PDF Export Problems?!

[blackstone]

I had a book printed that I exported with PDF-X4. In the past it all worked wonderfully. Now I've used the book function for the first time and many of the cropped images have a light gray background. Some book pages have a gray background laid out with k=10, but this pure gray is not printed at all. The sides are white. What can be the reason?

[thomaso]

If you don't see a light gray not printed it can have various reasons. I think you should tell the situation more specific.

If the "book function" matters here: Which one do you mean? (I guess there are two quite different in APub).
Do you print on a desktop printer (laser, ink) or via a print service (offset)?
You named the topic "PDF export Problem" but you describe a print problem. Does the 10% K occur in the PDF?
What Affinity App?
What document colour space / profile?
Do you export with pure PDF/X-4 preset or with customized export options?

[blackstone]

I use the standard PDF-X4 settings when exporting.
The books were printed via a printing service company.
I use the "books panel" to generate the complete book.
(I can't see a second methode)

The grey background (k=10%) is clearly seen in the PDF-File.
I use the CoatedFOGRA39 settings.

Attached an example:
Left (A) that what I want, right (B) that printed from the company.

[Hangman]

@blackstone, could you upload the exported pdf file so we can take a look at what might be going on here?

[blackstone]

58 minutes ago, Hangman said:

@blackstone, could you upload the exported pdf file so we can take a look at what might be going on here?

The file is 268 Mbyte??

[Hangman]

31 minutes ago, blackstone said:

The file is 268 Mbyte??

That's okay, shouldn't be an issue, the forum accepts larger files... failing that I can provide an email address if you'd prefer to WeTransfer the file?

[blackstone]

I don't want the file to be public here in the forum

Please send me an e-mail address for WeTransfer.
 

[Hangman]

8 minutes ago, blackstone said:

Please send me an e-mail address for WeTransfer.

I've just send you a DM with the details. I'll let you know if I find anything obvious with your file.

[blackstone]

1 hour ago, Hangman said:

I've just send you a DM with the details. I'll let you know if I find anything obvious with your file.

I'm completely baffled now. The printing company says the book file is in RGB, not CMYK. I created the book chapters in the Publisher all in CMYK format with the CoatedFOGRA39 profile.

[Hangman]

51 minutes ago, blackstone said:

I'm completely baffled now. The printing company says the book file is in RGB, not CMYK. I created the book chapters in the Publisher all in CMYK format with the CoatedFOGRA39 profile.

The PDF is CMYK, the images on Page 33 have an sRGB profile. Clicking the Convert Image Colourspaces in the pdf export window would have converted these to CMYK but I'm unsure how that would impact the 10% grey background which appears to be exactly as specified... you might have to ask the printing company to explain that...

 

[blackstone]

Thank you so much for your help.

The last 60 printing jobs I have no problems with the print company.
Actually the last job is a disaster.
I will change the company.

Georg

[thomaso]

In deinem Screenshot sieht es aus, als wäre vor dem Druck Bild + Grau als gemeinsames Rechteck gerastert worden, was zB wg. des Schattens veranlasst werden kann – wobei der Schatten allerdings das Rechteck überragt, was gegen diese Idee spricht.

Wie auch immer, auch als RGB darf das Grau nicht einfach un-gedruckt bleiben. Hier zB. li.o. RGB als Vektor, re.o. RGB gerastert, unten CMYK als Vektor, Foto und Schatten bleiben separate Objekte und werden aus dem grauen Hintergrund nicht ausgespart. – Ohne jetzt dein PDF zu kennen, wenn es mit dem X-4 Preset exportiert wurde, lief etwas beim Prepress-Ablauf der Druckerei schief, zB in deren RIP-Verabeitung. Vielleicht hat die Drehung des obersten "Dresden"-Briefes die Druckerei irritiert? Waren auf den anderen Seiten auch gedrehte Bilder? – Ich würde nochmal bei der Druckerei nachhaken und entweder Neudruck oder Preisnachlass erwarten.

[blackstone]

Ich vermute, dass deren RIP das schlichtweg nicht verarbeiten konnte. Ich hatte noch nie Probleme mit dieser Art von Darstellung. Die Druckerei hat aber einem Preisnachlass zugestimmt.