Expert: Kevin Stohlmeyer - 4/1/2008

Question
Hi Kevin wondering if you could advise me.

I'm created a document in illustrator using 2 spot colors and tints of these, I've then PDF'd this for print. Can you explain why in the preview screen of Adobe bridge the colours look very different to when I actually open the PDF.

I want to gaurantee that what I send to print is actually like what I see on the screen when I open the pdf. When I created the pdf it said something about transparencies and spot colours is it something to do with this?

Many thanks!

jim

Answer
Hi Jim,

Bridge is a great application but isn't know for being used for accurate proofing. I wouldn't worry about what you preview in Bridge, only that what you see in your pdf should be what prints.


Two things will help you:

1. When creating your pdf, make sure that under your document raster effects settings you have checked "preserve spot colors" or else it could convert them.

2. Make sure you are saving these out as "Press Quality" pdfs or one of the X-1 series depending on your printer.

Thanks

Kevin