Image turns out VERY dark on film / looks fine in Acrobat/Indesign

[Joe]

If you can...stuff the PDF to get it below the 19.5 kb limit and upload it here.

Not sure of the profile to use in Europe but I would uncheck the profile when you save the image.

[ben froggatt]

Here's the zipped PDF.

I'm going to try and redo another one without profiles, like you suggested.

[Joe]

After looking at your PDF, I don't think there is anyway it should be coming out the way you describe (it's a completely black image, with only the whitest bits showing (i.e. a few little specks). I think you're printer is somehow outputting faulty film. I go back to my earlier statement. Take some percentage readings from the image and then take the same readings from the film. It's the printers job to match your image.

[GinSu]

I'm betting on a problem with the printers' system, the PDF you posted RIPs fine through my system (except, of course, for the missing GenevsSF). The RIP'd CT matches the PDF.

[WiseGuy]

Hummm... I would have to think is a color profile issue. Either in PS for the display, in ID on the output, or a profile you're tagging to the image? Do other images do the same thing?

BTW... loved your response to PointyHat... sorry to say they sounded very arrogant and rude in their response.

Good Luck!
Michael

[ben froggatt]

Okay, I've been spending all of today (and most of the night, too) reading up on profiles. I'm going to the printers tomorrow and I'm going to ask what profile they use, save it as a custom profile on my comp, then apply it to my image, ID file and PDF. Is that a good idea?

Joe -- Whilst I'm there I will ask about the densitometer readings for the film. Can I get the readings of the image in the Ink Manager in Acrobat?

If this is the correct place I should be looking, at the moment the readings are:

C -- 0.610
M -- 0.760
Y -- 0.160
K -- 1.700

and total ink coverage is 280%.

Is this what you mean about the density readings?

GinSu -- It's interesting that it RIPs fine on your system, and that the image CT matches the PDF, I will mention that with the printers and see if we can ascertain whether or not his system is inaccurate. The GenevaSF issue is sorted btw, I got the printer to install the font on his computer and it output correctly. Couldn't embed it due to restrictions in the font file.

I've attached a photo of the film and screengrab of the total ink coverage preview just in case it's useful.

Cheers again for the support.

[Joe]

From the ink manager you can move your mouse around the image and the density will change. It's reading the density wherever your cursor is.

I also ran the PDF through my workflow tonight and it output as it is in the PDF. Nowhere close to what your film looks like. I'm really stumped as to how they output film from that image that looks like it does.

[beermonster]

looks like a calibration issue i rekon

if they chuck your pdf in indesign, then make some tint boxes and output and read - it'd be interesting to see the results

pdf rips fine here too - xitron navigator/harlequin - all is good, black only - no problems at all.

[Eyetech]

OK I see neg film - with no discernable gradation in the image.

The PDF renders fine on our system (AGFA ApogeeX), this would lead me to believe that your printshop has an older RIP that can't interpret PDFs correctly.

Ask them what level RIP they have - if it's 1 or 2 then it's a little outdated.

Level 3 RIPs should have no problem with your file.

[ben froggatt]

Eyetech -- If it turns out that they do have old RIPs, is there any workaround for this? Or am I best taking my file to another more modern printers?