Do I need to save my SVGs as EPS before placing them into InDesign?

Forum|Forum|3 years ago
October 14, 2022
3 replies
831 views

Or will the print PDF export automatically convert them into the best format suited for printing, at the highest quality?

I still don't know why don't printers like SVGs?

Because I cannot export from my AI files into EPS.

How to

Correct answer Willi Adelberger

Open the SVG and save (not export) it as ai file.

rob day

Community Expert

Also, SVG can’t be color managed, which means its color could randomly change depending on the InDesign document’s profile assignments. Here I’m working in CMYK mode in Illustrator:

Saved as an SVG, the color is converted to RGB with no embedded profile, which means the SVG will get the InDesign document’s assigned RGB profile—the color is completely different in appearance in this InDesign document with ProPhoto RGB assigned:

Also the 100% Black has been converted to 4-color in InDesign:

If I export to default PDF/X-4 and inspect the object, the original US Web Coated (SWOP) CMYK color has been converted to ProPhoto RGB:

Chris P. BaconAuthor

Inspiring

I see.

But then why won't Illustrator let me export my SVGs into AI, so that I could upgrade their colours?

Because if you choose to buy graphical assets instead of creating them, you will get the SVG download option often, without the AI format option.

Because according to this thread AI is the best.

Chris P. BaconAuthor

Inspiring

if the blacks of my SVGs will not be the same as the background, that would be a disaster.

If you are printing offset and are going to be fussy about black appearance, you’ll need to understand how different color modes and color profiles affect the appearance of black on press. Offset inks are transparent, so black by itself prints differently than Black + CMY.

Type can’t be RGB or 4-color CMYK black or there will be registration problems on press.

Which common color profile do you recommend to get the same black?

I have 4 kinds of black content:

- black type

- black page background rectangles

- black SVG graphics

- black in color photos and black in black and white photos

For these I want the blackest possible black.

On the cover not because I want to be able to use drop shadows on the cover, so there I use a slightly lighter black.

And it's going to be offset for production because print on demand that's still a joke, for 52 pages A4 it costs 22 Euros to 54 Pounds / per 1 magazine (including shipping and customer service - this is Peecho.com and Helloprint.com), digital printing noone can afford for production unless a millionaire, so I will go with Komori Presses at bookprinting.eu, 1.5 Euros per magazine if printing 800 (and even cheaper if more) - no print on demand though.

So offset printing is the only viable option that has a reasonable price tag, for startups.