Same image displays differently when copying from one file to another in InDesign

[generalinternet]

Hey all,

I have two InDesign files. The first file displays and exports to a PDF perfectly, and when i went to start a new file, the image i copied and pasted from the orginal file is displaying as washed out and faded. My tranparency blend space is set to RGB in both and the colour settings on both files appear to be identical. The output setting I use to export a PDF were also identical yet the colour discrepancy showed in the PDFs. 

Are there settings somewhere else other than 'colour settings' and 'transparency blend space' that I am not aware of?

Please help me understand this.

[generalinternet]

The image has not been converted to CMYK. The images in both files are actually a greyscale image, placed into a box with the dark blue colour and set to normal with 50% opacity. The same thing happens when i place it anew. I am attaching both the link panel info and the colour settings. 

[Dave Creamer of IDEAS]

OK--so you are making a false duotone. Do you happen to have Overprint Preview on in either InDesign or the Acrobat preference? Are the color specs identical in both documents? (If you pasted into a new document and the color already existed, that color would take over.)

[generalinternet]

Overprint preview is off on both docs. and when turned on in both docs, the problems persists. The problem, to me must be in colour settings between the two docs. but they both seem to be identical when i inspect "colour settings", "assign profiles" and "convert to profiles" 

[Dave Creamer of IDEAS]

Any chance you could upload the documents and image? Make a copy and delete all the other content. 

Sorry--by "color specs" I should have said Swatch settings.

[Peter Spier]

I have to admit I'm stumped.

I don't see ANY differences in color handling between the two files and moving the object or entire pages between them results in matching within the document, but differnt between them.

Separations preview is showing a difference in the numbers but I can't see a reason, and exporting .idml makes no change.

[generalinternet]

thank you for giving it a go!

[Mike Witherell]

Is an Object Style getting involved (since you said copynpaste from one document to another)?

Generally, copynpasting an image frame should be OK to do. Makes me wonder if an Object Style is adding something.

[generalinternet]

I dont think so

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

Hopefully - this will help:

(above is available in the free version) 

https://www.indesignjs.de/extendscriptAPI/indesign-latest/#DocumentIntentOptions.html

Name	Description	Value
DocumentIntentOptions.MOBILE_INTENT	Intended purpose of document is for publishing to mobiles.	1768846445
DocumentIntentOptions.PRINT_INTENT	Intended purpose of document is for print output.	1768846448
DocumentIntentOptions.WEB_INTENT	Intended purpose of document is for web output.	1768846455

[Robert at ID-Tasker · Accepted solution]

In the "inccorect" file - [Black] is CMYK:

[Dave Creamer of IDEAS]

Very observant!

That will happen if one creates print document and changes the transparency space to RGB after the fact vs. creating an RGB from the beginning.

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

Thanks 😉

Will be WAY quicker when I'll add loading ALL info about ALL elements in the documents for comparison - including list of colors.

[Dave Creamer of IDEAS]

I just tested it and that's the issue.

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

In the "inccorect" file - [Black] is CMYK:

Creating a new, blank document - as WEB - will result in [Black] being RGB - and displaying colors correctly:

GREEN - [Black] as RGB

RED - [Black] as CMYK.

Changing existing document from PRINT to WEB doesn't change [Black] from CMYK to RGB.

[generalinternet]

thank you!

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

thank you!

By @generalinternet

You're welcome.

[generalinternet]

is there a way to edit that swatch or must a new WEB file be created?

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

is there a way to edit that swatch or must a new WEB file be created?

By @generalinternet

Swatches in  [ ] are not editable... so a new file. 

Unless you feel comfortable enough to edit IDML file 😉

[Peter Spier]

Well Done, Robert.

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

Well Done, Robert.

By @Peter Spier

Thanks Peter.