Expert: Glen Demers - 1/2/2009

Question
QUESTION: I want to use a very slight drop shadow on some text in InDesign.  I converted text to outlines and then placed drop shadow from object>effcts.  There is a weird box when printed around the text and around images that I put a drop shadow on in InDesign.  Plus, the drop shadow (which is much larger) around the images is weird looking.  The shadow does not disintegrate into the background smoothly like in Photoshop.

ANSWER: Hi Amy,

If you aren't printing to a high resolution postscript device you may want to export your pages as a pdf.

Hope this helps,
Glen Demers
Prepress Technician, Best Printing Online
www.bestprintingonline.com

For more InDesign tips please visit our help pages here

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: They are exported to PDF and I had them printed at a print shop.  When I view the PDF it looks fine but prints with light colored boxes around images and text that have a drop shadow.  Is there a way to fix this when I export?

Answer
Hi Amy,

When you make the pdf use the pdfX/1-a setting or Press quality and make sure your printer can rip a file with transparency, postscript level 3.

hope this helps,
Glen Demers
Prepress Technician, Best Printing Online
www.bestprintingonline.com

For more InDesign tips please visit our help pages here