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InDesign CS2 DROP SHADOWS problems 2

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malvizzu

Technical User
Jan 4, 2007
7
MT
When applying drop shadows to text or B&W images in InDesign, the image/s in that particular page or spread changes intensity and becomes lighter. When I create pdf using Acrobat 7 Pro (with various pdf settings: PDF1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6) the same result comes out. Even when I open the same pdf in photoshop the image is still light. It also happens when printing directly from InDesign - B&W images with drop shadows are lighter. This does not happen with CMYK images. ANY HELP WOULD BE APPRECIATED!
 
...are you importing rgb images into indesign and then applying the drop shadows?

...when you say black and white images, are you also refering to rgb images also?

...check you color conversion settings in output, if you apply drop shadows to rgb images it is likely to be converting the whole page to cmyk but with a small profile colour space being used to do the conversion as your destination profile...

...your color issues all point to your output settings, if you want an rgb pdf then your destination profile needs to be an rgb profile (Adobe RGB 1998 for example)...

...the pdf version is not the problem, i'm certain of that...

Andrew
 
...verify the transparency blend space is rgb if you want an rgb pdf too, if you have rgb drop shadows and choose no color conversion in your output options, the result will be cmyk if your transparency blend space is set to cmyk...

...found here:

edit > transparency blend space > rgb or cmyk

Andrew
 
When going to pdf, make sure that you click on teh advanced section and set transparency flattener to high.

You might make sure that your display performance is set to high.

On the drop shadow window, try normal or multiply as mode.



Using OSX 10.3.9 on a G4
 
Thanks to apepp & jmgalvin. The black & white images I am refering are actually grayscale images saved as tiff files and imported into InDesign. I tried all sort of settings like normal, multiply etc. I think it is some kind of a bug cause it occurs both on a Macintosh and on a PC. Please try it out. Place a tiff grayscale image in InDesign. Apply a drop shadow and you would see the image go lighter. So actually it is inside InDesign which is happening all this. Still any help would be appreciated.
 
...the preview does go light but output in my experience is unaffected when using pitstop pro to view, if you are comparing the original with a rasterized pdf in photoshop you may get a shift if you open it in greyscale, best to raster the pdf in cmyk mode for accuracy...

Andrew
 
save your images as a psd file and the problem will disappear

carlow
 
Malvizzo: When I read your original post I tried to replicate with text and tiffs (which is about the only raster format I use) and could not. Your problem with the text was most interesting as that should NEVER happen.

I was working on piece with all pics drop shadowed so I just popped in a grayscale and could not replicate.

Here are acouple of things to try. On color settings for teh doc, make sure that black point compensation is checked and realtive colorimetric is checked. That's how mine is set by default.

In photoshop try opening the tiff and Save As. When you get teh save window, see if Embed gray gamma is checked. If not try checking that. If yes try without it checked. Mine always has gray gamma 2.2 checked.

A third trial option is to takk color management off the tiff in photoshop and see what happens. lastly you can try turning off color management in teh ID doc and look at the result.

I use CS1 on a mac.

Using OSX 10.3.9 on a G4
 
apepp (Andrew) – You saved my day. The Transparency Blend Space was set to Document CMYK. When I changed it to Document RGB everything went OK. Preview in InDesign and PDF were perfect. Unfortunately I do not have PitStop Pro so I can't really see the final output.

As far as jmgalvin you might be right in saying you couldn't match my problem. It might be that InDesign CS1 doesn't give that problem or maybe that your Transparency Blend Space was already set in Document RGB. I use InDesign CS2. Anyway still many thanks for the help.

Carlow - sorry but still psd doesn't work if settings are on Document CMYK.

One last word to Andrew: if I have a mixture of cmyk and grayscale images i still have to set to Document RGB. Does it in any way effect CMYK images with drop shadows. I tried it: on screen it looks the same but I am not sure if something changes when I send pdf file to Computer to Plate.

THANKS ALL THE SAME TO EVERYONE FOR THE HELP AND HAPPY NEW YEAR.
 
...it is good practice to have your color settings for Adobe applications synchronized using the Adobe Bridge application...


RGB
***Exporting to PDF 1.3 (Acrobat 4) PDF - (Indesign RGB Blend Space)***
This occurs when exporting to PDF 1.3 with 'no color conversion' enabled...

