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Inspiring
October 20, 2017
Answered

black and white print and color printing with copier

  • October 20, 2017
  • 3 replies
  • 3571 views

I have a problem printing a document containing black and white pages and CMYK pages. With my Minolta Bizhub C220 copier when I request an impression by selecting the "automatic color" mode, it prints all the pages in color. Is there a way for the copier to recognize color pages and black and white pages? I have the same problem with printing a PDF file from the file 'InDesign.

Thank you for your help.

    This topic has been closed for replies.
    Correct answer christianb47789489

    I just found the reason for the problem and it is neither indesign nor the copier who are involved. indeed, the problem came from a small black and white logo that had been done on illustrator. Although this logo is actually only black and white it was considered to be in CMJK . Originally this logo had been redesigned using a background layer on which was imported the image CMJK of the logo. this layer was then hidden and the original image erased from the hard drive. when I redid a black and white version of the logo, I reopened this file and illustrator told me it was missing the image. As I did not need it anymore I clicked on "ignore". however, the black and white logo was still considered in CMYK . After many tries I found the solution. I selected all elements of the logo and asked for a conversion to black and white. And it works. it was a little complicated and I think it's rather illustrator that is involved ...

    Thank you for your help.

    3 replies

    christianb47789489AuthorCorrect answer
    Inspiring
    October 23, 2017

    I just found the reason for the problem and it is neither indesign nor the copier who are involved. indeed, the problem came from a small black and white logo that had been done on illustrator. Although this logo is actually only black and white it was considered to be in CMJK . Originally this logo had been redesigned using a background layer on which was imported the image CMJK of the logo. this layer was then hidden and the original image erased from the hard drive. when I redid a black and white version of the logo, I reopened this file and illustrator told me it was missing the image. As I did not need it anymore I clicked on "ignore". however, the black and white logo was still considered in CMYK . After many tries I found the solution. I selected all elements of the logo and asked for a conversion to black and white. And it works. it was a little complicated and I think it's rather illustrator that is involved ...

    Thank you for your help.

    rob day
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    October 23, 2017

    You should be able to use InDesign's preflight panel to catch objects with CMY.

    Make a profile with Cyan, Magenta or Yellow Plates Not Allowed and no spot colors. In this example the profile catches all of these apparently black rectangles, one from Illustrator, an InDesign RGB Black fill, and a black spot color.

    Inspiring
    October 23, 2017

    Thank you very much for your idea

    Christian

    rob day
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    October 20, 2017

    InDesign pages and documents do not have a color Mode. Objects can be a mix of either CMYK, Lab, or RGB, so [Black] is actually a CMYK color when the document intent is Print—0|0|0|100. Placed grayscales normally output to the CMYK black plate, or get converted to 4-color CMYK.

    Community Expert
    October 20, 2017

    Sounds like more of an issue with your Minolta Bizhub and your RIP.

    Your RIP should be able to detect colour pages and black and white pages and print accordingly.

    Inspiring
    October 20, 2017

    That is the case. For example, when I print a word document on my copier, it counts black pages and color pages well. It's a matter of cost as I pay each output color much more expensive than a black and white output. I think this is a setting in Indesign. For each page, it should send information about whether or not the page contains CMYK objects. Word does, why InDesign would not?  I do not know.
    thanks

    rob day
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    October 20, 2017

    I think this is a setting in Indesign. For each page, it should send information about whether or not the page contains CMYK objects.

    If an object isn't CMYK then it has to be either RGB or Lab—both are color modes. There is no grayscale or black & white color mode.

    You can force a conversion to Grayscale on PDF export, but that would convert everything to grayscale.