Illustrator eps w/ gradient wont pdf correct in indesign

[Cole_Jo...@adobeforums.com]

I created some reflection effects (using a opacity mask/gradient) on some logos and put a pantone color behind it.

I exported the file to indesign cs3 and it looks fine until I try and PDF and then it just goes crazy. anywhere where there was gradient looks really weird. I have changed all the settings for PDFing it and no luck.

I can export the indesign document as a eps and open in illustrator cs3 and then pdf and it works fine...just a super pain in the ass when you have 20 pages.

anyone have any ideas why it wont pdf correctly in indesign?

Thanks.

[Peter...@adobeforums.com]

I exported the file to indesign cs3 and it looks fine until I try and
PDF and then it just goes crazy. anywhere where there was gradient looks
really weird.

It would help if you could be more descriptive of what you are seeing. I suspect this is a problem with transparency flattening and overprints since you are using spot color.

Peter

[Peter...@adobeforums.com]

I think you are going to have to post a screen shot.

[Cole_Jo...@adobeforums.com]

instead of seeing the reflection the pdf shows a regular white to background color(dark blue, pantone 282) with very faint lines in it

[boblevine]

Save as AI or PDF and place that in ID. EPS isn't the greatest of formats.

Bob

[Peter...@adobeforums.com]

It looks like more than one thing may be going on, but the first thing you need to do is tun on overprint preview in Acrobat.

I suspect there may be some flattener issue as well since there is stitching evident in the PDF. I'd recommend exporting with Acrobat 5 or higher compatibility to keep the transparency live.

You should also read these tow articles:
<http://indesignsecrets.com/eliminating-the-white-box-effect.php>
<http://indesignsecrets.com/eliminating-ydb-yucky-discolored-box-syndrome.php>

It isn't that I think you have either of these issues currently, but you are likely to run up against them with this kind of work.

Peter

[Cole_Jo...@adobeforums.com]

Here is the file PDF'd in illustrator (what it should look like)
<http://www.sandspurdesign.com/test/pdf_using_illustrator.pdf>

Here is the file PDF'd in Indesign (as you can see this is not what it should look like!)
<http://www.sandspurdesign.com/test/pdf_using_indesign.pdf>

Now that I'm looking at the illustrator PDF it is messing up a little as well..However, when you zoom in the problem disapears.

Thanks in advance,
Cole

[Peter...@adobeforums.com]

Oh, and Bob is right. Save as .ai or PDF in Illy. EPS doesn't support transparency.

[Josh_...@adobeforums.com]

EPS does support transparencies - but the problem sounds like the spot color being used under the objects (using trans). Indesign will not read the trapping correctly when outputting - so any object that is using transparencies needs to created on top a process color not a spot - just convert the Pantone to its CMYK equivalent. Adobe has a sections about this in their help menus (dont have it right now)

[Gerald_S...@adobeforums.com]

EPS does support transparencies

No it doesn't. Never has. Never will.

Indesign will not read the trapping correctly when outputting

Where does trapping enter into it? Which trapping are you talking about and in what way does InDesign not read it correctly?

so any object that is using transparencies needs to created on top a process
color not a spot

This is not so. As long as the printer honours overprinting everything should be fine.
Please be precise in giving advice. Do not spread fear and false rumours

[Cole_Jo...@adobeforums.com]

So you can put a PDF file with transparencies over a spot color in indesign?

[Gerald_S...@adobeforums.com]

So you can put a PDF file with transparencies over a spot color in indesign?

Yes. Make sure that overprinting objects are printed and displayed that way (i.e. turn on overprint preview in Acrobat or use Ac9 which turns the preview on by itself)

[balan_s...@adobeforums.com]

I have the vector image created in Illustrator using Gradient and Transparent effect as a vector image it can not have any resolution. But when i create the Pdf from indesign CS2 for the particular image through Acrobat distiller, it shows error as image having less than 300 dpi while creating Enfocus Pitstop Report.

What is the Solution?

Can u Suggest the proper Pdf setting which support Gradient,Clipping mask and Transparency?

Pls Reply as soon as possible

[Gerald_S...@adobeforums.com]

as a vector image it can not have any resolution

There is no such thing as a vector transparent gradient in PostScript. When printing from InDesign it will be changed to an image. Your flattener setting determines the resolutioin.

[Peter...@adobeforums.com]

Gerald,

Isn't it important, also, to set the raster effects resolution in Illustrator?

Peter

[Gerald_S...@adobeforums.com]

Peter,

if he only used gradients and opacity masks: no, not to my knowledge. Hven't tried in a long time though.
As far as I understand the raster effects resolution they do exactly that: define the resoluion of raster effects (i.e. most in the effects menu)
gradients and opacity masks are no effects in that sense.

I missed the title of the thread...
Cole, there is no transparency even reaching InDesign since you are saving as EPS. There is nothing you can do in InDesign to define the resolution of your transparency. You have to confgure your EPS-saving-settings correctly in Ai.

[Peter...@adobeforums.com]

Gerald,

It's not clear to me that the second poster has saved as .eps. We have a new participant hitching onto an older thread here.

Peter

[boblevine]

I agree, Peter.

Until he comes back to explain a bit more, we'd be guessing.

Bob

[Gerald_S...@adobeforums.com]

We have a new participant hitching onto an older thread here.

Of course. I feel slightly out of my head. I have spent the last three weeks training a customer and the first day in the office is always slightly disorientated :)

There is one bit that does not need guesswork, though:

through Acrobat distiller

That means that PostScript has been created and thus that the transparency has been flattened and thus that the gradient has most likely (unless used in trivial scenarios) been rasterized.
Wherever the flattening has been taking place (either saving as EPS in Ai or printing in Id) is the point where to increase the second resolution value in the flattener settings.

[Gerald_S...@adobeforums.com]

Pls Reply as soon as possible

I particularly like that bit in connection with

Until he comes back to explain a bit more, we'd be guessing.

:)