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Question

Illustrations are too pale in the first proof of a book I am printing with a POD company

Forum|Forum|11 months ago
April 17, 2025
4 replies
3457 views

I am designing a book for Print on Demand at Ingramspark. The first hardcover proof with its premium paper arrived and all the images are too light. The paperback proof copy also arrived with light images - as well as light text. The resolution was fine.
There are about 150 images What is the best way for me to maintain or increase the highest color saturation of each image while meeting the printer’s 240%TAC limit?
Is there something to know about the type blackness? I have set the color for all text to be 100%K in InDesign.
All images are Photoshop TIFFS already converted to CMYK at 300dpi.
I am using InDesign to create the book.

This is a book intended for young audiences. All the illustrations are by children and do run pretty "light" in color, but I am seeing total loss of certain areas of illustrations made in pencil, for example.

Appreciate any advice. I am in touch with Ingramspark, but getting no real actionable advice, other than to refer to their file set up guide. Have done.

Peter Spier

Community Expert

You mentioned you converted the images to CMYK using SWOP for the profile, but WHICH SWOP?

Using the coated perofile could easily result in some fading on uncoated paper (and cheap uncoated paper is going to give less than stellar color no matter what because the ink soaks in instead of sitting on the surface, which is why they want such a low ink coverage).

J

Janel_Twogood5154Author

Participating Frequently

Hello. Thank you for your reply. I set the CMYK profile to U.S. Web Coated (SWOP)v.2. This is the recommendation from Ingramspark, at least for its premium color hardcover, which uses coated paper. I will double check the settings requirement for the Paperback version again, thank you.

If anyone has advice about what the color settings should be for Photoshop and InDesign on this type of project, I would greatly appreicate the input. I'm attaching screenshots of the Color Settings as they are currently set.

J

Janel_Twogood5154Author

Participating Frequently

@Dave Creamer of IDEAS OK. I can see that they don't want to risk a profile conversion, but it sure would be nice if they told you what CMYK profile actually matches the print condition so your colors will be somewhat accurate.

This is definitely a droip it in the hopper and what comes out comes out operation.

Thank you! I bought a color calibibrator for my monitor. I am going to go through one more time and see if I can get the darks below the 240% ink limit without causing too much loss.

I have a PDF from my client of a different children's book with full bleen illustrations on many pages. It looks decent even though is was printed with Ingramspark. Interestingly, the images have several areas that read over the 240% limit Ingramspark claims to require.

If I convert to a custom CMYK with an ink limit setting turned on to 240%, convert all files, and then convert again to standard working CMYK, would I lose data in process?

Scott Falkner

Community Expert

240% sounds low for offset. I see that for newsprint. But if that’s what hey want then that’s what you deliver. Are you providing images in RGB or CMYK? If CMYK how did you do the conversion.

J

Janel_Twogood5154Author

Participating Frequently

Ingramspark makes no bones about it. They require the 240%.

I converted the scanned PS files to CMYK before I linked them to the InDesign File. I also set the InDesign File to CMYK. (But I have to admit that I am lost in the weeds of the options there. I selected whatever SWOP option was available). When I exported to PDF, I selected thePDF/X-1a:2001 profile. Ingram rejected the PDF/X-3 profile that I tried first, if that means anythng? Those are the only two PDF profiles they will accept for my output.

In the reply above, I go into further detail.

Thank you fro your reply!

Robert at ID-Tasker

Legend

@Janel_Twogood5154

Can you post some close-up photos?

Dave Creamer of IDEAS

Community Expert

Was the text a solid black? [Edit: I meant was it solid black in InDesign.] It might be an issue wth IngramSpark.

Did you contact IngramSpark about the problem?

Did you follow their guidelines to the letter?

https://www.ingramspark.com/hubfs/downloads/file-creation-guide.pdf

David Creamer: Community Expert (ACI and ACE 1995-2023)

J

Janel_Twogood5154Author

Participating Frequently

Hi, Thanks for getting back to me.

Was the text a solid black? It might be an issue wth IngramSpark.

--Yes, The text was 100%Black (CMYK).

Did you contact IngramSpark about the problem?

--I did and they replied. But they are offering no technical support. I am wondering if the choice of Baskerville 16pt type is part of the problem? There are fine ascenders that might be to fine on a text block, making everything look light. However, that doesn't account for the pale full-color illustrations?

I am chainging the typefaace to something with larger x height and thicker strokes.

Did you follow their guidelines to the letter?

---I've been going through them again and again with a fine tooth comb. I can't see anything from their guidelines that I didn't execute. I'm concerned that my photoshop color files need to be profiled differently than I have them? For instance, I can see now that my effective PPI was higher than 300. And I can see how to fix that universally when I export to PDF. Resolution, however, is no problem. It's the color. Is there a way for me to double check that the PDF used for the print proof was set to the 240% limit?

I am getting a little lost in all this new to me territory. I am willing to do the work of touching every illustration again, I need the kids to love their work (as well as my client!) but I am not exactly sure what to do in order to meet teh 240 TIC limit, while maximizing the saturation of the illustrations?

I am considering assigning a Custom CMYK profile with the 240%TAC assigned in Photoshop, then increasing the overall saturation, likely using the curve tool.

Does the Color Setting used in InDesign need to be "discarded" in order to maintain a Custom CMYK profile? I read that exporting to PDX- a1:2001 will assign the SWOP profile required by IngramSpark in the end. Am I making this too complicated?

https://www.ingramspark.com/hubfs/downloads/file-creation-guide.pdf

Sorry for all the questions. I learned a lot reading the forums on this issue, but I am still unsure how to proceed. It's a lot of work and I don't want to be heading down the wrong road.

Dave Creamer of IDEAS

Community Expert

If your text was 100K in InDesign and lighter (gray) in the proof, the problem is with the proof. Get a jewelers loop or a good magnifying glass and see if the proof type is black or gray.

IngramSpark apparently using a form of inkjet printing. I could see that being a problem depending on the paper grade. It appears that they can use laser printing as an upgrade.

As far a color is concerned, did you send them a PDF/X-1a or a PDF/X-3? (I believe they accept both.) If you use the PDF/X-1a, you converted all your images to the document's CMYK. I would use RGB images and export as a PDF/X-3--the images will stay RGB and they will handle the conversion to CMYK with the proper TIC/TAC.

Excess resolution can be removed when creating the PDF. It wouldn't affect the color (much, anyway), but more of the fine detail.

BUT check your type first--if it is affected, it probably isn't the images but the proofs. If you do make adjustments, don't initally get new proofs of the entire book, get a few random pages to check out first. That will save money--although they should cover it all if you can show that the proof was bad.

David Creamer: Community Expert (ACI and ACE 1995-2023)