Color changing PDF!

[kovachjon]

Hi,
I have an InDesign layout that I've been working with for over 3 days now.
Basically, the layout is a TIF background, with a vector map placed over top of it. I had two different map, for two different prints.
On one print, a PDF vector map was used. On the other print, an AI vector map was used. The color of the background TIF (even though it was the same exact file) was different on each print.
I found that the PDF map was altering the color. It was pushing everything down as far as saturation goes. The AI map did not affect the background at all. So I took the PDF map, made it tiny - .5" x .5", and pushed it behind the AI map, behind the background, behind everything... and it still affected the background.
In the end, I put the PDF map underneath the AI map (as I described above) so that both prints matched. The customer was happy.
But I cannot figure out why this would have happened. I did not see any weird transparency things going on anywhere, and even if there was, when it was pushed behind the TIF, it should not have affected it.
Any ideas? I'm stumped.
Thanks,
Jon

[RedOak]

Same thing happened on my side a while back.

Adobe "recommends" using AI for what you were trying to do - yet they still give us the EPS and PDF options. Reason being is HOW the PDF or EPS is SAVED. There are so many different options and variations of how PDFs and EPSs can be saved that their recommendation for using the Native AI makes total sense. The more that the integration of ID an AI happen, the more often this issue will probably pop up if not using that native AI file.

I feel like I am talking in circles. So the easy point is - Use AI files.

[AxelRobert]

Hello everyone,

in fact since Creative CS, AI and PDF are same formats.
I think it depends general color settings and conversion options.

[kovachjon]

Thanks for the tips - unfortunately, I hardly ever get to talk to the people setting up the files before they send them to us. I will try to address that as much as possible.
Thanks!

[Tybo]

In theoretical sense an Illustrator file and a PDF are quite frankly the same thing, embedding information in the file, except for a major difference.

An AI is a raw document made from it's native DTP software, and therefore there is no conversion. A PDF must be created from an original file and requires converting, compressing and applying certain settings to allow it to be portable.

My guess is that although the AI and PDF may appear the same, and the PDF is probably made from AI, the PDF when printing or exporting is converting the file. The most common cause for this has to do with compressing the image, text and line art; having you colour conversion set to a certain profile(not always a good thing, should remember to set the colour conversion to 'no conversions' however preserve the CMYK numbers.); or your transparency flattener settings.

I would try and work with PDFs, as these are far more recognised across RIP software and the fonts are embedded(they're not in an AI file). To get an explanation on your problem, I would open the AI file and either print(or save )from Illustrator to PDF; or you can print a postscript and distill. Either way check your PDF setting when doing so.

Adobe products are usually good these days in working with each other, but are still can have different results than you expect. However this usually comes down to a simple explanation.

[Mickyj07]

I had this type of problem once and I just turned of all color management before outputting it. It solved it for me. I don't know what it will do for you though.