InDesign gradient question

[Colorblind]

Hi, I have a very simple InDesign document. Bottom layer has a K only radial gradient fill, middle layer has a lozenge shaped cyan+black gradient fill and top layer is a rectangle shape (die) with fill of none and stroke of spot overprinting. Now if I export to default PDFX/1a preset (preserving spot), the gradient in the resulting PDF is slightly different if I leave the die layer on compared to leaving it off. I find it is being flattened harsher, less gradual when the die is left on. Anyone else ever experienced this? I have the InDesign file + 2 PDFs but can't seem to be able to attach them here. You can get them here though: https://www.yousendit.com/download/T...cGtBNkdwSHNUQw

[leonardr]

Hi, I have a very simple InDesign document. Bottom layer has a K only radial gradient fill, middle layer has a lozenge shaped cyan+black gradient fill and top layer is a rectangle shape (die) with fill of none and stroke of spot overprinting. Now if I export to default PDFX/1a preset (preserving spot), the gradient in the resulting PDF is slightly different if I leave the die layer on compared to leaving it off. I find it is being flattened harsher, less gradual when the die is left on. Anyone else ever experienced this? I have the InDesign file + 2 PDFs but can't seem to be able to attach them here. You can get them here though: https://www.yousendit.com/download/T...cGtBNkdwSHNUQw

Just another great reason to move from PDF/X-1a to PDF/X-4

[Colorblind]

Thank you for your reply Leonard. PDF/X-1a is still the requested format by most publishers I'm dealing with (I'm a content supplier). I just never noticed that the fact of adding a thin overprinting stroke box on top of a gradient would produce such a change at flattening time.

[PrePressKD]

Colorblind - This may sound odd, but try making you dieline a standard PMS (Book) color (i.e. PANTONE 342 C set to overprint) and not a CMYK-built spot color. If that doesn't give you the results you're looking for, go old school. Make two files; one with the dieline left as CMYK (not spot) with the stroke set to overprint and one without the dieline. Use the first for proofing and the second for production.

[Colorblind]

Colorblind - This may sound odd, but try making you dieline a standard PMS (Book) color (i.e. PANTONE 342 C set to overprint) and not a CMYK-built spot color.

Already tried that before posting. Also tried changing all sorts of other PDF export settings (compression to zip instead of jpeg) but no success so far. Thanks for your help anyway.

[CathieH]

Have you tried moving the layers so that the die layer is below the gradient layer? Just thinking out of the box here...or moving the line to the layer with the gradient?

[pacart]

What about exporting as an eps file, then opening in illustrator and creating your pdf there, maybe its an indesign thing. Or make your background gradient in photoshop and see if that helps.

[CathieH]

Pacart, good suggestion about creating your gradients in Photoshop and importing them. That might be the answer.

[Colorblind]

Have you tried moving the layers so that the die layer is below the gradient layer? Just thinking out of the box here...or moving the line to the layer with the gradient?

Cathie, tried that as well. No success. Thanks.

[Colorblind]

What about exporting as an eps file, then opening in illustrator and creating your pdf there, maybe its an indesign thing. Or make your background gradient in photoshop and see if that helps.

Just tried exporting the gradient art as eps and also made a Photoshop version and saved as tiff. Placed them back in ID and as soon as the die layer is there, InDesign flattens differently. Even tried the .ps to distiller road (please Lord, forgive me) with no success. So it's definitely an InDesign thing... Thank you.