Black Color (C= 0%, M = 0%, Y = 0%, K = 100%) after pdf export always colored (e.g. (C= 70%, M = 67%, Y = 67%, K = 79%)

[KerstinPergande]

I use Affinity Publisher 2

I sent my pdf to my printer and they wrote back, that the text color is not 100 % black, but no matter what I change in the configuration, the problem stays the same.

I have set my text color on C= 0%, M = 0%, Y = 0%, K = 100% (Picture 1)

No matter, which color profile I use for the document, the result is always the same (even with grey color profiles, affinity exports text color like C= 70%, M = 67%, Y = 67%, K = 79%)

Example:

For the example I use the following color profiles: Picture 2

An I added the export configuration for the pdf: Picture 3 (Problem stays the same, when I chose the pre-sets for Print)

When I check the text color afterwards in affinity photo (my graphic designer checked as well in adobe, to be sure, it is not a problem in affinity photo), the text color for black is mixed. Picture 4

My graphic designer and I tried over hours to change parameters, to get a 100% black text in the pdf export, without success.

No idea, if this is a bug or I am too stupid, but normally I would assume, CMYK parameters should be exported, as they are defined in the text parameters. 

I would be very grateful for help. 

Best regards

Kerstin

 

 

 

[Hangman]

Hi @KerstinPergande and welcome to the forums...

This is not a bug and you are most definitely not too stupid...

If you check the default CMYK Colour Preference you have set in Affinity Photo you will likely see that it's not set to FOGRA39 and you have Convert opened files to working space checked as well which means when you open your pdf file it is being converted from FOGRA39 to whichever CMYK Profile you have set in Affinity Photo.

If you change your default CMYK Colour Profile in Affinity Photo to FOGRA39 then you should see that your K100 remains as K100. You can also reopen your pdf file in Affinity Publisher with the same default CMYK profile rather than Affinity Photo though the results should be the same...

Has your printer specifically requested you use FOGRA39 as the colour profile for your pdf file. It sounds as though your printer is also converting the file to which ever CMYK profile they are using so you need to double check the specific settings and colour profile they need you to use when creating your file so that it is compatible with theirs and you are both using the same settings. That should then result in a black setting K100...

[chucho. caba]

Hi guys! I believe I'm pretty much stuck in the same situation.

I'm sharing images of my setup to explain:

1. My document setup is: colour format= CMYK/8  + colour profile= US Web Coated (SWOP) v2 + the "convert" button active. (img 1)

2. I have the pdf export setting as in (img 2).

Question: How can I export my pdf to print with color separations. I'm trying to send the pdf file to the printer house and they keep telling me that the body text and grayscale images appear in CMYK, as the normal colour images. I'm not sure how to fix it. Does it have to do with the setup or is it something else? Any ideas? Thanks!

[Hangman]

Hi @chucho. caba and welcome to the forums…

Is your printing company also using/requesting you provide your pdf using U.S. Web Coated (SWOP) v2?

[chucho. caba]

Thanks @Hangman ! So glad for your answer,

 

Not really. This U.S. Web Coated (SWOP) v2 is the preset mode I was in but the printing company just asked for colour images in CMYK and grayscale images + texts in grayscale in the final pdf.

 

I just double checked my texts, now properly set (img 1) and made a new pdf inactivating the "embed profile" button, however grayscale images continue to appear in CMYK when export to a new pdf. As the image on the right in this img I'm sharing. I don't know, does it have to do with the way I'm placing them? What you think, still a fix in the horizon that I haven't seen?

[Hangman]

16 hours ago, chucho. caba said:

however grayscale images continue to appear in CMYK when export to a new pdf.

Three Questions

1. Is the artwork shown in your placed pdf vector or raster
2. Is the artwork created in Affinity Photo or Designer or third party software
3. Which colour profile does the artwork used to create your placed pdf use

For the artwork used to create your placed pdf, if you use either the same colour profile as your Publisher document, in this case U.S. Web Coated (SWOP) v2 and then create your pdf with Embed Profile then your placed pdf should only use the Black plate but you need to ask your printer if there is a specific colour profile they want you to use and if so then use that profile for both your Publisher Document and the artwork used to create your pdf...

[chucho. caba]

Thanks!

Here my responses:

1. Artworks all along the pdf are both vectors and raster images

2. Artworks were created in Affinity Photo and Design, and also come from third party software.

3. Artworks use this profile U.S. Web Coated (SWOP) v2 in the case of colour images. As to grayscale images, they're Generic gray profile (img 2).

 

So my understanding is that I pretty much have to sync the profile for the images / artworks, whether these are vectors or photos, and the profile use in the print house.. and with this applying the "embed profile" option to get a pdf with normal cmyk for colour and only black plates for grayscale images.

Sorry I have to double check everything when it comes to things like this since my technical knowledge is a bit short.

Thanks so much for helping me out!

Cc

 

[Hangman]

On 3/23/2023 at 5:50 PM, chucho. caba said:

So my understanding is that I pretty much have to sync the profile for the images / artworks, whether these are vectors or photos, and the profile use in the print house.. and with this applying the "embed profile" option to get a pdf with normal cmyk for colour and only black plates for grayscale images.

With the Generic Grey Profile used for your tiff file then this should result in a Black only plate for the spread in your screenshot, but yes, you do need to check the specification your printer requires to ensure they're not taking your U.S. Web Coated (SWOP) v2 file and converting it to a different colour profile which would result in a CMYK split rather than a K100 only output, e.g., they may be using a FOGRA39 profile on their press or their own custom profile, so just ask them for their artwork specification so you can provide a file that works for them... if the information isn't already provided on their website then they should have no problem providing the information to you directly...

[chucho. caba]

Thanks a lot! Went perfect with your advices, now is ready!

[Hangman]

Hi @chucho. caba, that's really great to hear, I'm glad everything is now working correctly for you and thanks for the update...