PDF placed in InDesign changes color when entire file exported to PDF

[Admirable_Buttercup01AC]

Using InDesign and Acrobat Pro 2023, Mac OS Ventura 13.3.1

I placed an ad from a client in a magazine file (Screen shot of how it looked on my screen). When I output the entire file into a PDF for press, one of the colors in the ad changed. (See PDF p9). It does not matter what type of PDF I export- or if I check no color conversion...nothing helps. I sent the ad to my pre-press guy and he doesn't see a problem with the ad itself. But I've attached incase anyone can find anything (Cheriots).

Any ideas?  

[rob day · Accepted solution]

Hi @Admirable_Buttercup01AC , The Cheriots0623.PDF is using 3 Spot colors, and without seeing your InDesign file it looks like the spot color named New Color Swatch is being aliased to a different color. I assume you magazine is not printing extra spot plates and the 3 extra colors are intended to be process—you can convert spot colors to process using AcrobatPro.

[Admirable_Buttercup01AC]

I was thinking that was the only explanation- but I haver never encountered anything like this before. 

Thank you SO much for getting back to me. 

[rob day · Accepted solution]

but I haver never encountered anything like this before.

Try making a new InDesign doc, create a Spot Swatch named New Color Swatch, give it a random color definition, then place the Cheriots0623.PDF. Because a swatch named New Color Swatch already exists before I place the PDF with the same named spot color, the existing swatch spot color definition is used:

[Admirable_Buttercup01AC]

That's it!

I had a random red swatch in the pallet I had named "new color swatch" and it's red- the color the ad defaulted to. I can't tell you how grateful I am that you took the time to help me figure it out.