Export PDF Text Quality 1

[Nine76Pig]

I'm working with a text heavy document. I use the PDF Export and choose Print to create my PDF. When I print the PDF, the graphics look great, but the text is printing weak. My text is Black (C=0 M=0 Y=0 K=100), yet it doesn't appear nearly as dark or sharp as it should. When comparing the document printed from InDesign to the printed PDF, there is a very marked difference in the quality of the text. Obviously, this is an issue. The document is not going to press, but is being run on a laser printer (don't get me started on the budget), and turning over the .indd isn't an option. Is there an option that I am missing in the export menu?

 

[Nine76Pig]

Let me be a little more clear about the text - the text itself is sharp, the issue is the color. As I mentioned, it is set to black(C=0 M=0 Y=0 K=100), yet printed it is more of a dark gray. Excuse the Seinfeld-ism, but what's the deal?

 

[jmgalvin]

Use the File menu/PDf Export presets/Press. Things should come out perfect.

If you're using Print and Adobe pdf as the printer, try checking "text as black" in the Output area.

Check the settings you use when actually printing, whether from Adobe Reader, or Acrobat. Depending on what program you're printing from, there can be many options.

Using OSX 10.3.9 on a G4

 

[Nine76Pig]

I've tried that - the funny part is the text looks poor on screen as well. Even playing around with the Acrobat Print Menu (Advanced) didn't produce any better results.

 

[jmgalvin]

Which did you try the pdf export preset or the print with pdf as the printer.

The first produces pretty flawless results.

Using OSX 10.3.9 on a G4

 

[Nine76Pig]

It was the pdf export. It's a little better, but not where it should be.

 

[jmgalvin]

By any chance did you change the Color mode in the pdf - Advanced area of teh export window.

If you're trying to print cmyk to an rgb printer - teh vast majority of desktop printers, things should come out lighter than planned. You might try exporting and rgb pdf for local print, but not for professional printing.

Using OSX 10.3.9 on a G4

 

[Ekwoman]

Two questions: what version of InDesign are you running and what is the ultimate purpose of this PDF?

InDesign CS2 handles how black look onscreen as well as printing and you would use different settings for example with a PDF for proofing or web viewing (anywere the end user will be viewing onscreen) and a PDF for print.

 

[Nine76Pig]

I am using InDesign CS. The purpose of the pdf is for printing on a CYMK laser printer. Essentially, the document is a software manual. We're a very small shop with a limited budget and as such we do most of our printing in-house.

 

[Ekwoman]

First off, if you don't have a color-managed workflow (and I'm guessing that "small shop with a limited budget" means you don't...but I could be wrong), make sure Color Management is off (Edit > Color Settings and uncheck Enable Color Management).

Next, make sure that Overprint Black Swatch at 100% is checked.

Finally, when you go to create the PDF for printing, be sure to choose CMYK (and of course converting your color swatches to CMYK) in the Advanced pane of the PDF Export dialog box. If you were creating a PDF that the client was going to proof (most likely onscreen), then choose RGB, so they look good onscreen. When you create the CMYK PDF it's not going to look great in the resulting PDF (since it's CMYK and color management is turned off). It will, however, print correctly.