Skip to main content
R
RollDotHome
Participating Frequently
May 1, 2021
Question

Exporting print PDFs to different output intents.

  • May 1, 2021
  • 3 replies
  • 6305 views

I have my Adobe CC set to Europe Prepress 3 as we have been working within the Fogra 39 space for processing and outputting our high res PDFs. However we recently acquired a new printer with a Durst Workflow RIP, which it seems requests ISO v2 as its preferred/default.

 

I may have to start outputting to either of the two destinations (Caldera/Fogra 39 or Durst Workflow/ISOv2) on the fly depending on which printer / RIP we are printing to for a particular job.

 

Is it just a straight forward case of continuing to work in my current space and then choosing the output destination / output intent depending on requirements, or do I have to change working colour spaces depending upon the requested output method? I currently output as PDF X-4 with Fogra 39 as the destination/output intent.

 

Any tips appreciated. I’ve been working the same way for so long that I’ve become rusty on some of the theory.

This topic has been closed for replies.

3 replies

rob day
rob day
Community Expert
May 3, 2021

How can I tell if I have a template that was created with different colour policy, and how do I change it to the current settings? (I appreciate this is a bit of a schoolboy question)

 

Also, If you check the Color Settings’ Ask When Opening, you’ll get a warning when you open a document that was created with a CM Policy that conflicts with the current Color Settings Policy, and you’ll get an option to change the existing Policy:

 

 

 

 

 

Peter Spier
Peter Spier
Community Expert
May 1, 2021

I think specifying "Convert to Destination" in the Output section of the Export dialog (and specifying the new output intent as the destination) should preserve the color appearance, though it will change the numbers. 

 

Why not make a sample file and try outputting two PDFs to compare?

    Peter Spier
    Peter Spier
    Community Expert
    May 1, 2021

    I see Rob answered while I was thinking.

     

    I'm not sure preserving the numbers for for document-built swatches is really the way to go, myself. I would think matching the appearance as closely as possible across the two devices would be your goal so you are not locked into one or the other, but I definitely respect Rob's expertise here.

      rob day
      rob day
      Community Expert
      May 1, 2021

      Hi Peter, Nice to hear from you again.

       

      In this case the two profiles are both for coated offset and have very little difference in color appearance (see my capture)—the total ink limit is the most significant difference, so the profiled RGB images will get the ink limited on the conversion.

       

      If there were larger differences in the profiles’ appearances, something like Uncoated FOGRA29 vs. ISO CoatedV2 then the appearnce of built CMYK colors might be a problem—in that case I would avoid CMYK builds and use in gamut RGB swatches.

       

      If @RollDotHome  doesn’t preserve the document’s CMYK numbers there will likely be a CMYK-to-CMYK conversion of the native ID colors—i.e. black only colors converting to 4-color, and contaminated primary colors.

      rob day
      rob day
      Community Expert
      May 1, 2021

      The output CMYK color appearance using either profile is virtually identical—Fogra 39 allows more total ink at 330% vs. 300%. Here’s the soft proof of Fogra39 (top) and ISOv2 (bottom):

       

       

       

       

      So if you make sure all of your placed images are edited in a large RGB space (i.e. AdobeRGB) and saved with an embedded profile, you could assign the appropriate CMYK profile to the InDesign document before exporting (Edit>Assign Profiles).

       

      By default PDF/X-4 uses the document’s assigned profile as the Output Intent. On Export you could choose to convert RGB color including placed images to Document CMYK, and protect built document CMYK swatches by setting the Conversion to Convert to Destination (Preserve Numbers). Or you could do no color conversion and let the printer convert the RGB images at output and assume they will use the Output Intent profile:

       

        Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement
        Using the community Terms of use Privacy Cookie preferences Do not sell or share my personal information ad choicesAdChoices