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45634563545
45634563545
Inspiring
April 16, 2012
Question

PDF showing overprint preview

  • April 16, 2012
  • 2 replies
  • 23360 views

Is there a way to output a PDF that looks like Aunt Illie's Overprint Preview?

    This topic has been closed for replies.

    2 replies

    I
    isladive
    Participant
    May 10, 2012

    There is a way to create a pdf proof directly from Illustrator that looks like your screen does with the Overprint Preview on (and without having to take a screenshot instead).  If you go to your color swatches and then down to "Spot Colors" and change the color definition to LAB instead, when you get out of that, your color will look like overprint on even if you do not have that option selected AND your PDF created from Illustrator will also look like that.  However, you do not want to save it with LAB colors, so undo or don't save the file that way. This is new to me as well, I was just researching some of this same stuff today and read a great article about the OP and LAB colors, etc., that led me to make this PDF proof discovery.  If you are intretested in the article to understand more... http://rwillustrator.blogspot.com/2007/02/busting-myth-achieving-consistent-color.html

    Like I said, I discovered this today and it seems to have worked fine.

    Kurt Gold
    Community Expert
    Kurt GoldCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    May 10, 2012

    I've not tried isladive's method yet.

    Can anyone confirm that new insight?

    45634563545
    45634563545Author
    Inspiring
    May 11, 2012

    Gahh, haven't got around to it yet, Kurt. Soon, soon . . . though I'd rather someone more experienced with this madness test it out.

    But, I would like to announce that Flatten Transparency has solved yet another one of my Illy conundrums - When you Release an object's Envelope Distort > Make With Warp and you get that grey shape warped to the shape of the distortion envelope. I've always wanted to use to use it for certain things but could nevber figure out how to convertin it into a normal path. No longer.

    Kurt Gold
    Community Expert
    Kurt GoldCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    April 16, 2012

    Which version of Illustrator are you using?

    Also, what exactly is the purpose of your request?

    45634563545
    45634563545Author
    Inspiring
    April 16, 2012

    Using Illustrator CS5.

    I want to output PROOFs for customers that are more accurate.

    45634563545
    45634563545Author
    Inspiring
    April 16, 2012

    That means it is rather inappropriate to tell them to turn on Overprint Preview in Acrobat or Acrobat Reader, right?

    If so, take a copy of the file, do a Flatten transparency and save as .pdf

    Sometimes you would first have to apply a midget transparency value to all objects (e. g. 99 % opacity).


    Yeah, the Overprint Preview setting thing is great to know. I'm only just now getting heavily into prepress file set up so I'm figuring all this out for the first time.

    @Kurt & Larry - I think it works really well, but actually instructing all customers to change that setting I'm almost positive will only cause more confusion than anything . . . but I still may try it. Perhaps an instructional screenshot, just like you attached, Larry. Might just do the trick! Hmm, what aboput those without Acrobat, who only have Adobe Reader? Does Reader include this functionality?

    @Tommy - I actually did exactly that for the proof I output today. But . . . I don't want to be stuck with that everytime there are overprint elements or fluorescent inks used in a design.

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