Saving to PDF Causes Text and/or Object Colors to Invert

[mazdaspeed]

I don't even know how to use the correct terminology for this, but at some point during file creation, newly created text or objects look right in Illustrator, but save to PDF with inverse (I think – white is black/yellow is blue, etc.) color. This doesn't happen to everything in the document, just what is created after a point in time when something apparently becomes corrupted. I would be happy to upload my file for anyone who's willing to help me.

I've been using this workflow for over a year. The problem just started today, 08-29-2023. I can use a 6-month old file for a template and start manipulating text or objects, saving to PDF, and everything is fine, but once Illustrator saves the text or object inverted, that's the only way it will save any new text or object going forward.

[Monika Gause]

Can we see an example?

Also: do you use Acrobat for viewing the PDF?

[mazdaspeed]

Yes, I'm using full Adobe CC Applications. I'm trying to upload the ai. file, but gettting message from the web interface that that the content doesn't math the extension.

[mazdaspeed]

So, in this PDF, the "Lorem ipsum" is white in AI, the magenta rectangle is more like aqua, the river is lisht blue, and the the word "TEST" is gold.

[mazdaspeed]

 PDF

 Illustrator

[Monika Gause · Accepted solution]

THank you.

I have exported the document as PDF as well and in my test this all didn't happen.

So maybe you have used a very weird color profile.

Or your system does need a reboot and Illustrator needs a preferences reset.

[mazdaspeed]

Hmm, okay. I'll try a reboot first. This is MacOS btw.

[mazdaspeed]

Reboot did not fix it.

Preference reset: is this done by deleting the preferences folder? Seems that's what I recall.

[mazdaspeed]

Resetting preferences solved it, which is done by Option+Cmd+Shift while opening. I mistated it when I said delete the preferences folder. Thanks, Monika!

[Monika Gause]

You're welcome. Glad you could solve it.

There are several methods to reset the preferences. Deleting the folder is another way.