PDF Export from Publisher

[David Cantor]

The files for my first attempt at self-publishing are with the printer for creating a printed proof of my photo book.  Today, I received the following message.  "At present it is Rich Black please can you convert to black and we are good to go!"

I assume that that this is InDesign terminology and am unable to resolve today due to unavailability of staff at the printer.  I'd like to prepare my files over the weekend ready for getting a print done on Monday.  I assume that 'Overprint Black' option in Publisher Export options should be unchecked but am uncertain.  Perhaps what I need to change is in Preferences?  Before I export all the pages again (separately) according to the printer), I'd welcome advice.   I have attached the Export parameter used, I'm in the UK

Thanks

David

[Dan C]

Hi @David Cantor,

18 hours ago, David Cantor said:

Today, I received the following message.  "At present it is Rich Black please can you convert to black and we are good to go!"

I can confirm this usually refers to the actual colour values used for the black in your document. For example, a black fill using 100% K and 60% Cyan will appear 'deeper/darker' when printing, however some printers require the black to be 100% K only, with no other mix of the CMY colours and I assume this is what they're referring to here.

This means it is likely not controlled by your PDF export, and instead you may need to edit the colours used in your document. The easiest way for us to provide suggestions is to see a copy of the .afpub file you have created, and the PDF you have previously exported.

Can you please upload these 2 files to the below link for me?

https://www.dropbox.com/request/tO9LC7J5fFrnpliwdgvm

Once uploaded, please reply here to let me know - many thanks in advance

[Wosven]

1 hour ago, Dan C said:

however some printers require the black to be 100% K only, with no other mix of the CMY colours and I assume this is what they're referring to here.

They mainly ask this for text, since if plates aren't properly aligned, it'll look terrible especially for text, or the inks can produce bands (also terrible visually).

 

20 hours ago, David Cantor said:

At present it is Rich Black please can you convert to black and we are good to go!

This is more a problem related to your document and the use of color profiles, especially if the conversion is done only when exporting to PDF, instead of setting the color profile from the start.

This problem occurs a lot, and you'll find help reading this thread:

 

20 hours ago, David Cantor said:

Before I export all the pages again (separately)

Affinity apps get for default option to export as spreads... An option barely used but for printing small documents (less paper used), for copy-editing or last checking before sending to print: usefulness of this = 1%, but  despite our demand, it seems we're stuck with this for a long time.

What your printer ask is to export to "all pages" instead of spreads, since spreads are of no use in a majority of cases.

[David Cantor]

Hi Dan

I just uploaded two abbreviated files using the same process including Export parameters as my book project.  In case it helps, the text page has been copied and pasted from Word.  The image starts life as a JPG from Affinity Photo and imported into Publisher, I have then relied on the Export process to convert it to CMYK.  My head is hurting!

Your advice is very much appreciated. Part of the issue is that I do not think the print company is familiar with Publisher, I told them in advance the export parameters that I proposed using but that didn't help

David

[David Cantor]

Dan

I just re-uploaded the af file version 2 which is correct as far as methodology is concerned.  I place a PDF in the earlier version rather than a JPG.

David

[MrJACK]

Hi rich black is a black composed with value of cmyk… and it’s not good for text because it’s difficult to print at the same place 4 times with the 4 inks… so fine text must be done in black only. That means that you must create a color with 0 cyan 0 magenta 0 yellow and 100% of black with your text. 
the right way to create a maquette is first to select the right cmyk profile at the document configuration : cmyk fogra39 or convert your document into it… 

secondly you create global color using the menu on the right of the swatches panel (panel is near color panel) https://affinity.help/designer/en-US.lproj/index.html?page=pages/Clr/globalClr.html?title=Global colors

this is important because global color permits to change your mind after. If your customer ask you a yellow and not a pink color in the document you just change the global color and every where it’s used it change . 
 

third use text style panel to customize normal, title text, using your global color or not  and right fonts… it means black for fine text! 

Fourth : create your document with good picture quality always 300 dpi minimum  

Fifth : export your file with the optional setting - converting document color 

- color space cmyk

- fogra39 as you created your document  

if you check the exported document in acrobat dc using the prepress tools « aperçu » the text must disappear if the black color is unchecked but you have to select the same color profile fogra39 for this to work. 

 

 

 

[David Cantor]

Thank you for your assistance, I’m going to follow your advice and see how it goes.  In the meantime, the printers telephoned me to say that they have fixed the problem, at the moment I do not know how they did it.   I need to avoid the problem in the future.   I should have my print proof in two days.  
 

Thanks again and good luck with your own publication.

David

[Dan C]

1 hour ago, David Cantor said:

In the meantime, the printers telephoned me to say that they have fixed the problem, at the moment I do not know how they did it.   I need to avoid the problem in the future.   I should have my print proof in two days.  

Thanks for letting us know David and many thanks for your documents!

I can see your document is using a CMYK mix for the text, as can be seen by selecting the Text Frame and navigating to the Colour Studio -
(note I have blurred your document, as to not release it publicly)

I suspect the printers have edited your PDF provided and changed this to be a 'pure K' black, meaning the CMYK values used are 0,0,0,100 -

Using the above methods described by MrJACK, you should be able to create a Global Colour, and apply this to your text as required.

I hope this helps

[David Cantor]

Hi Dan, many thanks for your perseverance with my issue.  I see where the problem arises because I assumed that because the document was created as CMYK, everything would be CMYK.  I didn't notice the RGB box above the sliders when making most of the text 85% black and elsewhere 65%.  Same applies to the images.  I think that I have got my head around this

Regards

David