Question I'm currently using Illustrator 10 for a PC but thought you still might be able to help me.
When I try to save a PDF from Illustrator the colors are always "washed out" in the resulting PDF file. I've tried changing a variety of the color options including maintaining the ICC profile, but to no avail.
My goal is to put a PDF on the web that will work both on screen and printed out, so it needs to be at a high enough resolution to read in a file that's small enough to download quickly.
Any suggestions?
Answer Hi Brad.
Two things.
1) Make sure you have all compression turned off when saving as PDF from Illustrator. You'll see two options in a menu in the Save as PDF dialog. General (I think) and Compression. Go into Compression and turn off the compression.
Does that change your results?
2) This happened to me the other day. I was saving as PDF and low and behold if all of my images were coming out as GRAYSCALE! I tried several modifications in the PDF options but guess what the problem was? My copy of ACROBAT was configured to show me my PDF files in PROOF COLORS!!! And guess which Proof Color set I had chosen? Grayscale 20% dot gain. Turns out I changed the Acrobat prefs the last time I was working on a file for a newspaper advertisement and never changed it back. SO go into Acrobat prefs and see that nothing's funky in there.
What happens when you open the PDF file back up in, say, PhotoShop? Still washed out?
Are you working in Proof colors in Illustrator? I never thought that it would make a difference in the PDF fie generated but I suppose it could. So turn off Proof colors in Illustrator, too.
If you'd like, you can send the PDF file to me at AmyLynPace@yahoo.com and I will see what I see.
-Amy
PS> Oh, and of course, I'd feel bad if I didn't tell you to start by quitting Illustrator and throwing your preferences (AIPrefs) out.
