Here’s a really weird problem!!!

[Nohjekim]

I am doing a 6-page menu. It will be printed electronically from PDF files.

I have 4 of the pages done excluding the cover and back cover.

The one thing that all the pages have in common is colored bars across the top of each page with reverse type in them. The bars are identical in color.

When I convert the pages to PDF and print them the bar across the top of page 2 comes out a much lighter color. After checking everything three times (CMS is off on all the pages, the same color swatches are used on each page, they were all imported from the first page I did etc.) I was still getting the same result.

Finally I tiled the page that would not print correctly and the master page that I did first side by side and removed all the type and graphics from the good page leaving only the colored bar at the top of the page. I then moved all the contents from the bad page to the good page except the bar at the top. I didn’t touch any of the colors especially the one for the bar at the top. I then saved the page under a new name and exported it to PDF.

You guessed it, it came out lighter. I then immediately exported and printed the page that I had used as the base and it came out OK.

I then deleted all the color swatches turning everything to black and reimported all the colors from the good page and recolored everything, I still got the same result.

I don’t have a clue what’s going on.

My only other idea is to just start over and do the whole page over from scratch and see if it comes out right.

Anyone have any idea what is going on?

Mike

 

[Eggles]

Mike

Your post implies that each of the pages is being done as a separate document - is this correct? If so, something is skewy in the way you have created the rogue page. Make all pages part of the same document (why wouldn't you?) and set the bar as a component of the master page.

 

[Nohjekim]

These are all separate sheets; they go into a folder that receives 6 separate pages of 8.5 by 14 paper. I usually do the page that has the most copy first and then use that as the master for the others but this time something went astray.

I send the CD with the PDF files to the Restaurants and they handle the printing themselves on an Epson C84 printer printing as many of each page as they need (I specify the printer they buy, it’s the only one I know of that has waterproof inks and the same one that I use),

Each page is saved in a separate folder etc. so that they can’t screw things up.

I finally changed the color of the bar to a totally different PMS color and it still printed wrong so I redid the page that didn't print correctly from scratch and turned color matching on for all the pages (I usually don’t use it) now it works OK.

I have no idea what was wrong though I suspect that for some reason it was not receiving the correct printer setup information for that page I couldn’t find anything else to explain it.

Many times in the past I have had pages that just wouldn’t print, no reason that I can see. I click on print and the printer just clicks a few times and then nothing happens. This has happened with a number of different printers.

The only way that I can get around it is to make a new blank page with the same margins and then copy and paste the contents of the non-printing page into the new one and save it with a new name. One this is done it will print but I have never been able to figure out why it didn’t print to start with.

And I don’t even want to think about the times that type that is visible in PageMaker doesn’t show up in the PDF files even though they are all Adobe Type 1 fonts.

I have a whole family of fonts that never show up in PDF files at all.

Mike

 

[Eggles]

Now I see why you create each page separately. But I can't offer any suggestions as to why some aren't printing properly. The only other workaround that I can think of is to initially create every page as part of the same document. Then when ready to hand over to the client, copy and paste each page separately into a new document - use Ctl+Alt+V to get them into exactly the same place on each new page.

Just one other point - since you/they are using a desktop Epson to print the pages, are you aware that they prefer their data sent in RGB format rather than CMYK? Most desktop printers have software for converting RGB to CMYK, so if they are sent CMYK data there is sort of a 'double' colour conversion, which can result in some surprises. And of course, Pantone colours are irrelevant for printing on anything other than commercial (usually offset) presses where they use a specific ink for the Pantone colour rather than a CMYK mix.

As to why some fonts won't embed in PDFs - certain fonts have restrictions preventing this. What font(s) are you having particular trouble with?

 

[PredAlien]

You could still put all of the pages into one file and use a "one master page" for the object that is printing different. Put all the pages into one document. Just PDF all of the pages in one document and then use acrobat to separate the pages into different files. Just view in thumbnails and drag each page into a folder and rename. Maybe that will work.
Maybe the restaurant needs to update the driver to the printer on the computer they are printing from. Have they upgraded OS or reinstalled recently?

PredAlien

 

[Nohjekim]

It was my printer not one of the restaurants that wouldn't print correctly but the problem is solved for now.

I don't know what happened though. As said I redid the whole page from scratch placing all the type and graphics again then importing styles and colors.

I have never run into problems with clients printing any of the files as long I can print them myself on my own printer.

Mike.