InDesign outputs black as grey
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- Rand
I just got InDesign CS3 (never had CS2). In CS1 I used to click "simulate overprint" in the pdf dialogue box to make black type output as 100% k rather than a cmyk color build on pdfs. On CS3, this dialogue box is greyed out. WTF? Now I can't get black type to output as 100% black! Anybody know of a solution to this? I've heard this box was greyed out in CS2 as well.
- agentfour0
black should export as whatever the buildup is, no matter wether overprint is selected or not.
My 'simulate overprint' tickbox is grey too which is strange because i know ive used it before.
So you have 100%k text and it looks grey on export? and you want it to look darker is that right?
- Rand0
if I send an ad with 8 point black type to a publication I want it to print as 8 point 100% black type rather than a four color halftone black
if I send a pdf to a laser printer I want the black type to be 100% line art rather than a 91@ grey screen
- Rand0
%, that is
right now the only way to get black type to be 100% on a laser printer is to set it as "registration"
- designerror0
Switch compatibility to Acrobat 4 and Overprint is not gayed out anymore.
- Rand0
thanks DE, that does work. Unfortunately, it no longer leaves the blacks as 100% k
- designerror0
only had the problem in Illustrator, never in InDesign
- agentfour0
this is kinda strange. does it look grey on screen in indesign?
do you have a greyscale tiff on the page?
- Rand0
no, you can't notice it onscreen. the only reason I found out about it was a publication told me my small text was a composite black. most publications probably convert it themselves in preflight, but I guess some don't.
A way to check is to open the pdf in PS as a cmyk do and examine the color makeup of the type in the info pallette. Same with grey. Open the doc as greyscale and look in the info pallette. It will say 91% for black.
It looks like with Acrobat 8 pro there are setting to convert the pdfs for various situations like "Digital black", though
- agentfour0
mmmm strange
does it do the same thing when you open the pdf in illy?
- agentfour0
If its for press, try printing to a(greyscale) .ps file. then distill it.
that might work.
- GreedoLives0
just asked paging guru here, he says:
"turn the profiles off in the pdf dialog box. They're converting the black to a Destination. The Simulate Overprint option has nothing to do with the black being composed of process colors, it just simulates what the printed overprint would look like - but on the PDF."
Hope that makes sense.
- D_Dot0
Rand, did you ever figure this out? I'm having the same issues now, and could use some help.
- Rand0
I ended up using PDF/X-1a, convert to destination (preserve numbers) and then as a destination choosing swop web or sheetfed, depending on the printer
I noticed PDF/X1-a gave me better quality jpeg images
- D_Dot0
Thank you very much.