Issues w/ color when printing with a layered background

Hello,
I have designed a page in Illustrator that was intended for the web, and now the company wants print outs for a trade show.
I have a multi-layered background, and when printing off a laser printer, the greys are awful and streaky. I have a feeling it's because I've got dark grey layered over light grey over green (see pic), but what can I do to fix it? The client wants the background this way, but I'm not sure about the mechanics of it, I just know that it looks awful when printed.
Thanks for any help!
Jen

It's going to be tough to match the RGB work you've done for the web and laser printers are a challenge. You might have to rebuild the file or convert the colors to CMYK. The grays will probably be the easy part ( 20%, 45% ), but the dark greenish blue will have to be remixed ( i.e., 100C, 18.5M, 0Y, 51K ). I think you could use the existing elements, but you might have to expand them or divide them. You should avoid layering or overlaying, just work with a flattened .ai file and see if that prints any better. Raster elements, transparency, and layering effects are better handled via a Postscript 3 RIP + PRINTER. If your laser is non-postscript and does not have a RIP ( raster image processor ), then the color will be problematic. If you will be printing the sheets for the tradeshow using the laser, then whatever you mix will be able to be proofed ( by eye, I assume ) internally. If you go outside and use a Kinkos or something, then color should be proofed using a contract proofer at your local prepress shop before sending it out to be printed.

Similar Messages

Color shift when printing with LR 3.6

LR 3.6, win 7, screen Nec PA 241 W, Epson R 3000. When printing with colors managed by LR and paper/R 3000 profiles, I get prints with a strong color shift (printer pilot "mode" : desactivated) . How can I correct it ?

You answered your own question: CS5. There have been a slew of reports of workflows spun upside down when upgrading to CS5. It may require updating your system software and/or Adobe applications, along with any printer driver updates that may be lurking out there somewhere. The twist to your situation is ( and is very common ) that everything was working before and now it does not. Or there is a certain print disorder of some sort. Very troubling. I wish I had a smoking gun answer for you, but I don't. It sounds like you have a very viable workflow in place that worked before and damn well should perform for you now. I'd stick with what works and dump what doesn't ( if you can ).

Black ink faded/Gray when printing with HP Envy 5530

When printing with my new HP Envy 5530 the black ink looks gray or faded. I tested the color and this prints dark and clear. I have power cycled, plugged into different power outlets and re-inserted the cartridge. Any thoughts...or could it just be a "bum" cartridge?
Thanks in Advance for your help...

Howdy. After tinkering around with my Envy having the same issue, I found out that after replacing my black cartridge because it was low, I was having the same issue.
Turns out the color cartridge will simulate a black in an to preserve both the tri color cartridge and the black cartridge for as long as possible, which is why even if you've never printed any color, both your cartridges should be low. Once the color cartridge starts getting low, the printer doesn't have a sensor to realize which of the tri color is mixing in the most, so it continues to mix it in either way.
I was having this issue where I would print one page and it would be okay and then any page following would slowly look worse.
Long story short, just print without the color cartridge in and you shouldn't have the issue unless your black is really low. Replacing that should fix it overall though.

Different Colors when printing from Photoshop and InDesign CS3

Different Colors when printing from Photoshop and InDesign CS3
I have the following problem:
When printing from Photoshop or InDesign to a PostScript printer, Adobe recommends to let Photoshop handle the colors (I use the German version, so I don't know the exact term used, it changes slightly in all CS3 apps anyway).
The manufacturer however told me to let the PostScript printer handle the colors.
When I chose this option in Ps's print dialog and then choose ISO Coated as the printer pfofile, the results are fine.
But when I place the exact same image in an InDesign file and print from InDesign or export to PDF and print via Acrobat, again using "Printer handles colors", the results are the exact same as if I had used Ps and chosen to let Ps handle the colors (way too saturated and a bit too red).
·Photoshop CS3
·InDesign CS3
·Test image is a TIFF in CMYK Fogra 27 Coated (which is also the working color space in Ps and ID.
·Printer: Xerox Docucolor 3535
·Printer profile: ISO Coated
How can I make sure the printer handles the colors in other CS3 apps than Ps? I tried it with ID's print dialog (translated from the German version: Color Management > Options > Color Handling: PostScript-printer decides colors).
Thanks a lot!

RE: "You don't indicate what Xerox printers you have"
In my first post I named it, is that the information you need?
Docucolor 3535 using Splash 3535
That's interesting, so I have to find a way to turn off the printer's Color Management function? I mailed them, hope they can tell me how to do it easily. They usually just tell me to not use any profiles and so on, but that's the general rule in this area, I'm really tired of hearing it. Everybody seems to think profiles and LAB mode are nuclear science and I should stay away from it.
Anyway, the test image I'm using is a simple photograph (size A3, 300dpi), so no transparencies at all. I'm placing this image into an equally large ID file and print it from ID, then export it to PDF-X/3 and print it from Acrobat. Hope that helps.

