light squares when printing png files

[Marileen261999652rfc]

Hello all,

I'm working on a commissioned poster. I drew all kinds of pictures myself in the app 'Procreate' and exported them as png. In my indesign document these images are transparent, there is no background, however, when printing and exporting to PDF, very light squares appear around them. Can anyone help me why this is happening and how I can fix it?

Thanks in advance!

[Peter Spier · Accepted solution]

see InDesignSecrets » Blog Archive » Eliminating the White Box Effect and InDesignSecrets » Blog Archive » Eliminating YDB (Yucky Discolored Box) Syndrome 

[Marileen261999652rfc]

Thanks for your help! 

[defaultl2dcn3pi5o8u]

just stick to CMYK since you are using PNGs and you wont see this. You are mixing color modes which happens.

[Willi Adelberger]

It is ok to use RGB images for CMYK files. Vectors should always be in CMYK in Print files.

[Marileen261999652rfc]

Thank you both! I didn't know about the color modes,  I will try to export my png files to illustrator.

[Willi Adelberger]

The mentioned YDB syndrome will also appear with other color modes, including CMYK, and other file types.

WHere does the PNG file come from? If it comes from Illustrator, like most logos come from there, use the AI or PDF/X-4 file instead. I avoid PNG so far as I can.

[Marileen261999652rfc]

Thanks Wili, with a different printer the boxes dissappear. I drew the symbols in Procreate and exported them to PNG. The next time I will export the to illustrator or maybe I can also better chose for TIFF?

[Willi Adelberger]

I do not know procreate. Does it have some other output/export possibilities, like PDF or even EPS would be better or AI? Which you could diect import or edit in Illustrator?

[Geоrge]

Better is to use .psd