you select.

If you export to PSD and open that in Photoshop, what kind of file do you get? RGB or CMYK? because whatever's in your PDF won't be any different.

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    Chaia22981687gkvzAuthor
    Participant
    February 4, 2022

    I exported as a PSD file and then exported from there as a .pdf, it worked like a charm. This makes sense, I always choose CMYK when designing in Procreate because I work in a Design and Print shop. What's weird is that it has never given me this issue before and I'm wondering if with the newest updates for Procreate, something in the color profile compatibility changed. Thank you for your help! 

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    Harshad23779891yvp4
    Participant
    March 28, 2022

    Hello there,

     

    I am having the exact same issue. Can you tell me what exactly you did? Where did you export the PSD file? I exported mine to google drive but it doesn't have the option to export as PDF. Help is much appreciated, thank you!

    Monika Gause
    Community Expert
    Monika GauseCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    February 3, 2022

    Are you viewing that PDF with Acrobat?

     

    Procreate can only export raster images in my understanding. So why export a PDF? Especially when you can't set decent options ("Best quality" means what?)

     

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    Chaia22981687gkvzAuthor
    Participant
    February 4, 2022

    I could view the procreate .pdf with acrobat and it showed up perfectly, even in illustrator it showed up. Since I needed to place multiple, a .pdf file expedites the process usually. 

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