Overprint issues

[mrseang]

I dont want to go into a lot of detail.
We have this file that was set in Illy...saved as pdf.
It has a black frame the frame is set to knock out.
We want it to knock out. If you check it with Acrobat seps preview...looks fine. But when sending to rip (tried to tweak all the Rip op settings...no go) it still OPs???
When ripping the file apart with pitstop...I can see there is a stroke inside of the black frame...a rig by the ad agency (not set to op) to cover up art extending past the inside gold frame. (Fancy tickets for a show)

We have the orig Illy files now...did not dig too much tonight.
If anyone can understand my gibberish and has a great idea...let me know.

Tks!!
Sean

[beermonster]

hi mrseang

mm - a little confusing but i'll have a stab

first thing is do not use "overprint black" in your ourput - but you already know that. there will be a setting in the rip that says its ok to op black as well - but i'm guessing you tried that as well

if the black is overprinting and you dont want it to, you could try copying the black frame, paste BEHIND, fill with white **make sure the duplicated object now white is NOT set to overprint** (this will create a false kind of knockout area if you like - so the black cannot overprint what in effect "is not there" - its white.

then make sure the frame on top is not set to overprint. when you rip it, again, dont use the overprint black - but you may need to put a thin trap as well

there may be some kind of colour management issue forcing black overprints, but if you make areas white under the blacks then even if it does overprint - its overprinting white - as opposed to underlying image

now to me that kinda makes sense, and i really hope its on the money and you can understand it - as i'm not convinced it does make sense!

best of luck - keep us informed

[Joe]

What is the RIP? PDF RIP? My money is on a RIP setting. It might not be a "black overprint" setting. It might be a setting about "PDF overprint" or something like that. At any rate it sounds like something in your RIP is overriding the overprints and knockouts from the PDF.

[mrseang]

Thanks for the replies...

I had a few people tell me to do this in a pinch...
Open the pdf film layout in photoshop @ 1200 dpi (750mb file)
It worked....just Rasterize and Flatten. The text looks a little choppy on film, but I think it will work, seps were much better.

The above posts made sense...thats kinda what I went through. I know its some sort of Rip issues caused by the rig in Illy. No time to dig....

It's on press...We have the Ad Agency coming in for a press proof. I'll let you know.

[mrseang]

Wow...
Well the job pissed me off so bad it made me Quit.

Just walked out on my boss...I hardly come to him with an issue.
When I do...he flips out. (I only have 2yrs exp. in prepress)
(They have been gearing me up for prepress manager with a carrot for 2 years.)
I made shit $$ 13hr.

So...we hardly ever bounce files back to the customer.
I had one of the more experienced operators work on the file and JUST fix it correct. We had it on press 3 times and kept having issues.

The raster worked as far as the seps...but the trap did not work. I knew it would be a problem. Just was so busy today...I told my prod. mgr. it did not trap. looking at the Roam in the rip. He wanted to give it a shot. Just did not work. I dont know why it would not trap the tiff file.

Anyway we were having all sorts of transparency issues, color overprint issues with the Illy PDFs. After the raster trick....It all worked great but the TRAP. Now we need to go back to the Illy files, fix OP and Trans issues and just fix the sloppy mess.

Thats why I had the old school operator just start to fix it. It would of taken 1hr. I was done with trying tricks....just wanted to fix it.

But I get a bunch of BS from my boss....you shoulda called the RIP co., etc.
Use your head...blah blah. Well when I was working on the file late last night the RIP Co was not open for support...nor at 5am. In the past I'm told do whats fastest to get on press.
I have not hit a battle like this before...and when I look for support from my boss...I get a bunch of shit. NO SUPPORT or HELP...talked down to like a little kid. F-OFF the stress is not worth it.

Guess I'm back to some temp labor job with no stress @ $10hr...Its better than this BS.

I do like prepress....enjoy it. Just want a nice place to work. Where you can talk about issues, etc.
I made $50 M a year in Phx as a Store manager for Alphagraphics before I moved back home cuz I missed my Fam. and that was 1/2 the stress.

Thanks for letting me vent...I hope you all can get a laugh.
Hope to be back in prepress soon...but we'll see.
Bye for now...

MrSeanG
East Coast Baby!! Keep it Real.
F-Stress...life is too short!!

[rab]

Hopefully you'll be getting a phone call to come back.

Maybe tell 'em it'll cost 'em?

[steve2112]

I understand completely. Sometimes you have to just say eff-em and honestly 13 an hour is chump change. You can get that anywhere for prepress with2 years experience. Good for you. Down with the man

[mrseang]

Thanks for the reply guys...made me feel better.
Just woke up from a long nap...drank the shit outta JD this afternoon (LOL)...thinking about what I'm going to do.

Funny...I did get a VM from my boss.
I got to send him a nice email and vent.
We are meeting @ 8:30...I better get sum dinner and sober up.
I'll let you know how it goes...
Thank God Labor Day Weekend is here!!!

[rab]

Good Luck!

[beermonster]

yeah good luck mate

feel kinda guilty i didnt solve that problem tho!!!!