Igen 3 - Printing files with layering and transparency

[Jester]

When we print a file that has multiple layers of postscript overprinting, a white box occasionally prints around some of the images. When previewed the file looks fine. If you open the file in Acrobat, go to Advanced>>Print Production>>Output Preview and click Simulate Overprint it shows the problem area. Tough to explain. Ask questions if you don't understand. Any ideas?

 

[peels]

You have an image printing over the top of another color, and it knocks out the color around the image? We had that trouble with nexpress a long time ago. No issues with Igen yet.

in your queue under image quality/options, can you check the "overprint" box and the problem goes away?

 

[Jester]

No. An image printing over another image. The image in the background is typically a drop shadow or some other feathered object.

 

[Jester]

Actually now that I look at it the top image has a drop shadow. But, where the drop shadow is has a hard square edge.

 

[richman]

I know we've had this exact problem before, but I'm not sure our graphic designers ever found a solution. I believe they ended up converting the file to a pdf and that took care of it, not sure what options they used. Wish I had a better answer for you.

 

[Stiv]

Two things to try.
One, turn off Pantone processing.
Two, re-fry the PDF to 1.3 flattened PDF. Save the PDF as PS and drop back on to Distiller at Press settings. This will flatten the PDF transparency layers. Watch for trapping issues or just turn off trapping. If you need more info on distilling there is a lot of info on the web.

 

[Neess]

We deal with theese issues alot since we print files from many different DTPs.

We usually run a digital print preflight in Adobe acrobat professionel(this will flatten the layers), or try and do as stiv says and export at version 1,3.

If this doesnt cut the cake we open the PDF in photoshop, export it as TIFF and create a new PDF from that file.

 

[Greg_Firestone]

Hi Jester,

The white lines can occur from transparency flattening (I heard mention of a drop shadow). Usually the problem is that the lines are visible on screen in Acrobat and not when printed. Seems like you're having the opposite problem - on print.

I'd be more than happy to run the file through FixMyPrintFile and send you back the results. It's a better solution than rastering and re-distilling. It's helped out several other shops that have similar issues with transparency flattening. Please send me an PM if you're interested.

Greg

 

[IgenSkeptic]

Hey Jester If you have A FF rip. Do you have legacy and adobe print engine rip possibilities? If you do try switching between the two
One may get a transpartency issue and the other may not.I run in Legacy mostly I and have found I get less transparency issues.

If this still doesn't work Than yes it needs to be flattened before ripping. A PDF-X1A will work with Acrobat combatablity Version 4.
Acrobat Version 4 does not support Live transparency. This should work. If you are a seasoned production artist and can't rasterzie the entire
image rasterize that one section and place it on top of the of the other done through indesign. Or if you absolutley have to you can rasterize the whole image. I would do this as a last resort. Depending on how much you know you really don't need to rasterize the vector elements But that can get complicated.