Black background instead of transparency while printing PDF from InDesign (RGB)

[michal_PL]

Hey, I have a problem I have difficulties solving on my own.

I prepare file in Indesign, keeping everything in sRGB IEC6...

1. Export PNG files with transparent backgrounds from Procreate
2. Place them in InDesign (linking)
3. Indesign is set up for sRGB IEC6...
4 Then I Export to pdf using sRGB IEC... as an ouput (embeding profile)

I wanted to try using Adobe 5 format compatibility, to avoid downsides of Adobe 4- lines and dividing pictures to triangles, as I observed at least one printing result where printer lost parts of the images. For most of them, these lines resulting from flattening are only visible on screens (something I still would like to avoid if possible). Also, clickable table of contents would be great.

So I exported PDF file with Adobe 5 compatibility and received such result on two different printers.
What can I do to avoid lines, fractals, and have clicable ToC and not end up with black PNG backgrounds?

Have I done anything wrong?

All help appreciated!

[BobLevine]

What did the printer say? Can you post one of the PNGs? What are you using PNGs?

[michal_PL]

No error messages. Just printed it with black backgrounds.

What are you using PNGs?

By BobLevine

 Sorry, can't understand this one 😬

[BobLevine]

Should have said WHY are you using PNGs.

[michal_PL]

Ok, that's clear now - Illustrations are being created in application called Procreate. Then I export them for InDesign. Almost all of these have transparent background so I needed format handling transparency.

PNG seem to me as the most suitable considering the purpose and populatiry.

TIFF seem to be overkill, as every asset would be heavier.

I already fixed munch issues with color conversions and management, but never heard that PNGs are not a good fit for this purpose.

One other thing. How are they being printed?

By BobLevine

They are supposed to be as universal and easy to print propoerly as possible. People will be willing to print these from mobile devices, desktop, browsers, email clients etc. Always on desktop printers (RGB)
That's why I decided to follow some older standard (Acrobat 5)

[Scott Falkner]

WHO are you using PNGs?

[BobLevine]

One other thing. How are they being printed?

[Willi Adelberger · Accepted solution]

Don't use PNG files, use PDF or PSD or TIFF files, if you use images with transparency.

[michal_PL]

OMG - I'm terified - I started over the whole process, including exporting all the images again in sRGB, and found no sign of such a tip/recommendation/requirement. Is this some general rule, or some issue with InDesign?
Won't PNG's work at all?
Every kind of Tiff should work correctly?

[Willi Adelberger]

PNGs have no colormanagement and support only alpha transparency and are always in RGB.

[michal_PL]

Good to know, thank you. I will try TIFF and PSD next time

[michal_PL]

Yes, TIFF worked, thanks!

[Scott Falkner]

I usually save all my Photoshop files in either TIF or PSD or PDF formats. TIF is for any image with no transparency (The layers panel shows only the Background layer). PSD is for images with trasparency or layers. PDF is for images that have vectors that I want to preserve. There's no practical difference between most formats, but by saving flattened images as TIF I know what images have transparency and might need extra attention.

[leo.r]

So I exported PDF file with Adobe 5 compatibility and received such result on two different printers.

By michal_PL

I assume you meant Acrobat 5. As a test, try to set Acrobat 7 (PDF 1.6) compatibility - will it make a difference?

[michal_PL]

Yes, sorry, "Acrobat 5". I wIll check later today, when will have an access to the printer.

My goal was to create PDF's to be maximally compatible with home devices and printers. THat's why I figured out using older compatybility will be the best, but perhaps I'm wrong, and Acrobat 7 can have better/wider compatybility?

Is there somethoing that I should know about , like this "Not using PNG with transparency" in Indesign? 😄

[michal_PL]

Tested it - switching to Acrobat 7 didn't fix the problem. 🙈

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

Tested it - switching to Acrobat 7 didn't fix the problem. 🙈

By michal_PL

Then problem will be with those PNGs... 

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

Tested it - switching to Acrobat 7 didn't fix the problem. 🙈

By michal_PL

Original PNGs? Can you try after resaving in Photoshop? 

Can you share few of them for others to try? Maybe someone will figure out what is wrong. 

[Mike Witherell]

Cześć Michał,
Lepiej jest umieścić pliki PSD w programie InDesign. Edycja > Przestrzeń mieszania przezroczystości powinna być ustawiona na RGB. PNG jest dobry w przypadku stron internetowych i programu PowerPoint, ale jest mniej niezawodny w przypadku układu strony w programie InDesign. Kiedy mówisz, że drukujesz plik PDF, jak dokładnie go drukujesz? Do drukarki stacjonarnej?

[michal_PL]

Hi Mike, thanks for your reply! These illustrations are created in the drawing application “Procreate” and never go through Photoshop. It never occurred to me to use PSD. I was considering TIFF, but it seemed like Overkill at the time, given the weight of the assets and my needs.

The goal of these PDFs is to be as versatile and easy to print as possible. People will print them from their phone, computer, browser, email client, etc. Rarely will anyone be more knowledgeable about printing. They will always be RGB desktop printers. That's why I decided to choose compatibility with an older standard (Acrobat 5 or 4).

I've solved color conversion problems before, but never heard that PNG might not be a good choice. This is an ongoing learning journey for me 🙂

I am wondering what to do now. I already have pretty much the whole setup prepared. I can't export and set all the assets from the ground up, it will probably take a few days. I can:

- Experiment with other Acrobat standards, e.g. Acrobat 7, as someone recommended in another comment, and if nothing works, I will eventually stay with Acrobat 4, which works for almost every user, just leaves those lanes (flattening artifacts)

- Convert in Photoshop all those PNGs to TIFF by running them through Photoshop automatically, and they should be able to be relinked in one go.

What would you advise?

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

@michal_PL 

PSD will be even bigger than TIFF. 

But you can convert all assets in bulk in Photoshop. 

[michal_PL]

Yes, I'm aware of that, which is why I haven't even considered PSD, since even TIFF seemed to be oferkill.

[Robert at ID-Tasker · Accepted solution]

@michal_PL

It's possible, that Procreate is saving those PNGs a bit differently than the standard - and InDesign can't read properly this non-standard format.

[michal_PL]

Yes, something is clearly malfunctioning in this process 😕

[michal_PL]

That was correct - TIFF files worked, and these PNG were somehow bugged.
I had to wait for new publication to check it though.  Thanks for your help!