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steve2112 · #1 (**permalink**) 11-13-2006, 09:50 AM

Ok I have read the adobe document on transparanecy and read some other post on it and tried several different methods but I still am getting the same problems. I have a 12 page brochure and the all the pictures have a object style with a drop shadow on them. When i print I see the area where the drop shadow meets anything gets lighter. When I create a pdf x1a the problem area just become whit boxes. I have tried several different approaches but can seem to fix it. What do you guys suggest?

steve

jv58 · #2 (**permalink**) 11-13-2006, 09:54 AM

Have you tried viewning the PDF with overprint preview on?

Joe

steve2112 · #3 (**permalink**) 11-13-2006, 10:09 AM

overprint preview shows it correctly put still when i print it to my ricoh copier it prints how it is previewed originally. Its freaking me out becuase when i did the project originally a year ago there was no problems like this.
I mean i guess i could export it as a super hi-res tiff but i do not want to have to do that and i want to know what i did wrong.

Hmmm, perhaps its because the transpareny(shadow) is being printed over a spot color(reflex blue)

steve

jv58 · #4 (**permalink**) 11-13-2006, 11:16 AM

What version of Acrobat are you using? In version 7 in the print menu under advanced options, there is a checkbox called simulate overprint. Try checking that and printing to your Ricoh.

Joe

DCurry · #5 (**permalink**) 11-13-2006, 11:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steve2112

Hmmm, perhaps its because the transpareny(shadow) is being printed over a spot color(reflex blue)

You might be on the right track with that thought. Try using the ink manager to convert all spots to process. If that doesn't work, then maybe your copier can't honor overprints. If so, try re-exporting the PDF and put a check next to Simulate Overprint in the Output section of the Export PDF dialog.

**EDIT** - Sorry for being redundant - the above post hadn't appeared yet when I started typing my response.

TimS · #6 (**permalink**) 11-13-2006, 11:22 AM

How are you "printing"? I just did a quick InDesign page as you described (image with shadow over reflex blue box), exported as pdf using "press quality" and it came out fine. (?)

In the early days of Indesign/transparency I could sometimes get things to work by separating them into separate layers.

barunkevin · #7 (**permalink**) 11-14-2006, 03:34 AM

Check out that the ricoh can handle Pdf1.4

geozinger · #8 (**permalink**) 11-14-2006, 05:42 AM

Just as a reinforcement to the folks concerned about your RIP's capability to handle higher versions of the PDF spec...

I have a DocuColor 240 with the bundled Fiery RIP, and it absolutely cannot handle transparency. I make anything with transparency into a .TIF file to shoot through it...

Check your RIP. That might be the real issue.

steve2112 · #9 (**permalink**) 11-14-2006, 06:36 AM

I went into Indesign and change the relfex blue to cmyk and it work fine with now problems. I guess for this particuliar set up that was the problem. I have the ricoh 3260c with the E-7000 fiery graphic arts package. I think i just have to pay attention to where drop shadows are with spot colors.

On another note I like the machine for what we pay monthly for it. It fits into our short run really nice. Xerox is a lot better quality but we have a heidelberg DI for any runs over 500.

steve

gig0 · #10 (**permalink**) 11-14-2006, 03:50 PM

maybe I'm missing something here because I don't deal with a color copier type work but wouldn't it just be easier to output as 'composite CMYK' where all spots are converted to process on the fly and you can avoid these issues altogether? I would assume the customer *should* be less concerned about the spot color accuracy in this type of workflow.

I don't know...just asking.