AutoCAD 2009 crashes when printing with HP Laserjet CP1525nw via wireless connection

Printing to CP1525nw via wireless connection crashes AutoCAD 2009 on a WIndows 7 Home OS + Sony VAIO VPCL21M1E
Works fine printing from any other application.

I'm facing the same problem but, i'm AutoCAD 2012 and it crashes when printing with HP Laserjet CP1525n via USB or network cable

How do you turn off the auto select behavior when working with shape layers?

How do you turn off the auto select behavior when working with shape layers?
I am using either of the path selection tools to select only some of the paths on the layer. I have the proper layer targeted. I have the selection too auto select option turned off.
If another layer has a path in that area, that layer becomes auto targeted and I get the wrong path. Turning off the layer is the only way to avoid this but then I have to turn on the layer back on between making my selection and transforming to use the other layer as guide. Is there any way to stop this auto select? Locking the other layer does not stop the auto select, just prevents editing.

As far as i know the move tool options don't have any effect on the path selection tools.
You might try clicking on one of the path points or on the path itself with one of path selection tools and if you want to select multiple points
you can shift click with the Direct Selection Tool or Alt click to select the entire path.
more path shortcuts:
http://help.adobe.com/en_US/photoshop/cs/using/WSDA7A5830-33A2-4fde-AD86-AD9873DF9FB7a.htm l
http://help.adobe.com/en_US/photoshop/cs/using/WSfd1234e1c4b69f30ea53e41001031ab64-7391a.h tml

Color conflict when printing text boxes layered with images

Thank you in advance for any insight on this question. I've got a text box grouped with an image in a Pages document. The text box is layered in front of an object and is transparent (no fill color in the text box). The object however, is filled with a color. When printing the document, the image comes out in two shades of blue even though the text box is transparent. Thoughts?

Want to add that if you uncheck the Retain Slide Quality Settings, you'll have to keep the High setting.
Another way to change slide quality is before publishing, and in that case I prefer Optimized to High (which is not possible when overriding the Slide Quality on publishing, there you only have the choice between Low and High).
Still I'm puzzled because the simple TEB normally do not cause that kind of quality issue, have seen it happening with shapes (because they have transparent pixels) and images, but with TEB's? Wondering
Lilybiri

Issues when Printing with "Summarize Comments" option

I've been using Acrobat 8 to review documents via the comment tool.
The issue is that when I want to print a hard copy and I select "Summarize Comments" and Select the option to print "Document and Comments with sequence numbers on separate pages" option, I can not get a full sized (A3)printout of the original document. Acrobat seems to automatically place a large white border around the original page and no selection of orientation or page size seems to remove this.
Can any advise a solution to enable a full size printout with the sequence numbers included.

It's going to be tough to match the RGB work you've done for the web and laser printers are a challenge. You might have to rebuild the file or convert the colors to CMYK. The grays will probably be the easy part ( 20%, 45% ), but the dark greenish blue will have to be remixed ( i.e., 100C, 18.5M, 0Y, 51K ). I think you could use the existing elements, but you might have to expand them or divide them. You should avoid layering or overlaying, just work with a flattened .ai file and see if that prints any better. Raster elements, transparency, and layering effects are better handled via a Postscript 3 RIP + PRINTER. If your laser is non-postscript and does not have a RIP ( raster image processor ), then the color will be problematic. If you will be printing the sheets for the tradeshow using the laser, then whatever you mix will be able to be proofed ( by eye, I assume ) internally. If you go outside and use a Kinkos or something, then color should be proofed using a contract proofer at your local prepress shop before sending it out to be printed.

Problem with missing colors when printing

It has been sugested by HP that I try this forum for help.
The following is a copy of the email I sent them which describes my problem, I hopesomeone can help! Thanks.
language_code : en
language : English
Country of Residence : France
product_line : 83
product_oid : 59868
product_name : HP Deskjet 840c Printer
part_number : C6414K,C6414J,C6414A,C6414G,C6414N,C6414H
purchase month : 8
purchase year : 1996
problem area : color and print quality problems
serial number : [Text removed for privacy]
operating system : Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium 32
How is your product connected to your PC? : USB Cable
problem description : When I try to print a page containing coloured items the coloured parts fail to print. (The items are totally missing, they are not replaced by grey scale images) I have done all the usual things as per list:-
troubleshooting : 1) Rebooted my computer.
2) Disconnected the USB cable and reconnected it.
3) Changed the colour cartridge.
4) Examined the printer settings in the control Panel, colour is selected and all other settings seem normal.
5) De-selected the printer as the "Default Printer" and re-installed it.
6) Run software that checks the driver is up to date and it is.
7) Printed the built in test page "beautiful color made easy" only the header and footer print,no colour!
setting changes : No, nothing has been changed.
PS. I have owned my printer for many years and cannot remember the purchase date.
tech skill : Intermediate
first name : Grant
last name : W[text removed for privacy]
This question was solved.
View Solution.

