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BridgetHilliar
Participant
March 7, 2019
Answered

100% Black converting to CMYK

  • March 7, 2019
  • 6 replies
  • 3318 views

Hi,

When converting and InDesign document to PDF, I have the problem that all black elements convert to cmyk black instead of staying 100% black.

Can anyone tell me why, and how I can prevent it.

    Correct answer rob day

    Export using  the PDF/X-4 preset and measure the [Black] CMYK value in AcrobatPro‘s Output Preview.

    6 replies

    Watermeloncoconut
    Watermeloncoconut
    Participant
    January 23, 2025

    For me the issue was actually a swatch problem.  I had put one swatch to 100% key and all other colors 0 %.

     

    Even when I howered my mouse over the swatch, it said the swatch was correct (just 100 % key). However, once I pressed the swatch it showed that it was not in fact 100 % key black but a mix of all CMYK colors. Once I manually slided the colors to 0 % and key to 100 % and added this color to my text, FINALLY the output preview showed that the text was just 100 % key without the mix of other colors.

     

    For two hours I tried working with profiles and settings and going through forums but finally I found out that in my case I had a bug in my color swatch. Hope this helps someone!

    B
    BridgetHilliarAuthor
    Participant
    March 8, 2019

    Thank you Rob Day,

    This worked. But, can you tell me - why does it still show the black as being overprint?

    And, I don't have Acrobat Pro - is it included in CC?

    rob day
    Community Expert
    rob dayCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    March 8, 2019

    Unless you change the Appearance of Black preference, the [Black] swatch always overprints.

    You would never want small text on a colored background to knockout. For large areas of black make a new black or rich black swatch. new swatches knockout unless you check Overptint in the Attributes panel

    AcrobatPro should be included in your subscription. Its Output Preview lets you check output values and object color modes.

    R
    rudo123
    Inspiring
    March 7, 2019

    Be sure in Edit -> Transparency Blend Space you have "Document CMYK" choosen, not "Document RGB".

    rob day
    Community Expert
    rob dayCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    March 7, 2019

    A feature of the default PDF/X-4 preset is CMYK black (0|0|0|100) will export unchanged even when the blend space is set to RGB.

    PDF/X-1a, which flattens transparency, would convert black only to a 4-color mix if there’s any transparency on the spread or page.

      Dave Creamer of IDEAS
      Community Expert
      Dave Creamer of IDEASCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      March 7, 2019

      Are you saying they are converting to a 4/C or multi-color CMYK black--for example: 60C, 40M, 40Y, 100K?

      Or to a black-only CMYK black--0C, 0M, 0Y, 100K?

      David Creamer: Community Expert (ACI and ACE 1995-2023)
      B
      BridgetHilliarAuthor
      Participant
      March 8, 2019

      Hi, IDEAS-Training.

      It would convert 0|0|0|100 to a 4 colour black.

      Using the PDF/X-4 maintains the single colour, although it still indicated Overprint.

      rob day
      Community Expert
      rob dayCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
      Community Expert
      March 7, 2019

      Export using  the PDF/X-4 preset and measure the [Black] CMYK value in AcrobatPro‘s Output Preview.

      robersona23055745
      robersona23055745
      Participant
      November 18, 2021

      What is the difference between the X-4 and X-1A as it pertains to printing the jobs on newspapers?  Will these settings make a difference when it comes to quality of the print?

      kglad
      Community Expert
      kgladCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      March 7, 2019

      [moved from Adobe Creative Cloud to InDesign]

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