Expert: Alec Walker - 7/18/2006

Question
Hi Alec,
I have exported a simple cmyk letterhead document from
InDesign to PDF but the colours are not the same. I have tried
most of the export presets, with and without color conversion
with no success. I have printed directly from the original idd
document and the PDF and they are very noticeably different.
The printer I am sending this to does not use InDesign and I
need to get a decent result from a PDF. Any ideas please?

Answer
You bring up a very puzzling question. One that I have attempted to replicate on my own without success.
Let's see if we can't boil it down a little bit.

Are you noticing the color change on screen, or only in the print?
If it is only in the print, then chances are your printer settings are set differently for each program.

Also, what kind of colors are you using? CMYK, Pantone, etc.?
Chances are there could be some kind of conversion for some types of colors rather than other ones.

If you want to avoid most of the conflicts and get it out the door as quickly as possible, most printers will allow you to send them of the colors you want it to be, and they will make sure the final print is accurate.

Hope that helps, if you have more information, i'll gladly take another look.