Color changes when printing Illustrator file or PDF in Reader

[Leao16]

Hi,

I had been printing out an Illustrator file fine directly through Illustrator. However I recently saved the file as a PDF in preparation to send it to the printers. I opened the PDF in Adobe Reader and printed it out, but what was printed out was significantly darker than what I got when printing from Illustrator. I opened the original Illustrator .ai file in Reader and when I printed that it came out much darker as well.

I tried printing the PDF directly through Illustrator again and the colors were fine. The problem is I need to be able to print the PDF properly using Reader as the printers I'm sending the PDF to don't use Illustrator for their printing.

The only success I have had so far is by saving the Illustrator file as a PDF using File-Print-Printer-Save as PDF. When I print this PDF through Reader the colors are great but the image is flattened (i.e. the text isn't selectable or vectorized) that surely cannot be a good thing? I read this

http://www.carijansen.com/tips/024/index.php

that also firmly discouraged this way of saving PDFs.

I'm lost. Any ideas?

Many, many thanks - leao

 

[apepp]

...this all points to a colour management setup issue in acrobat to me, check your preferences.

Apart from this, your printer, depending on how colour critical you are about the artwork or any that you supply, ought to provide you with a contract proof that you are happy with. Or supply them with a colour sample print yourself to give them a target.

Despite all the colour management, there are so many variables in printing it isn't an exact science, more an art. Colour management has come a long way over the years and better than ever. Colour management is a bit area but no substitute for a contract hard proof...

...i wouldn't worrie too much about it really, give them a print out from illustrator to give them a guide the press minder can, if he or she is any good, get close to...

all the best!
andrew

 

[apepp]

...check your transparency settings when exporting to pdf, if set to low it will rasterize elements of your design, a higher setting will preserve as much vector as possible...

andrew