Grey background showing in PDFs and in Print, even with fill color

[TheUPSStore5642]

Hello,

Wondering if anyone has a solution in this new issue I've only seen in InDesign 2024. As you can see below, the 1st image of a previewed file I created in InDesign is showcasing grey boxes where I have typed text. Unfortunately, when I send this off to my vendor, it's also printing that way.

The 2nd picture, however, shows a white background as it is designed. At first, I did empty fill as I have no reason to fill the text boxes, but when the error occurred I decided to put in a fill in hopes that would resolve it. It has not, and I don't understand why I need to suddenly have a white background for a label that will be printing in white but those boxes show up when they are run through my vendors rip process.

And no, they do not display in the final PDFs. Which is frustrating. The rips on my machines in office do not have this issue. My printers don't rebuild the files with the grey boxes when they are process through a Fiery system.

Is there a new "feature" or setting I need to turn on / off to stop this?

When I export to PDF my presets are for CMYK. My transparency option is greyed out under Advanced, but it's not really something I have needed before.

Thanks so much for any suggestions or input.

[Mike Witherell]

I cannot think of a benefit to adding paper white to the fill color. Is your Paper swatch defined as 0,0,0,0 in CMYK?

What are your PDF settings in detail?

[TheUPSStore5642]

Neither can I, yet those grey boxes show up with or without it.

My PDF settings are: High Quality Print [Modified] set for Abrobate 7 Compatibility. Export Visible & Printable Layers. Default viewing. Automatic jpeg Compression for images above 450. Compress text/line art is checked, as well as Crop Data to frames. Conver to Destinations, which is WebSwop Coated v2 and include destination profiles.

I have to be missing something for these grey boxes to be visible in a preview and to return when run through a rip, yet not be present on the PDF. And not every rip, just that vendor's who states their process is confidential and cannot tell me what system or process they are using.

[BobLevine]

Can you post the file for us to examine?

[TheUPSStore5642]

Am I able to post the original InDesign file? Or PDF? Jpegs aren't the issue, but my customer very much recognizes when I convert a file into a picture.

For note, I never experienced this issue in InDesign 2023 and previous versions. I can go back and continue in 2023 for as long as it's available, but that's a temporary solution to a new problem.

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

You can attach INDD file to your reply. 

[TheUPSStore5642]

I've attached the master of the VIN decal. I've also attached the InDesign of the Mailer. I'm aware the grey box on the mailer is because those imported images are an eps with an empty background. But the VINs were made in InDesign. No imported graphics, just a basic text.

[BobLevine]

Missing the linked files and I have a feeling that may be something has to be looked at.

[TheUPSStore5642]

I didn't package the InD file for viewing so the link files would be missing for you. However, the grey boxes in the VIN file are text boxes. Not missing links.

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

But, like @BobLevine have suggested, something might interact with missing PDF in VIN plate.

And without it - we can't try to export.

Have you tried IDMLing?

[TheUPSStore5642]

I can Package it, but it won't upload to this forum. Unless there is a place to upload an entire folder which is what you get when you package an InDesign file.

I think there is a misunderstanding. There are no missing links in my InDesign because the boxes that are turning grey are text boxes. Nothing to link.

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

Do you get those grey areas - if you remove files that are in the background?

You can't upload ZIP packages here - you would have to upload it somewhere and give us a link - can be on priv if you prefer. 

[TheUPSStore5642]

No. You actually only see the grey boxes when you have Overprint Preview off. I only have 1 vendor who uses a specific rip process that seems to make them appear post InDesign. In house, I have no issues with them. I cannot, however, control that vendor's print process and I'm trying to find a fix that isn't me exporting these as jpegs, then importing them back in to InDesign.

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

I remember a thread about problems with Agfa RIPs after some InDesign update - the solution was to update RIP's software. 

Found it:

https://community.adobe.com/t5/indesign-discussions/has-the-method-of-encoding-pdfs-changed-recently...

[TheUPSStore5642]

Thank you. I'll look into the link. I appreciate it!

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

You call them TEXT BOXES ??

Interactive PDF - Text fields for entering data?

[TheUPSStore5642]

No, this isn't an interactive PDF. I make sure to setup my documents for print only when they are not going to be interactive.

[TheUPSStore5642]

Here is another one I'm doing that shows the greyed out area where the images and text have an empty background because they will be printing on a white cardstock.

I'm working in layers. Surely this isn't an issue with that?