Dark Backgrounds when I apply Drop Shadow to an object (InDesign)

[CSWebber]

I have no idea what I have done, but suddenly when I print a proof for an InDesign pdf I've created, anyplace there's a drop shadow applied to text, the entire text box now has dark background. It doesn't show up onscreen, either in the InDesign program or the onscreen pdf, which is so puzzling. I don't know why it shows up when I print it out on my printer. Also, the gradient feather on my photos is not printing correctly. Again, it looks fine onscreen, but when I print it, no gradient feathering shows.

I think I must have accidently done something to the settings, but I can't figure it out.

[CSWebber]

The background does disappear if I remove the drop shadow from the object.

[rob day · Accepted solution]

I have no idea what I have done, but suddenly when I print a proof for an InDesign pdf I've created

It may be that your print driver is not correctly flattening the transparency. You could test that by exporting to an RGB space and flattening on export. Set the Output tab like this where the Compatibility is Acrobat 4 and the Destination is Document RGB:

[CSWebber]

Thank you Rob Day - that seems to have fixed the problem!

[rob day]

when I print a proof for an InDesign pdf I've created

Just to clarify, if your document will be professionally printed via offset you don't want to send the printer the flattened RGB PDF.