Prepressforums.com

yldziner · #1 (**permalink**) 01-03-2006, 04:01 PM

I'm having problems with InDesign CS1 converting black text to CMYK when exporting pdf's. It seems as though anytime there is a background color or gradient and black text on top, the black text converts to CMYK. I did develop a workaround (sort of) by exporting the gradients and converting them to tiffs, and then replacing them. That seemed to work in the past.

Today, it doesn't work. Has anyone run into this?

I exported all of the elements that were in my background (gradients, images that were multiplied) and converted it into one tiff image. I thyen removed all of the original images and made sure all transparency features were turned OFF. The black text still converts to CMYK.

HELP!?!?!

mattbeals · #2 (**permalink**) 01-03-2006, 04:41 PM

It's probably color management related. Try exporting with color as is and no profiles.

yldziner · #3 (**permalink**) 01-03-2006, 05:33 PM

Well, I gave that a shot but it didn't work.

almaink · #4 (**permalink**) 01-03-2006, 06:20 PM

Is the black swatch a cmyk build? Check the swatch and see. Are you using color management?

yldziner · #5 (**permalink**) 01-03-2006, 06:30 PM

The black swatch is the default black(100%). Color management is off.

Exported the file as EPS. I opened the EPS in photoshop and the text only shows on the black channel. When I saved the EPS as PDF, from Illustrator, something caused the black to convert to CMYK - just the same result as exporting to PDF from InDesign.

Cory · #6 (**permalink**) 01-03-2006, 07:02 PM

what preset are you using when exporting the PDF?

DCurry · #7 (**permalink**) 01-04-2006, 07:28 AM

Is it possible that you are just seeing the black overprinting the color below it?

mattbeals · #8 (**permalink**) 01-04-2006, 07:54 AM

Depending on the PDF export style, things will get converted to CMYK. And if the profiles don't match you can get the rich black. So either the profiles need to match or you need to export PDFs with color "as is" (with the profile is okay).

pajdzn · #9 (**permalink**) 01-04-2006, 08:09 AM

This seems to be a common problem and I am interested in finding a solution. I tried to eliminate any profiles and rerip and it still converts black to 4 color. I took the same file and placed it into Quark and ripped it and it came out fine so the problem is in InDesign. I did check the files and the black is 100% Black only, no other colors, no overprinting, etc. I have noticed that InDesign tends to handle colors in undesired ways. I have tried to disable any profiles, trapping, etc. only to have it show up anyway. Part of it is in how the file is layered, but having to dissect all the pages of a file is very time consuming.

Am I missing something here when I work these files?

Any comments are welcomed.

Thanks.

mattbeals · #10 (**permalink**) 01-04-2006, 08:39 AM

I take it that there is no transparency involved. But what PDF Export options are you using?