Faded black text in exported PDF file - Publisher version 2.4.2

[DavidHarrison]

Hello, I am having trouble with vers. 2.4.2 producing printable PDF files from my black and white (exported as greyscale) text book. Much of the text is dense black, the way it should be, but other parts are a lighter black and do not print [properly. The difference in black density can just about be perceived on-screen and when printed on a home laser printer. This particularly shows up when I print from LuLu.com using their premium black inks on #80 coated white paper.

It initially appeared to be after every time I changed the font size, but also later showed up at random spots throughout the book. For example, I use a dropped cap at the start of the first character of each new chapter. Following the dropped cap, the text is a lighter shade of black for the whole of that paragraph, then reverts back to normal density black in the next paragraph.

Also for each new scene break, I start the first character of the new scene paragraph sized at 16pt (Adobe Casslon Pro) and the remainder of that paragraph at the regular 12pt size. The whole of that paragraph then appears fainter.

What is annoying is that the previous version of the book, which is basically the same, but with fewer pages and some images relocated, was printed perfectly in December 2023. Both the exported PDF and the book printed at Lulu.com came out perfectly. The only change I can think of is that Afiinity publisher got upgraded from whatever release was then current in December 2023 but has since been updated to version 2.4.2.

What is going on here.? I am ready to print the final version of my book for distribution to my family but can't get a decent-looking printed copy.

Can anyone help, and where can I get a hold of an installer for the Publisher version in effect in December 2023?

I have attached some JPG scans of a few of the affected pages marked up so you see the printed result, and also some of the source PDF pages.

 

 

 

 

LorneScrivenerHarrison'sLifeStory-7.44 x 9.68 Trim Size-2ndEdition-Page21Only.pdf LorneScrivenerHarrison'sLifeStory-7.44 x 9.68 Trim Size-2ndEdition-Page201Only.pdf

Edited May 8, 2024 by DavidHarrison
changed paragraph to chapter

[lacerto]

Obsolete.

[DavidHarrison]

27 minutes ago, lacerto said:

As you have a grayscale mode document, you need to ensure that the parts you indicate with red side<line do not have CMYK based color deinition (like K100), but either G0, or RGB 0, 0,0, which both will become pure black (DeviceGray black) at export. 

Yes, that was the problem. I don't know how, why or when the text colour got changed from pure black since, as I said, back in December, it printed perfectly, but somehow I must have tried messing around with colour settings and forgot I had done so. A senior moment perhaps !

Thank you very much.