Blacks appear as grey when exported to PDF

[Robert_...@adobeforums.com]

Hi All,

I'm a beginner with InDesign and I've been trying to solve this very frustrating problem for months with no success!

I have a few InDesign documents that I need to be converted to PDF but if I try to print to PDF or export to PDF all of the blacks (fonts and any AI files I've placed) appear as a dotted grey rather than pure black. The document prints as black from InDesign so it appears to be a problem with the conversion process.

There are so many preferences and options with colour settings that it's hard to know where to start but if anyone has any simple tips to solve this it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance!!

Robert

[Peter...@adobeforums.com]

We're going to need some more information.

Is the document black only, or is there color included also? What working spaces are you using for CMYK and for RGB in your color settings? Are they the same in Illustrator (and Photoshop)? What export settings are you using to make the PDF?

Peter

[Esa_N...@adobeforums.com]

Hi,

I've the same problem. I get also dotted grey with HP LaserJet 1020 (non PostScript printer). When I print it with PostScript printer level 3 the results are perfect. The thing is that this should work for web and the regular home user with simple laserprinter (non postscript). It maybe should be in RGB for best results for non-postscript printers...

I use ID CS3 version 5.0.3, Windows Vista Home Premium, 64-Bit, 4 GB RAM, 500 GB HD.

The document is in black (K) only and the same is with the Illustrations in EPS-format (Illustrator CS3, version 13.0.1). I have also tried to have the black in RGB [0, 0, 0] with same results.

The working space is for RGB: Adobe RBG (1998) and for CMYK: ISO Coated V2 (ECI). I have tried many other working spaces with no good results.

The remarkable results I get is with Microsoft Office Word 2007 (Student & Home user) and with the free PDF-maker PrimoPDF (www.primopdf.com). The text is perfect and the illustrations (real EPS-files) is ok in black. Well, I cant do a layout with Word. It should be done with this Professional InDesign CS3!

;-)

Sincerely,

Esa

P.S. I hava put several hours of research on this without no results so I am really looking forward for an detailed answerer, thxs.

[Peter...@adobeforums.com]

Have you checked Preferences > Appearance of Black to verify that Printing / Exporting is set to Output All Blacks Accurately (instead of as Rich Black)?

HTH

Regards,

Peter Gold
KnowHow ProServices

[Esa_N...@adobeforums.com]

Hi Peter,

Thxs for you fast respons!
Well, maybe should my question/problem not be in this tread...

1) I've done many different exports and have done the same on my job to make a PS-file and distill it to PDF-file. The thing is that it is correct as a black in C=0, M=0, Y=0 and K=100. There is no RBG nowhere.

BUT when it will be printed with HP LaserJet 1020 the results seems to be dotted gray. The PDF is correct, but the output from the non-postscript printer is fault. I've let some other friends print all this different versions of PDF without no good results. I've tried many different fonts which included with InDesign CS3 and Illustrator CS3 (maybe the same - not checked).

With my Lexmark E320 (also non-postscript-laserprinter) the results are great.

The thing with Microsoft Office Word 2007 and with the PrimoPDF the results are in RGB and the font have been changed from OpenType TrueType Times New Roman PSMT to Times New Roman TrueType (Word 2007). The output from HP 1020 is great. What is PSMT?

STRANGE? Why can't InDesign CS3 generate correct PDF-files which works for non-postscript-laserprinters?

I do also lock the file, with printing allowed: High Resolution and changes allowed: Commenting, filling in form and signing. Compability PDF 1.4 (Acrobat 5).

Sincerely,

Esa from Sweden

[Kenneth...@adobeforums.com]

The driver for my (very old) HP laser printer has an "economode"
setting, the purpose of which is to save toner. The result is that
blacks are not as dark. Is it possible you have something similar turned on?

--
Kenneth Benson
Pegasus Type, Inc.
www.pegtype.com

[Kenneth...@adobeforums.com]

BTW, Times New Roman and TimesNewRomanPSMT are two different names for
the same font. I believe Word sees the "Full family name" and Indesign
sees the "Postscript name".

[Esa_N...@adobeforums.com]

Hi Kenneth,

Thxs a lot for your two responses.
I am waiting for the answerer from my friend about the HP-printer with the economy-printing.

Sincerely,

Esa

[Esa_N...@adobeforums.com]

Yes Kenneth,

It could be so right. Maybe PSMT stands for PostScript MonoType?

Thxs, man.

Sincerely,

Esa

[Kenneth...@adobeforums.com]

> It could be so right. Maybe PSMT stands for PostScript MonoType?

PS, probably. MT, definitely. From Wikipedia
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Times_New_Roman):

Times New Roman used in Microsoft Windows is a TrueType version of Times
New Roman PS, a narrower variant of Monotype's classic Times New Roman
typeface. The PS version was introduced to match the metrics of Times
Roman (a PostScript core font by Linotype). It has the lighter capitals
that were originally developed for printing German (where all nouns
begin with a capital letter).