InDesign Challenge from Hell

[Techboy]

Hi All,
Has anyone here ever have to troubleshoot an indesign book cover that is a 4-color project, but received a mix bag of RGB and CYMK illustrator colored line artworks?

That is not all, this outside designer also applied "multiply" mode within indesign to create a new color effect (blending in background box color). What made it even more challenging is that, our people wanted to match the color from it.

Anyone has effective suggestions in solving this problem and still get consistent and accurate colors? One obvious solution is to output the entire file or parts of it into PDF/EPS and rasterized it in Photoshop and re-import the artworks. Is there an alternative?

[born2print]

I wouldn't rasterize line art... for many reasons...

if the job is process (you say 4-color), can't you let the RIP convert all to process, proof it and go from there?

Or can't you open the RGB Illy files and change to CMYK and resave/relink and let the Indy effects reapply?

[Techboy]

Nope, changing from RGB to CMYK color profile in Illustrator did nothing.

Believe it or not, this is the first time I have ever come across illustrator files that doesn't display any RGB or CMYK breakdown. Yet, incredibly eyedropper can pickup the color but info window shows none!

We are using Epson 7600 for color proofing and it's very inconsistent on this job. The same CYMK red for one box doesn't look as vibrant as another box that has the same spec.

My solution is rasterized the art, re-assign CYMK in photoshop making sure all art have the same color, and re-import. Our printer is oversea and I have to start praying this will work on their end.

[LoganBlade]

have you tried to copy and paste into another illustrator file. sounds wierd but i have had luck just copy and pasting into a new file. may be a big pain but....