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C
COGordonW
Inspiring
September 29, 2019
Question

saving pdfs

  • September 29, 2019
  • 4 replies
  • 493 views

Hello everyone,

Ive created a logo for a client. They would like the logo in .pdf, .png, .jpg and the native .ai. and each in RGB, CMYK, Pantone. My question is when saving pdfs what is the best bay to insure the color modes stay unchanged. I know if I use High Quality Print it will convert the color mode to cmyk.

 

Also what version of pdf is best for high quality print in the case of the CMYK pdf?

This topic has been closed for replies.

4 replies

F
federico platon
Legend
September 30, 2019

Back to the original question,:

When in Illustrator: Select Save as PDF > Press Quality and with compatibility: Acrobat 8. (at least v. 7) 

Regarding PDF/X you may choose  PDFX/3 or PDFX/4 as they do not make conversion and provide information about the target cmyk profile to be used on the printing process.

 

To my fellows, I leave them a couple of questions:

  1. Should any designer have a deep knowledge about Prepress?
  2. Who is better suited (knowledge, experience and tools) to make color conversions? A designer or a Prepress technician?
Monika Gause
Community Expert
Monika GauseCommunity Expert
Community Expert
September 30, 2019
1. If you are doing print, then yes, you definitely need that knowledge. No excuses. 2. If conversions need to be made, then yes the technician must do them, because only they know the machine, the ink, the paper. But the designer has to make the decision, if colors should be converted. CMYK->CMYK conversions with ICC profiles might just ruin the job.
Monika Gause
Community Expert
Monika GauseCommunity Expert
Community Expert
September 30, 2019

Even if the color mode is CMYK: when you set up the color settings properly, Pantone color will stay. You always have to check your PDFs in Acrobat - make that a habit.

F
federico platon
Legend
September 30, 2019

I would use Pantone color on the ai file (if the colors chosen for that company logo are out of gamma, not easy to match on conventional printing). I would deliver to the client as the master logo file (in ai or pdf format).

This is the file that should be used always for printing when possible (using those Pantone inks) and preserve original colors match.

Then I would export it at some sizes and resolutions to RGB in jpg and png format. Check if the colors stay pretty close.

Then comes the problem, with a CMYK file, one using just the 4 tints, cmyk, use on offset printing. The key is choose the right profile, the one that is closest to the profile used by printers. here is the connundrum. If the printer states it, fine, but who makes the conversion/ and if they change or conform to another? and other printers?... 

In those cases, I would talk to the printer, or provide the logo with Pantone colors, and ASK the printer to do the conversion themselves. They have the knowledge, ability, experience, and responsability to do it right. It cannot be put in the hands of a customer.

Monika Gause
Community Expert
Monika GauseCommunity Expert
Community Expert
September 30, 2019
The customer will most likely hand their graphics and print providers the logo package and those professionals will select the appropriate file. But if the appropriate file doesn't exist, then they will convert something on their own, which likely isn't a good idea. When making logos, the designer usually selects all the things and this might even include colors to use for specific print purposes, such as separate files to use in newsprint and fine print.
T
Test Screen Name
Legend
September 29, 2019

What do they mean by "Pantones"? These are usually used for a design in spot colours, they aren't just a conversion of RGB. Also, spot colours cannot be put in PNG or JPG.

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