Prepressforums.com

Rosey · #1 (**permalink**) 03-06-2007, 12:11 PM

We are trying to figure out the best way to create a grayscale pdf when we are given a colour pdf. The best result seems to come from placing the pages of the pdf into indesign and printing a composite gray pdf. This is very time consuming when you have an 80 pg book. Is there something in Acrobat that can yield the same result? We also have pitstop if anyone knows of something in there that might do the trick.

#2 (**permalink**) 03-06-2007, 12:21 PM

PitStop can handle it... no problem.
There should be a default action list to change color to gray.
For some the results are not so pleasing..
Since your placing them in INDD and printing to a PDF, you could save a Composite Grayscale .ps file out of Acrobat and distill it into a PDF.
File > Print > Advanced > brings up this menu >

Choose your options and roll with it.
Good luck.
Vee

Hallo · #3 (**permalink**) 03-06-2007, 12:28 PM

Within acrobat 7 or 8, maybe 6 but I'm not realy sure of that. You can colorcovert everything to gray.

born2print · #4 (**permalink**) 03-06-2007, 01:11 PM

Also, a lot of workflow RIPS (such as Brisque) allow for a greyscale conversion on the fly, just print the color file and change the RIP settings.

TimS · #5 (**permalink**) 03-06-2007, 01:28 PM

acrobat 7: tools -> print production -> convert colors. You just need to choose a greyscale profile. Or you can make a pitstop action as mentioned earlier.

Joe · #6 (**permalink**) 03-06-2007, 08:45 PM

I've had issues with Pitstop not converting gradients or patterns.

I've also had issues with Acrobat screwing up transparency, if there is any, in converting to gray.

I let my Nexus RIP do it. Works flawlessly every time.

mattbeals · #7 (**permalink**) 03-06-2007, 11:23 PM

pdfColorConvert from Callas does a "fantabulous" conversion. It's a lot more flexible than what Adobe offers plus it gives you much better color conversions than what Adobe does. If you'd like a web demo let me know by sending a message to my email address below.

Rosey · #8 (**permalink**) 03-07-2007, 11:53 AM

Well, I tried everyone's suggestions and the only one that gave me as good of results as placing the pdf's into indesign and making a composite gray pdf was pdfcolorconvert from Callas. Thank you Matt. Unfortunately I can only use the trial version of this acrobat plug-in because it is not in the budget to purchase anything at this time. I don't understand why I can't get these same results through acrobat without having to buy another plug-in.

We use ApogeeX here and we can convert the job to gray at the rip stage but the results are not acceptable for quality jobs.

The action list in pitstop doesn't give a great result either.

Thank you everyone for your suggestions.

Joe · #9 (**permalink**) 03-07-2007, 12:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rosey

Well, I tried everyone's suggestions and the only one that gave me as good of results as placing the pdf's into indesign and making a composite gray pdf was pdfcolorconvert from Callas. Thank you Matt. Unfortunately I can only use the trial version of this acrobat plug-in because it is not in the budget to purchase anything at this time. I don't understand why I can't get these same results through acrobat without having to buy another plug-in.

We use ApogeeX here and we can convert the job to gray at the rip stage but the results are not acceptable for quality jobs.

The action list in pitstop doesn't give a great result either.

Thank you everyone for your suggestions.

You can also print composite gray from Acrobat. From the print dialog, click the Advanced button and you will see the option for Composite CMYK, Separations, and Composite Gray or something to that effect. Check your final file closely though. I've seen results from printing to Composite Gray from both Acrobat and InDesign where 100% black type will come out at 86% black on the final file.

Edit: Oops...see Vee's screen grab farther up the thread for the Composite Gray option in Acrobat.

mattbeals · #10 (**permalink**) 03-07-2007, 12:50 PM

You have to be careful with the color management in Acrobat when printing. In the advanced print options you can choose which profile to use or to use "same as source/no CMS". I always use same as source.

Back to PitStop... You can get a good conversion out of PitStop but it takes a bit of work *or* you need to go back to PitStop 6.x or lower to do it. The way they changed the color handling in v7 baffles me to no end. It's totally bass ackwards to me. So,having said that it is possible. But I didn't say it was easy.

Callas pdfColorConvert as a plug-in isn't too expensive considering it does what no other plug-in does or does as well. The other option is PDF Enhancer from Apago (Yes, I sell both products in the interest of disclosure) which handles color conversions in *similar* ways. PDF Enhancer is nominally more than pdfColorConvert though but does many other things too as a stand alone application.

If you can squeeze the budget to get pdfColorConvert I would *really* try to. It is the best option available for this and color conversions in general.