? Involves CS3, MSPublisher, Acrobat8

07/18/2010 08:44:36 PM · #1

Okay, gotta technical question for those of my buddies who are still among us. It involves three programs,
MS Publisher2007
Photoshop CS3
Adobe Acrobat eight (professional)

So, for some 12 years now, I, with a lot of help, edit this newsletter once a month. Iâ��m the one with the â��computer smartsâ�� (yeah, sure). Iâ��ve been doing it in boring black and white for a looong time. A month ago I decided to print it out in color on my own #2 printer (Canonâ��s i9900) and have run into a snag. Most of the formatted solid backgrounds have turned into hatches when converted to PDF files in Acrobat 8.

Only those done in CS3 seem to come out solid colored the way I want them. The MSPublisher ones convert to the hatching even though the original copy is solid. Yeah, I could go over to CS3 and â��makeâ�� some solid backgrounds but that would be a PITA (and I hate ouchies).

Is there anyone listening that knows what Iâ��m saying, and if so, do you know of any workarounds or???

Here is the first issue I tried this way and you can see the crosshatching all over the place.

Any help would be appreciated.

07/18/2010 09:00:38 PM · #2

Looks like an issue with it Acrobat distiller trying to use a screen pattern to approximate the desired color. You definitely have a color management issue of some kind. I have publisher 2003 and acrobat 7 at the office. If you can get the .PUB file to me, I can give it a try myself and see if I can make it perform differently.

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

07/18/2010 09:28:51 PM · #3

Of course,

yo_spiff. If you would tell me where to send it, I'll do it right away.
I'll send you an PM with my email...

THANK YOU!

GeneralE

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

07/18/2010 09:30:44 PM · #4

Publisher is a pain ... you may have an RGB/CMYK conversion issue or a color palette issue (e.g. Publisher may be using a 256-color model). Also, check the preferences for anything regarding dithering.

As I remember I usually exported Publisher pages to high-resolution TIFF files, and processed them further from there by either placing into a layout program (Quark, InDesign) or Photoshop, depending on the ultimate desination.

I was exporting at 1200 or 2400 dpi for a high-res commercial imagesetter -- you can probably get away with 300 or 600 dpi or whatever it takes to keep any type sharp.

07/18/2010 09:55:24 PM · #5

LOL - yeah, Publisher doesn't necessarily 'rock' but it's what I have to deal with.
Uh, the rest of that sentence contains information that I don't know what to do with, Marcus because I don't exactly understand it. But I can say that I import images (from CS3) at 72dpi and they printed nicely on gray stock. The gray stock disguises most imperfections.

I print about 100 copies of this newsletter and everything except the formerly solid backgrounds is nice 'n sharp and the way I originally formatted it.!

Message edited by author 2010-07-19 10:17:59.

07/19/2010 10:18:18 AM · #6

Well maybe a little bump...?

07/19/2010 11:31:06 AM · #7

I PM'd you with my e-mail last night, so you could send the files.

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

07/19/2010 11:53:42 AM · #8

Yes, thanks Yo_Spiff, I sent them off to the address right away.
Maybe I'd better check again that I got the correct one.
talk to you on PM
Alice

GeneralE

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

07/19/2010 01:32:48 PM · #9

If you're still having a problem later this afternoon or this evening I can probably have a go at them -- I have Publisher 2003 on a work computer I can access after hours.

07/19/2010 02:51:54 PM · #10

I think I figured out the problem (at least partially), but it'll take some fiddling to get the document looking the way you want. Here is a PDF file I output from it that now shows solid colors in the banner and sidebar:
PDF output from Publisher 03/Acrobat 7

The reason it is doing a screen pattern is because you are setting the color with a transparency applied to it. This transparency is being rendered by acrobat distiller as a screen pattern.

By selecting a solid color in the color picker, and using a 0% transparency, you will get that solid color as your background. By going into the custom tab in the color picker, you can fine tune the solid color to appear the way you need it to.

Setting a transparency on a darker color in this way will give you the illusion of a lighter color by screening the color.

The problem at this point is that your banner at the top is designed as an image that shows through a text box with a transparency to it. I think you need to create the banner image as a single image with the color you want, and have the text box above it as transparent. That will eliminate the issue with using a screened overlay.

Message edited by author 2010-07-19 15:00:27.

07/19/2010 03:20:04 PM · #11

Well, I'll be darned. Who knew that just because one fiddles with the color transparency it would affect the printed pattern of a color! Only a genius, that's who.

Yo_Spiff, Your workaround is one I can easily do and it sure does solve the problem of cross hatching vs solid color.

And sure, I can do the banner in a solid color rather than using an overlay. (That was kind of lazy anyhow to just throw a light misty screen over the original B&W)

Yep, DPC to the rescue again!

A very happy Alice
:))

Message edited by author 2010-07-19 15:22:25.