Prepressforums.com

Jasonm · #1 (**permalink**) 08-08-2007, 04:52 PM

I posted this under color management but it sould be posted here.

We are taking a PDF and forcing it open in PhotoShop flattening it then converting to grayscale and saving that as a JPG. (the DPF was created in InDesign)

Our mailing guys are using a program called New Leaf to bring this in so we can do some variable data printing. When they save out the PDF, it's showing up as having RGB in it. They are telling me that this program (I know nothing about it) only outputs what it was given and that PhotoShop it not making a "true" grayscale image.

Has anyone heard this before, as it's a new one for me?

Thanks in advance!

prepress_vee · #2 (**permalink**) 08-08-2007, 05:40 PM

1st off - never heard of the program. So I don't "really" know. But......

BS
I think your mailing guys have licked a few too many stamps.
If you open, flatten, convert to grayscale, and save out a jpeg... it's more than likely "true" grayscale. Your the prepress / color dept... right?

Maybe New Leaf is outputting or converting to RGB on the way out!
just my .02
Vee

Jasonm · #3 (**permalink**) 08-08-2007, 06:57 PM

Yes, I am pre-press. I mentioned to them that I thought it was the New Leaf program, but he must have expected it, as he was ready with all the info. Telling me it was something to do with how PhotoShop saves the images, it includes an RGB pallet of some kind and that the New Leaf program gives you what you input. I have 14 years exp in pre-press and over 10 working in detail with PhotoShop and this is a first for me.

I also have thought that when saving out the PDF it may be applying some kind of ICC profile. I guess I will have to go and look at their software and see for my self.

local1 · #4 (**permalink**) 08-09-2007, 04:22 AM

Try getting them to switch printer drivers. Use a tiff file if you can.

I use another mail program that on occasion did what you describe. Solid black type or black artwork from pdf files would become RGB. By switching the printer driver to my old standby of "Scitex Dolev PS L2" things are a little more predictable. Now I write to ps file and distill, always have black. Good Luck, Local1

Andy182 · #5 (**permalink**) 08-10-2007, 09:01 AM

Try this -- Do a select all and copy make a new document in Adobe Illustrator® (Make sure to select the CMYK in the color mode) and paste the copy in this new file (Just do this this time to make sure you have a PDF that is OK)- save it as a PDF and open it in Adobe Photoshop® - Make sure to open as a grayscale and whatever dpi you want. Do a save as photoshop PDF press quality. Make sure in your color settings you don't have a conversion picked that is doing something for you that you don't want, i.e. the color management says "preserve". You can make a workflow to do this in Adobe Photoshop® too. If this works you should be OK, if not double check the color settings to make certain the conversions are not happening for you incorrectly.

Andy182 · #6 (**permalink**) 08-10-2007, 09:02 AM

Try this -- Do a select all and copy make a new document in Adobe Illustrator® (Make sure to select the CMYK in the color mode) and paste the copy in this new file (Just do this this time to make sure you have a PDF that is OK)- save it as a PDF and open it in Adobe Photoshop® - Make sure to open as a grayscale and whatever dpi you want. Do a save as photoshop PDF press quality. Make sure in your color settings you don't have a conversion picked that is doing something for you that you don't want, i.e. the color management says "preserve". You can make a workflow to do this in Adobe Photoshop® too. If this works you should be OK, if not double check the color settings to make certain the conversions are not happening for you incorrectly.