Overprint attributes panel

[Debbie5C60]

Why does attributes panel show overprint box 'dash' (-) when no selections have overprint selected? Thought this was to indicate that overprint was present in the document? 

[Monika Gause]

Overprint is an object based setting. If you want to check the document, use the overprint preview and the separations panel.

In the Attributes panel it will only be displayed correctly when objects are selected.

[Debbie5C60]

Thanks. I had all the objects set NOT to overprint, yet there is still a dash in the attributes ?

[Debbie5C60]

If nothing is set to overprint shouldn't the attributes panel show nothing - not even a dash ?

[Monika Gause]

Please show a screenshot with an object selected and the attributes panel.

[Debbie5C60]

Both ojects are set NOT to overprint but when selected together the over print is dashed.

[Monika Gause]

What kind of objects are they? Different ones? One is a group and has several colors, the other is a compound path? Something like that?

When you select more than one objects of the same kind, then what happens?

[Debbie5C60]

2 different objects, both compound paths. Both filled with black. No strokes. If I select the object directly no overprint shows. If I select one by drawing my cursor over the object the overprint dash appears in the attributes panel. If I select both by using the cursor to select both again I get the dash. ?

[Monika Gause]

Is it really the same black in both of them?

[Debbie5C60]

Yes a four colour black - bot the same values.

[Scott Falkner]

Is there a pattern fill? I think the overprint attribute canot be set for pattern fills, only for the objects within the pattern fill.

[Ton Frederiks]

Maybe these scripts to select elements with overprint can be useful.

This one selects overprint fill, but there is a link to the stroke one:

http://illustrator.hilfdirselbst.ch/dokuwiki/skripte/javascript/select_fill_overprint

[Debbie5C60]

Thanks - will give it a go.

[Kurt Gold]

Can you share a sample Illustrator file?

But first take a look at the Flattener Preview (see Windows menu). In the Preview palette choose Overprints: "Simulate" and click on the Refresh button. Now set the Highlight method to "All Objects".

Do you see any highlights?

[Debbie5C60]

I can't share the file here for privacy reasons. I have done the above - "All objects" is not an option - greyed out - see screen grab. Thanks

[Kurt Gold]

Well, you don't have to share the entire file. Just a sample file with two or three objects in question.

[Monika Gause]

Click on "Refresh" - can you then select something?

[Kurt Gold]

Some other possible reasons:

- Invisible stray points that are set to overprint

- Very tiny objects with overprint attributes included in the actual selection

- Objects that are set to overprint and that have an opacity of zero percent (so probably quite invisible as well).

There could be more reasons. That's why it would be useful to provide a sample file.

[Ton Frederiks]

I have seen this before and just now I can reproduce it.

I would not worry about it, it does not affect the file.

In this example there was a stroke added to an embedded image. There is no fill in the file but the Overprint Fill has a dash.

Clicking the Overprint to turn it on and again to turn it off does not help, when the image is deselected the dash is back.

[Kurt Gold]

That's indeed some inconsistent behaviour, Ton. But according to Debbie's screenshots above we are talking about two plain (compound) paths. A sample Illustrator file is required, I'd still say.

What does the brock on the table keep its eyes on?

[Ton Frederiks]

I know the conditions are not the same, but the behaviour is.

Brock?

[Kurt Gold]

Oh, I see it's not a brock. It's a badger.

[Ton Frederiks]

Funny?

[Kurt Gold]

Obviously not funny for cat owners. I should have expected the huffiness.

Beg your pardon.

[Debbie5C60]

I will see if I can add a sample of this file here. Thanks