1 Reply Latest reply: Aug 21, 2014 4:15 AM by G.Hoffmann RSS

    Colour Changes when exported to PDF

    Albert17 Community Member
    Albert17 Aug 20, 2014 7:08 PM

      I’m using CS5. Every time I create a PDF from InDesign the colours become completely different. Is this because of the colour management? How can I fix this problem?

      The colour profile assigned for the creative suite is Europe Prepress 3. RGB: Adobe RGB (1998) CMYK: Coated FOGRA39 (ISO 12647-2:2004). The PDF Setting is the High Quality Print. The ICC Profile for the computer monitor is sRGB display (default).

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        • 1. Re: Colour Changes when exported to PDF
          G.Hoffmann Community Member
          G.Hoffmann Aug 21, 2014 4:15 AM (in response to Albert17)

          Some guidelines for a clean workflow:

           

          1. Don't use sRGB but a valid measured profile for the monitor.

           

          2. Synchronize color settings manually or by Bridge.

           

          3. Check whether these settings are valid as well in Acrobat Pro for viewing (they are

              not automatically synchronized in Acrobat Pro 8, which I'm still using).

              Use 'Output Intent overrides single settings', or so.

           

          4. Define in InDesign an RGB and a CMYK workspace as document color spaces.

              InDesign exports Grayscales correctly, but the monitor preview can be wrong. Grayscale

              should not be used.

           

          5. Place only images which are already in these RGB or CMYK color spaces.

           

          6. For inkjet printing use only RGB images with embedded profile.

           

          7. For CMYK offset printing use only CMYK images with embedded profile.

           

          8. Don't redefine image color spaces in InDesign for individual images.

           

          9. For any printing, especially by inkjet, use in Export as PDF

             – Leave Colors Unchanged (European Prepress doesn't change colors)

             – Embed all Profiles

               or

             – Use always the same profiles for inkjet RIP printing

           

          10. For offset printing use Export as PDF/X with pure CMYK content.

             Assign Output Intent (the valid CMYK ICC profile). Single image profiles will be stripped.

           

          In cases of color shifts:

           

          a) Import PDF pages in Photoshop in the assumed color space and check appearance.

          b) Analyze PDF by Acrobat Pro (which cannot be explained here, except for Acrobat Pro 8).

              Eventually show us an example. 

           

          A PDF can be much more complex, but then the process will be even more prone to errors.

           

          Everything in my humble opinion...

           

          Best regards --Gernot Hoffmann