Hi - Go ahead and try the steps in this document. It will walk you through cleaning the contacts on both the cartridge and in the carriage. What can happen over time is ink residue can accumulate on the contacts preventing the ink cartridges from working properly. If this doesn't resolve the issue, try setting the cartridge with the nozzles face down on a damp paper towel for about 45 seconds just to resolve any problems with the ink nozzles.
Hope that helps.
Say Thanks by clicking the Kudos thumbs up. Please mark the post that solves your problem as an Accepted Solution so other forum users can utilize the solution.
I am an HP employee.

Problem with colors when print to pdf in FM9

Hi,
we have some problems with printing colors to pdf with FM9.
The FM document contains (1) eps file with a green box and (2) a rectangle created with FM graphic tools, filled with the same green color values (91/0/60/44)
In FrameMaker the two colors really looks different, but so what, in the PDF both colors (eps) and rectangle got the same correct green color.
Ok, the were different in creation, so they were CMYK and RGB, but your print shop could manage that.
Now in FM 9:
(1) If I do a "save as PDF" and switch OFF "convert CMYK to RGB" the resulting PDF is the same as from FM8 (correct)
(2) If I print to PDF via distiller and define the job options to "convert all colors to CMYK" the resulting rectangle green is very different from the eps green.
I tried different job options, the best result was "convert all colors to CMYK", other options just very more ugly.
Does someone of you know a solution for your problem? Help is very appreciated. I could send example files if necessary.
Thanks in advance.
PK

PK-ulm wrote:
But we want to use the print option, using the distiller.
Pia,
this last sentence needs some explanation, I think. Why do you want to use the print option?
Using the print option, you still go the same route as FrameMaker Win always did, which is using the RGB-only Windows postscript driver. Now, with FM9, you have the option to get CMYK colors directly to PDF, as defined, without any color conversion. And it *does* work, as long as you restrict your documents to either CMYK colors or spot colors coming from the FM libraries.
So, again: why do you want to use the print option?
On a sidenote: I'm not sure if I interpret your username correctly, but if you are able to understand German, you'll find some in-depth color tests made with FM9 here: http://www.hilfdirselbst.ch/foren/FM_9_und_Farben_in_PDFs____getestet_P387800.html
Bernd

Color management, printing with InDesign CS3

RGB output devices (this includes essentially all inkjet printers from every manufacturer, when driven by the manufacturer print driver). Inkjet printers driven by a PostScript RIP are considered CMYK output devices, and thus this post does not apply to them.
When printing to RGB output devices from InDesign using the same ICC profiles and settings as in Photoshop, you still get crummy results, in terms of color, that differ from both IDCS2 and other Adobe applications including Photoshop CS3.
InDesign CS2 previously did all rasterizing and color space conversion in InDesign prior to submitting the print job to the OS. In CS3 this was changed to submit PostScript + colorspace information, which is then supposed to be normalized by the OS. Except that it doesn't work. Mac OS X drops the color space information.
The work around is to check "Print as Bitmap" in the advanced section of the IDCS3 print dialog. This causes IDCS3 to do the conversion and generate a bitmap prior to submitting to the OS, rather than depending on the OS to do color conversion or rasterizing, which is the default behavior with IDCS2. Thus you can use the same ICC profiles and print driver settings as with all other Adobe applications, if you choose this option.
Chris Murphy
co-author Real World Color Management 2e

Chris,
First, I am surprised that there has been no response to your post since there were more than a few complaints about the problem in this forum when IDCS3 first came out. So thank you for the solution to this vexing problem.
But I find some of the language in your post a bit problematic:
>InDesign CS2 previously did all rasterizing and color space conversion in InDesign prior to submitting the print job to the OS.
and
>... rather than depending on the OS to do color conversion or rasterizing, which is the default behavior with IDCS2.
The second quote seems incorrect on two counts:
1. It contradicts the first quoted statement.
2. In my mac IDCS2 (version 4.0.5 build 688) in the options area of the color management pane of the print dialog, the only available choice for the Color Handling pop up is "Let InDesign Determine Colors".
So the default behavior with IDCS2 seems to be "Let InDesign Determine Colors".
I am not at all taking issue with the main point of your post, which I welcome wholeheartedly. I just find the second quoted phrase from you post confusing. Can you please clarify.
Returning to your main point, are there any downsides of using the Print as Bitmap method?
Thanks,
Al

