Fine lines on placed graphic objects

[Michael-Hfm]

Hello at all,

I have a problem with placed graphics in Indesign and fine lines that are strangely visible. The basic layout you can see below - the background is an imported Illustrator file.

But in detail, there are fine lines, which I can't identify, why it comes to them - the following image shows the problem in detail:

The backgroung graphic is built in Illustrator and is needed for different layouts, so I have to be flexible in making the layers visable/invisible. The structure of the vector Illustrator file can be seen in the two following images.

It makes no difference whether the graphic is reduced, enlarged or placed in its original size: These fine lines always appear in the white areas.

I have no ideas how to solve the problem without losing flexibility. Does anyone know this problem or why does it happen?

Good to know: I'm using the latest CC-Version.

Many thank you for all your tips, tricks and hints.

Many greetings Michael

[Dov Isaacs]

Without providing links to sample files (including the .AI files) exhibiting this problem and a step-by-step enumeration of what you are doing, it is very difficult to diagnose exactly what the problem really is.

[Michael-Hfm]

Thanks for the hint, the data can be downloaded here: InDesign and Ai-file from Dropbox 

What I'm doing:

• creating the background graphic in Illustrator
• imported the AI-file ​​into InDesign
• when I activate the overprint preview, these lines can be seen in InDesign

[Jens Trost]

Hi @Michael-Hfm,

did you apply a background color in Indesign to the frame the graphic is placed into? 

Did you try exporting a PDF/X4 and checking if those lines are visible there?
  

[Michael-Hfm]

Hi Jens,

yes, the result is the same - the lines still there. As PDF/X4 those lines are still visable (with a high zoom level of 2,400 %) - but you can see those lines in printed form, also.

[Jens Trost]

I just exported a PDF/X4 of your file – the thin lines are visible ONLY with activated line smoothing, so this is only a viewing problem.

[Michael-Hfm]

Unfortunately not (the viewing problem was also my first suspicion)... the printing result looks like so for the customer....

[Jens Trost]

Okay, I got curious and did what I always do in such case – I processed the file within our RIP (agfa Apogee), no lines there (Screenshot of the right edge).


Please don't misunderstand this, I can't say anything about other RIPs and their result. So this does not mean that there will be no lines if you print professionally.

So not sure what happened at your customer, did they use a "normal" office printer? 

Maybe someone else can shed some light on this issue.
I read about this here somewhere before with detailed explanation of what and why, but couldn't find the thread.

edit: printing on a Konica Minolta C220 - no lines. 

[Michael-Hfm]

In this case we have professionally printed by printer comopany on higher quality paper.

But thank you very much for your help and the time you invested in it!

[rob day]

ID’s Separation preview is showing an output value for the line, so I would expect it to print if there is enough print resolution:

The line seems to correspond to the AI artboard, if I edit the artboard size it goes away

[Michael-Hfm]

But the AI artboard is larger than the InD frame... I've tried several sizes, same effect.

[rob day]

Sorry I missed that, it shouldn’t be happening. Try putting a .2pt white stroke on the InDesign container frame, that worked for me.

[Michael-Hfm]

Thanks rob day! And yes, this is a solution which I'v tried also and it works in this case. But why this effect/bug occurs is simply not understandable.

[Brad @ Roaring Mouse]

As far as it just being a viewing issue, it's not, as the line definitely shows up in an exported PNG or JPG.

It appears to be a clipping issue, as what you are seeing is a hair of the background behind the white objects, so it's a sliver of the blue/pattern background. Why, I don't know.

[Michael-Hfm]

Yeah, and exactly this WHY is the question.