...if you are using transparency effects such as drop shadows on only ONE image, this will effect the WHOLE page when setting the blend space in Indesign to RGB, EVERYTHING on that page will become RGB (including cmyk, grey images + elements made in Indesign as native cmyk colours). The result is converted to the RGB working color space (typically Adobe RGB 1998 for print) which is set in your color settings (synchronized in Bridge)...

...if you have NO effects (drop shadows etc) then the source cmyk and rgb images and the native cmyk elements are left UNTOUCHED and will include the source tagged profiles...

***Exporting to PDF 1.4, 1.5, 1.6 (Acrobat 5, 6, 7) PDF - (Indesign RGB Blend Space)***
This occurs when exporting to PDF 1.4 and higher with 'no color conversion' enabled...

...these formats support transparency and therefore no flattening is required (but will need to be when put through a postscript rip that supports in-rip flattening), the result of mixed cmyk, grey + rgb images (even with dropshadows) and native cmyk elements is left UNTOUCHED in the resulting PDF (a mixed rgb, grey + cmyk PDF)...


CMYK
***Exporting to PDF 1.3 (Acrobat 4) PDF - (Indesign CMYK Blend Space)***
This occurs when exporting to PDF 1.3 with 'no color conversion' enabled...

...if you are using transparency effects such as drop shadows on only ONE image, this will effect the WHOLE page when setting the blend space in Indesign to CMYK, EVERYTHING on that page will become CMYK (including RGB images + RGB elements made in Indesign as native RGB colours, grey images are left grey). The result is converted to the CMYK working color space which is set in your color settings (synchronized in Bridge)...

...if you have NO effects (drop shadows etc) then the source cmyk, rgb + grey images and the native cmyk + RGB elements are left UNTOUCHED and will include the source tagged profiles...


***Exporting to PDF 1.4, 1.5, 1.6 (Acrobat 5, 6, 7) PDF - (Indesign CMYK Blend Space)***
This occurs when exporting to PDF 1.4 and higher with 'no color conversion' enabled...

...these formats support transparency and therefore no flattening is required (but will need to be when put through a postscript rip that supports in-rip flattening), the result is mixed cmyk, grey + rgb images (even with dropshadows) and native cmyk + RGB elements left UNTOUCHED in the resulting PDF (a mixed rgb, grey + cmyk PDF)...


...to add to all the above, your display may go lighter when applying dropshadows to grey images, but the output percentage values are not affected. It is purely a preview/screen anomaly...

...just remember that if you apply effects to elements in an RGB blend space it will be converted to RGB if you have to flatten the PDF (Acrobat 4 - 1.3), not good for your workflow if your output is intended to be CMYK, because CMYK elements are shifted to RGB and then back again to CMYK in your rip, this will likely distort colours...

...hope you have understood the above, and best of luck!! happy new year for 2007!!!

Andrew
 
...also in acrobat pro under the advance menu is the option 'output preview', use this to look at separations...

Andrew
 
speaking of drop shadows..... is there any way to isolate a drop shadow from its object.
 
You can isolate a shadow on a plate separation by using a distinct spot color for the shadow.

If you are referring to separating the shadow for the purposes of skewing or transforming instead of a plain drop shadow, you will have to wait. This is not possible in current versions of InDesign.
 
If you need the drop shadow, without the shadowed object, you can use Paper (or whatever the necessary backround color) as the fill for the object, or text.

Then, either use Object menu/arrange or put it on its own layer (probably the better alternative), so it will show up as you want it. By clicking on the, now invisible, shape or text box you will be able to manipulate it.

Using OSX 10.3.9 on a G4
 
I tried what you said and yes it did work to some extent. What I'm really looking for is what Illustrator does. Example: If I have a red circle with a drop shadow offset of .5". I dont just want to isolated them with just the .5" worth of shadow.
I want the entire shadow that would be under the red circle. Like Illustrator.
Any suggestions?
 
Yeah, I thought of suggesting you do in in AI and bring that in, but we're on ID here so I didn't. ID just doesn't allow that.

Basically, you can just do the thing in AI and use that.





Using OSX 10.3.9 on a G4
 
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