Fuzziness when printing with laser

When printing a document to a Konica Minolta Magicolor 5670EN using Pages 5.2 (1860) (and Pages 09 with a previous MacPro using Leopard) the output is fuzzy, as if anti-aliasing is turned on. If I save the document as a pdf file, then print it, the result is pin-sharp output. Am I missing a simple 'turn off anti-aliasing' somewhere in Pages?
RSS157

There is no anti-aliasing configuration in either Pages version.
Direct application printing may cause translation of native Pages document markup through the PCL6 page description language, rather than the Postscript Level 3 engine that would be invoked when printing from PDF.
Konica Minolta has indicated that the Print dialog for some applications in OS X 10.9 may have advanced printing options inaccessible until compatibility drivers are provided. Many of these advanced options can however be set through the Printer Features submenu. There is a link to a PDF entitled, printer driver workaround documentation, that details this functionality. This page also suggests that OS X 10.9 and Windows 8.1 drivers are not yet available.
KM released four new v1.3.1 Postscript drivers explicitly for OS X 10.9 in March. I would apply these and revisit your print quality issues.
In addition to potential printer settings/driver issues, Pages v5.2 is a relatively immature and buggy release of Pages. It is entirely possible that it can be the source, or collaborator in your print fuzziness. Do you normally have the printer setup to do Pantone color match?
I see no update or compatibility page for the PageScope administrative applications for this printer.

Blank page when printing with black cartridge

After trying the suggested solutions to this problem on the last 20 forum pages with no luck, I took the new black cartridge out of the printer. Later, forgetting there was no black cartridge in it, I proceeded to print a page and finally got a full page printed in black. What does that mean? other than it's a messed up printer. No more HP for me. My old Epson worked for 8 years with no problems. Someone hit the nail on the head when he called the software " invasive". Does HP ever read this board? If they did, one would think they would be concerned about some very angry customers.

fu wrote:
After trying the suggested solutions to this problem on the last 20 forum pages with no luck, I took the new black cartridge out of the printer. Later, forgetting there was no black cartridge in it, I proceeded to print a page and finally got a full page printed in black. What does that mean? other than it's a messed up printer.
It is a bit difficult to diagnose your issue with absolutely no details of printer model or any other relavant data. It appears you have a recent printer with a black and a tri-color cartridge. Your black cartridge is clogged or out of ink or otherwise non-functional. When you remove the black cartridge your printer automatically switched to "reserve mode", generating black using the color cartridge. A fresh working black cartrdige should resolve your issue.
Bob Headrick, HP Expert
I am not an employee of HP, I am a volunteer posting here on my own time.
If your problem is solved please click the "Accept as Solution" button ------------V
If my answer was helpful please click the "Thumbs Up" to say "Thank You"--V

Print colors are not true when printing greeting cards. blue background is orange.

My Greeting cards have multiple colors. I'm only getting reds, yellows, orange. (Printer head Status:Color: Black/Yellow(GOOD) Magenta/Cyan(GOOD). Cartridge Dates(GOOD)

Welcome to the HP Forums I noticed your post about the print quality troubles you're seeing when printing from your Officejet 8500, and I wanted to stop in and share my suggestions with you. I would recommend that you try the steps from the support guide down below to see if the issues can be resolved. If they happen to continue, contact HP directly to discuss your next options, such as a replacement unit, etc as the printhead(s) may have failed. I will leave their contact info below! Fixing Print Quality Problems for the HP Officejet Pro 8500 All-in-One Printer Series (A909) Step 1. Open link: www.hp.com/contacthp/
Step 2. Enter Product number or select to auto detect
Step 3. Scroll down to "Still need help? Complete the form to select your contact options"
Step 4. Scroll down and click on: HP contact options - click on Get phone number
Case number and phone number appear.

HP D110 AIO printer. Prints jam when printing with wireless, but not when hooked to USB cable! HELP!

I have a HP D110. It jams the paper when I print with wireless, but not when I use USB cable. Any ideas?

From what you describe you are having issues printing from MS Office. Have you had trouble printing from other resources on your computer (e.g. from the internet or another program)? The first thing I am going to suggest is that we start by uninstalling and reinstalling the printer from the resources available online.
First if you use a USB cord, make sure to remove it (this is important). Do not plug it back in until the software directs you to. Then go through the Devices and Printers, Programs and Features and Device Manager folders and insure that all copies, files, and programs related to the printer are removed. Then as directed, restart the computer.
In the START menu type "%temp%" and press ENTER. Here I want you to press Ctrl+A and hit DELETE. Some of the files will not allow you to delete them, skip those files and delete the majority that allows it.
http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/DriverDownload.jsp?prodNameId=3562006&lang=en&cc=us...
Install that and let me know the result!
Have a great day!

Issues w/ color when printing with a layered background

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for