Trapping annomalies using InDesign Built In Trapping

[dmontano]

New guy here and really can?t find any help on this matter. Here is the scoop: InDesign CS1 file, Mac OS X 10.3.9, trying to generate a composite, trapped PDF. We manually trap our illustrator files placed in the InDesign file, and we are using InDesigns trap presets (Default). I am getting oddd trapping results.

First off, no problem with the illustrator files trapping correctly. The problem is in the InDesign elements: strokes, type, etc. trapping to placed graphics or even InDesign shdaow generated elements. For example, an InDesign created process red arrow going over placed photo traps correctly to the image pixels, however the spread of the red arrow continues past the actual image pixels all the way to the edge of the image bounding box and then goes back to the original stoke weight of the arrow. Obviously the trapping is working, but it is not distinguishing the difference that the image pixels have stopped at a particular point ? it is treating the complete image box as something it should be trapping.

This problem occurs elsewhere with other elements such as process type slightly going over a InDesign black shadow. In that instance, the process type is spreading where the shadow touches, but only the portion where the type is touching that shadow box. I would expect and hope that each and every letter of the headline would spread slightly to provide the trap required, but only the top strip of letters where it touches is spreading, which leaves the bottom thrid of the headline type to revert back to its original weight with no spread.

After having used Quark for years, Quark?s method would be to use the default trap in quark to trap the arrow to the photo which would have enlarged the red arrow completely, so the complete arrow would look all the same stroke weight. Same with the headline type. Being new to InDesign, I must be missing something? I have tried to change the trap placement from :center, choke, spread, even neutral density. I an solve the issue above with neutral density, but then the red stoke is broken into small odd colored pixels.

Sorry so long here, but I really need help. I have asked two service bureaus / color separators and they are stumped. We are an in-house Art Department with no dedicated trapping software or RIPS. Our jobs print both US and International and that requires us to trap our files here prior to FTP upload. We must send composite trapped PDFs in order to make sure when the printers receive our files ? it is a straightforward process for them. Furthermore, our overseas vendors have very limited capabilities with trapping software and RIPS, and they are not direct to plate, but film positive to plate.

Any ideas, suggestions, or solutions is appreciated.
Thanks

In your trap preset try setting your Images trap placement to "Choke".

I can't believe there are printers out there that don't trap and let their clients do the trapping. Indesign may have a default trap where when type goes over a image in automatically spreads the type. Quark use to be the same way - you use to have to go into the trap specs in Quark and manually change the trapping.

[dmontano]

Thanks Bodesman for your suggestion, I have tried that as well, what happens is the orignal stroke weight gets reduced by a substantial amount and therefore is nowhere near what would be acceptable. It did cure the red arrow from being too big in the white bounding box area, but is too thin no in the image area.

Having worked in the printing industry for 18 years, I can tell you that I am glad trapping is primarily handled at the RIP by most printers in the states ? it makes my job easier. However, I travel to Asia for press checks on big jobs and their capability in terms of hardware and software is about 10 years behind us. With that said, they rely on film positives and for proofing they use wet proofs made specifically off of a printing press solely dedicated to printing proofs with ink from plates. Getting a CREO halftone proof is not an option - already spooke to the CREO rep in that area of the world an there are no installation for proofiing, but they are using CTP.

The printers that we use have a mixed bag of trapping capability, and there in lies the problem. They can trap certain elements, but not all. Due to the huge cost in project delays after I fly over due to incorrect file prep on there end, we have taken over that responsibiltiy. It has always been pretty easy and straightforward (trapping) except we switched to InDesign and I can not get it to do what I need it to do.

Once again, any help is appreciated. I can always email a PDF of the results that I am getting so anyone can see the anomolies I am getting.