Faded/Desaturated Colors with PDF Export

[designeranow]

I've run into a problem and can't seem to hunt down a solution. I'm working on a map with colorful sketches on it and when I export/print from a PDF, the colors are completely washed out.

• InDesign CC 13.1
• iMac 5k running High Sierra
• These sketches are from a placed PSD file set to 'multiply' within InDesign so that the texture of the paper below can show through.

(Left) InDesign color; (Right) PDF color

The odd thing is that this isn't just a screen issue. If I print directly from InDesign I get something similar to the image on the left. If I export to PDF I'll get the faded version on the right. I've made sure I changed over to the 'High Quality Print' default just in case there was a hidden option activated, but that didn't solve the problem.

I thought this might be an RGB/CMYK problem, but all the images I'm using have been saved in CMYK. A couple other posts mentioned switching Transparency Blend Space, but that doesn't seem to do the trick.

I need a solution as our printers always tend to leverage our PDFs and rarely will print from InDesign. Does anyone have an idea of how to fix this or what might be causing it?

Another odd twist: If I post this desaturated PDF on Basecamp, the colors show up more vibrant in the preview, but if I download the file and open it, the desaturated colors are there.

[Mike Witherell]

What are you PDF export options set to? Especially the color management settings?

[designeranow]

I tried going back to the default "High Quality Print" which defaulted to "No Color Conversion" but also tried switching that to "Convert to Destination" but that didn't affect the saturation change in the export.

We're printing this uncoated. I tried 'US Web Coated SWOP (v2)" and 'US Web Uncoated v2' just for comparison, and while the blacks were a little less intense on the uncoated one (which is to be expected) the colors were desaturated on both.

[Anna Lander]

looks like if your Output Destination settings in Export to Pdf window made for the very big Dot gain and decrease the inc amount to compensate it. Could you please check the Output destination profile and tell the result?

but as far as I can see there is not only solor changing but also some blur. Is it also a PDF converting issue or just photo quality?

[designeranow]

Looks like this is definitely a transparency issue stemming from InDesign:

This is the image from within InDesign. The sketch on the left is set to 'multiply' the one on the right is set to 'normal'

Here is the same page exported to PDF with the default High Quality Print setting (again, 'Multiply' on the left, and 'Normal' for the right:

[designeranow]

Giving this a bump. It looks like the problem is stemming from either InDesign itself and the way it handles 'multiply' or the way it renders this out to a PDF.

[rob day]

What application are you viewing the PDF in? Many low end PDF readers and browsers don't handle transparency correctly.

Export using the PDF/X-4 preset and view in AcrobatPro.

[rob day]

If PDF/X-4 in AcrobatPro doesn't work can you share the ID package via Dropbox?

[PrepressPro1]

Try Darken instead of Multiply in the blend mode settings.