Transparency printing as visable box around subject

[tommygun714]

When I export an Indesign CS2 to Acrobat 6 (High Quality Print) the PDF looks great, but when I print the transparent backgrounds print as a visable box?

I have seemed to be plagued by this for a long time to the point that I only use printers that have ID CS and now that I have CS2 it seems that none of my printers have this version and I can't simply save as regular CS only that Dam inx format that we all know is for Crappy.

I know there are others that are having this problem. Any suggestions greatly apreciated.

 

[jimoblak]

Export to PDF/X-1a. This PDF format flattens all transparency.

- - I hope this helps - -
[sub](Complain to someone else if it doesn't)[/sub]

 

[Jimthechin]

Evening, all -
Came across this thread whilst spending another afternoon trying in vain to get a pdf to print with transparency; I thought i'd cracked it when converting linked image to CMYK worked but no, life's not that simple.

I'm not convinced by jimoblak's solution - I've found that the surefire way to lose transparency is the PDF/X-1a way.

Please please if anyone's got a solution to this can you enlighten us

Thanks

 

[jimoblak]

You are supposed to lose transparency in PDF/X-1a. That is the whole point. Transparency effects are flattened in PDF/X-1a so that the document can print on RIPs that do not support transparency.

If you are still having problems after flattening to PDF/X-1a then you have some problems with the way that you are applying transparency.

What do you see in separation preview and overprint preview?

For safety, you should only be using transparency effects with CMYK art. Mixing spot inks and RGB image this way can cause problems.

- - I hope this helps - -
[sub](Complain to someone else if it doesn't)[/sub]

 

[jmgalvin]

When you export to pdf select Press quality and them make sure it's copmpatible with Acrobat 5 or higher. Don't know what version of ID you have but mine 3.01 has Acrobat 4 compatablity as the base. 4 does not properly support transparency.

If you're running things through Distiller, make sure that the setting is also for 5 or above compatability.

Also, when exporting form ID, click on the Advanced section and look at color, making sure that it matches what you're using in the doc or that yu have Unchanged selected. Then select High resolution in the transparency flattener setting.

In ID, go to Edit menu/transparency blend space and make sure it matches what you're using - cmyk vs rgb.

If transparency problems are being caused by bitmapped images, make sure that you create a clipping path before bringing the thing into ID.

Using OSX 10.3.8 on a G4

 

[jimoblak]

4 does not properly support transparency.

It is not a matter of 'properly' supporting transparency. Acrobat 4 does not support live transparency at all. This is why you want to save to this lesser, flattened format (PDF/X-1a) to suit a printer that cannot print live transparency effects.

Note that flattening live transparency effects does not mean that you are destroying the effect: you are simply flattening the artwork like you would a bunch of layers in Photoshop. The output should look the same as if you were still working with live transparency. If it does not look the same then you have not used the transparency effects properly within InDesign.

If we are discussing problems with printing transparency effects then I question why you would want to create a PDF with live transparency for Acrobat 5 or greater.

If you are encountering printing problems then you logically need to address the data before it is sent to a printer. This is why you should flatten your transparency effects to a PDF/X-1a format. The printer is choking on the live transparency. If the printer does not have equipment to handle even a PDF/X-1a file, they are most certainly not going to handle a PDF 1.4 (Acrobat 5) file.

- - I hope this helps - -
[sub](Complain to someone else if it doesn't)[/sub]