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Robin Springall · 10-29-2006, 04:35 PM

When is white not white? When it's 0% black, of course! Here's how a client nearly got 15,000 CDs printed with his primary sponsor's logo not visible.

Tip 1: If you must proof a press PDF electronically instead of using a matchprint, use Adobe Acrobat or Reader and turn on Overprint Preview, (it's quite a good idea to turn off Use Local Fonts as well). Never trust OSX's Preview, as it won't show overprints. Oh, and set Illustrator and InDesign to view overprints as well, while you're at it.

Tip 2: don't convert something from black to white by reducing the black ink from 100% to 0: make it 100% white instead.

Tip 3: always check your trapping: the best way is to generate colour-separated PDFs as well as composite ones.

Here's what happened, and I only mention it because this designer was the third chap in the last few weeks to make a similar mistake.

The design included a white Illustrator line art logo on a transparent background; the logo had been supplied by the Arts Council to the designer in black, with overprint fill ticked on; the designer wanted a white logo, so he just wanged the ink slider all the way to the left (he said it seemed a good idea at the time). He didn't notice that overprint fill was on, and didn't think anything was wrong because he could see the logo in Illustrator, Acrobat, and OSX Preview; I of course didn't know it was meant to be there, as it wasn't visible in my Acrobat because I use overprint preview so I can see how jobs will look on press. I only noticed it when I did the matchprint for the press operator: the RIP on my proofer decided it had better print the logo anyway, and I just happened to spot it, thank Heavens!

My Acrobat preflight will jump and down and start shouting if it encounters a white object set to overprint, but it didn't pick up this one because the logo wasn't white, technically-speaking: it was 0% black. This designer had a lucky escape, because the press would certainly not have printed that logo!

Mike · 10-30-2006, 12:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robin Springall

This designer had a lucky escape, because the press would certainly not have printed that logo!

So I hope you're in line for a nice Christmas prezzie!

donmcc · 10-30-2006, 06:41 AM

And I hope you let the designer know, in dollar terms, what the mistake would have cost him/her! Many designers will take an 'oops, silly me' attitude, but knowing that they would have lost $1000 or whatever often makes the error into a lesson that won't be repeated.

Robin Springall · 10-30-2006, 11:05 AM

Luckily this designer is conscientious, and was eternally grateful. The Christmas present is that he's going to send me all the CD work he ever gets!

10-29-2006, 04:35 PM	#1
Robin Springall Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Ealing Common, London W5, where I duplicate CDs and DVDs. Posts: 1,259	A cautionary tale When is white not white? When it's 0% black, of course! Here's how a client nearly got 15,000 CDs printed with his primary sponsor's logo not visible. Tip 1: If you must proof a press PDF electronically instead of using a matchprint, use Adobe Acrobat or Reader and turn on Overprint Preview, (it's quite a good idea to turn off Use Local Fonts as well). Never trust OSX's Preview, as it won't show overprints. Oh, and set Illustrator and InDesign to view overprints as well, while you're at it. Tip 2: don't convert something from black to white by reducing the black ink from 100% to 0: make it 100% white instead. Tip 3: always check your trapping: the best way is to generate colour-separated PDFs as well as composite ones. Here's what happened, and I only mention it because this designer was the third chap in the last few weeks to make a similar mistake. The design included a white Illustrator line art logo on a transparent background; the logo had been supplied by the Arts Council to the designer in black, with overprint fill ticked on; the designer wanted a white logo, so he just wanged the ink slider all the way to the left (he said it seemed a good idea at the time). He didn't notice that overprint fill was on, and didn't think anything was wrong because he could see the logo in Illustrator, Acrobat, and OSX Preview; I of course didn't know it was meant to be there, as it wasn't visible in my Acrobat because I use overprint preview so I can see how jobs will look on press. I only noticed it when I did the matchprint for the press operator: the RIP on my proofer decided it had better print the logo anyway, and I just happened to spot it, thank Heavens! My Acrobat preflight will jump and down and start shouting if it encounters a white object set to overprint, but it didn't pick up this one because the logo wasn't white, technically-speaking: it was 0% black. This designer had a lucky escape, because the press would certainly not have printed that logo! __________________ Robin Intellectually challenged, alcoholically propelled

10-30-2006, 11:05 AM	#4
Robin Springall Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Ealing Common, London W5, where I duplicate CDs and DVDs. Posts: 1,259	Luckily this designer is conscientious, and was eternally grateful. The Christmas present is that he's going to send me all the CD work he ever gets! __________________ Robin Intellectually challenged, alcoholically propelled

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10-30-2006, 06:41 AM	#3
donmcc Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Sarnia, Canada Posts: 1,122	And I hope you let the designer know, in dollar terms, what the mistake would have cost him/her! Many designers will take an 'oops, silly me' attitude, but knowing that they would have lost $1000 or whatever often makes the error into a lesson that won't be repeated.