Illustrator 2020 - Overprint on image

[Parallele - Studio 2]

I can not check the overprint option on an image (the option is present but inactive). On the vector elements it works. Is there a new way of doing things?

[Ton Frederiks]

You can try Multiply Blending Mode

[Parallele - Studio 2]

Thank you very much. I know but i prefer to use the overprint option. Multiplys blending mode is not the same. I download the old version 2019 and the option dissapear too... ( Maybe because the last update ). My 2019 file keep the overprint on image that already was ( Blending option set as normal ). But i see the overprint whent i'm on overprint preview.

[Parallele - Studio 2]

[meganchi]

The only way to check the overprint option on an image is to embed it in Illustrator first, although I'm not sure why you would. What result are you trying to accomplish?

[Parallele - Studio 2]

I need to put the image overprint (I do not want to check) to go on the presses in large quantities. The option is simply not clickable on the images now. As my screenshot shows. I'm doing color overlap (CMYK) of the image on a pms background. Why the option is no longer available I have been using it for 15 years.

[Parallele - Studio 2]

I just noticed that if the image is in grayscale, the option is available. Why is it not available for CMYK images?

[Parallele - Studio 2]

I think it's from the .psd format of the process image. Before it was possible. I tried with the same image in .jpg and it works only when the image is embeed but created another bug. The overprint overwrites the process colors.

Then if I put the same image .jpg but bound (not embeed). The overprint option becomes inactive but remains checked ???? and the display does not seem to apply the overprint.

[Test Screen Name]

What would overprint even mean for a CMYK image? Are you printing over spot colour? 

[Parallele - Studio 2]

Yes !! On PMS color.

[JeffArdoise · Accepted solution]

I'm just wondering why you're not just putting your image below in the stack and put your spot color on top with overprint ON, you would get the same result.

[Parallele - Studio 2]

My file is complex because the CMYK image must overlap two PMS. The lighter PMS overprint on the first one (darker). I have been working this way forever. It is true that the Multiply blending mode does the same job, but it only bypasses the problem that appeared in the latest version of Illustrator. In addition the images that were placed overprint in the 2019 version before the update are in normal mode but keep the overprint option. I could not remove the overprint on these elements .... there is really a problem ...

[Parallele - Studio 2]

The problem is the option is inactive for:

- PSD cmyk file

- JPG cmyk file link

- JPG cmyk file embeed ( the overprint bug on other process colors...)

- JPG grayscale seems to be working

Before the option was disponible for all this type of file and work really well ! 

[JeffArdoise]

Have you tried to save in Tiff CMYK? I just did and it works if you embed the file. I've used LZW compression and Mac preview but I don't think it matters. Hope this helps.

[Parallele - Studio 2]

Thank you but the option is still not active ...

[JeffArdoise]

Did you embed the file? if you don't it won't work, it needs to be embedded.

[JeffArdoise]

And I'm sure you know this but to "see" the overprint you have to activate Overprint preview in the Separations Preview Panel or Menu, View, Overprint Preview.

[Ton Frederiks]

What System are you using? I am using Mojave. For me it seems to work with embedded CMYK jpeg and .psd files on spot color backgrounds. But I get the same result with Multiply (and that works also on CMYK backgrounds).

[Parallele - Studio 2]

I use High Sierra

[Ton Frederiks]

Try to open the enclosed PDF in Illustrator, and see if that works for you.

[Parallele - Studio 2]

That work when the jpg is embeed, but not when it's linkk

[JeffArdoise]

So just embed the file, and I see that it's working for a CMYK and not just a grayscale. What is still the problem?

[Parallele - Studio 2]

I never send with a embed file. The good way to do is with linked file that's keep all the resolution. And when i modify the image, thats update in illustrator. That the way we need to work ( embed file is not an option ).

[Ton Frederiks]

As far as I see, it has only worked with embedded files, also in older AI versions.

I just tried it in CC 2017 and also there, it needs to be embedded.

[Parallele - Studio 2]

That's not right, i use this way from 15 years!!!

I do a lot of file for packaging and that the way we always do and the printer ask. I do it last week before the update...