Issue with colors ripping differently for Illustrator files that include images and vector elements

[kennad40506420]

Hi,

I have a new issue that has come up with Illustrator. When a file contains both vector and images layered together, the images rip with color printing where there should not be (for example: print a small amount of black in an area that should be white). I am not sure if this could be an issue is caused by transparencies or possibly effects that are applied to the vector artwork. Has anyone had this happen or have an idea to solve this issue?

Thanks!

Kenna

[kglad]

[moved from Creative Suites to Illustrator]

[Danny Whitehead.]

I presume you're saving as PDF to send to the RIP. If so, which PDF setting are you using? What kind of RIP? Is this litho or digital?

Open the PDF in Acrobat and open your Separations Preview. Is the unwanted colour present at that stage?

[tonyharmer]

Hi

Sorry you're experiencing some issues.

Could you give us a little more information, please—in addition to that requested by Danny, above.

What Document Colour Mode is the Illustrator file? RGB or CMYK? What are the colour modes of the images, and are they linked assets or have you embedded them (by dragging them in)?

Is it possible for you to screenshot the links panel, and upload that here, please?

Hopefully we'll be able to more accurately diagnose the problem, then.

[kennad40506420]

Hi All,

Below are some details about the issue we are having. We are creating films using color separations ripped through the Wasatch Soft Rip Version 7.5.

The image below shows a side by side comparison with our working image in Adobe Illustrator CC and the K film produced from that image using the Wasatch Soft Rip Version 7.5. Our K and Y films are printing a 6% dot in all parts of the image that don’t have any black or yellow in the original file. Other images supplied below show our color settings for the Illustrator file and the Photoshop images.

This seems to happen when we have artwork that uses Photoshop images combined with vector graphics in our Illustrator files mainly when the images use transparency. This doesn’t happen with files that only use images in Illustrator leading us to believe that the curve is not the problem but rather how Wasatch rips the files the use transparencies (possibly)?

We always save our files as .eps but have tried ripping them as .pdf and get the same results.

The color issue only shows up on the films after the file has been printed.

We are looking for a solution that would maintain the integrity of the colors in the files.

Thank you for your help,

Kenna

[tonyharmer]

Hey Kenna

Thanks for these. Another ask though, please; could we know what the Document colour modes are in Photoshop, and Illustrator?

Also, you mention a curve—are you using a custom GCR curve?

[Danny Whitehead.]

Which PDF setting are you using when you export from Illustrator? Try PDF/X-4:2008.

Open the PDF in Acrobat and open your Separations Preview. Hover over the affected area to get CMYK readings. Is the unwanted colour present at that stage?

[ceyhun_akgun]

1. In the RIP, custom gradation curves are generated. These decrease or increase the color values ​​of the graphics relative to the printing material.
2. In another respect, Dot Gain is interesting in the county.
3. Check the ICC Profiles and use the correct option. Suggest Fogra 39 or Fogra 51. Synchronize over the bridge.
4. Send the printout in PDFX3-2002 with default settings.
5. Photshop must be registered on the ICC profile of the visuals.
6. Check options when printing. Working Space is going to press the selected profiler.
7. Check back later. If you are getting the same problem, you can be sure there is a problem with the RIP curves.

[kennad40506420]

Hi Everyone,

Here are a few answers to the above questions:

- We are using CMYK for the Document Color Mode in both Photoshop and Illustrator. See below images 1.1 & 1.2

- We are not using a Custom GCR curve but rather we are using the "SWOP (Coated), 20%, GCR, Maximum" curve in Photoshop. See below image 1.3

- These files are not usually saved as .pdf but rather .eps then sent to our Wasatch Soft Rip for screen printing. We have tried saving and ripping our file as a .pdf but get the same results as the .eps.

- We've saved the file as both our tested PDF (using default pdf settings) and the PDF/X-4:2008, brought it into Acrobat and checked the separations. The unwanted color was not present at that stage nor was it present when we tried reading the separations in the effected area in our Wasatch Soft Rip program before ripping, the problem doesn't show up until after it's ripped and printing. Any file that has a Photoshop imaged linked into or embedded into an Illustrator document with vector artwork in the Illustrator file with transparencies or effects to the vector artwork will add a dot percentage where the reading should be 0%. This includes areas within the Photoshop documents that should also read 0%.

     • We have tested ripping and printed the file as a PDF/X-4:2008 but it's having the same issue as the other .pdf and .eps.

Example of the problem:

The 0% areas that are printing with the 6% dot is only within the photoshop image and illustrator gradient transparency areas. This only seems to effect the K and Y films with illustrator files that have Photoshop images combined with vector graphics and Illustrator files that use images with transparencies.
Example: If the linked Photoshop image is 6"x6" consisting of a 2"x4" box with white text on it and no color for the background behind the box and the Illustrator file it's linked in is 8"x10" with a 4"x2" gradient box then the areas that were 0%K and 0%Y within the gradient box, the linked images and the gradient will be the only parts that will get that 6% dots. See below image 1.4

Thank you for your help,

Stephanie and Kenna

Document Color Modes:

Image 1.1

Image 1.2

Image 1.3

Image 1.4

[Danny Whitehead.]

Right, so we've isolated the RIP as the stage where the problem occurs. I presume this RIP doesn't have the Adobe PDF Print Engine (APPE), in which case you'd be better off in the long run with one that has. But I still think there will be a way around this problem.

So, the next questions...

A) Are there spot colours in files, and if so, will they actually be printed as spot inks?

B) Does Wasatch SoftRIP have colour management settings? If so, make sure they match your Adobe ones as much as possible (they might use different terminology).

C) Would it be possible to upload a sample PDF and EPS that's giving you this problem?

[q3player]

Two possible solutions:

(1) Make sure that the color profile in the .psd is the same as in your .ai file.

(2) When exporting to PDF check your settings and make sure that images are not compressed using JPEG. Use ZIP instead.

[jdanek]

In Photoshop, what is the setting for a.) Rendering Intent, and b.) dot gain percentage?  Make sure Wasatch is honoring your EPS color setting and not applying its own.  You should calibrate the Wasatch.  Check through the settigs and make sure Wasatch is not applying some pseudo color in transparent areas.  This will take some study on your part.  Try to match best practice color settings in both Illustrator and Photoshop ( avoid any sRGB tags ).  Calibrating your RIP may help and should be done at least twice a year.