MS Word for page layout

[gordo]

An associate of mine is doing a 4/C brochure using MS Word.

When the word file is converted to PDF (by printing it in the print setup dialog in Word) the resulting PDF has the black text in 4/C instead of just black. I assume this is a common issue. Is there a method to getting the text to be in black only?

best, gordo

 

[brent]

Pitstop is your friend!

I HATE MS Word!!!! LOL

 

[steve.weiss]

An associate of mine is doing a 4/C brochure using MS Word.

When the word file is converted to PDF (by printing it in the print setup dialog in Word) the resulting PDF has the black text in 4/C instead of just black. I assume this is a common issue. Is there a method to getting the text to be in black only?

best, gordo

Yes, there is a way! There are some settings in Word that allow you to get "good" pdfs, but for the life of me I can not remember where they are. Give me some time and I will get back!

steve.weiss

 

[WiseGuy]

Pitstop is your friend!

I HATE MS Word!!!! LOL

Ditto!

This is a common issue solved with PitStop Pro or buying your friend a copy of InDesign and taking away their MS Word.

Good luck!
Michael

 

[Amer]

Yep. There is a Pitstop action that does just that.
You will also need Pitstop to convert RGB images and color spaces to CMYK (although you can do this in Acrobat as well).
I remember it was once said that Microsoft set their entire Word users manual in Word, just to prove it could be done. It is also possible to sail around the world alone in a 18-foot sailboat, but that doesn't mean it should be done.
I think that there was a thread on this forum in which Adobe gurus (Dov or Leonard, can't remember who) said that by using Word 2007 or newer with Acrobat PDF plugins, the 4C text issue could be avoided completely.

 

[Sev]

An associate of mine is doing a 4/C brochure using MS Word.

When the word file is converted to PDF (by printing it in the print setup dialog in Word) the resulting PDF has the black text in 4/C instead of just black. I assume this is a common issue. Is there a method to getting the text to be in black only?

best, gordo

Download the free Primo PDF plug-in for use in all Office products. It is basically a virtual printer. Once installed, you just pick Primo PDF as your printer. Word then uses that printer and prints PS to Primo PDF. Once Primo PDF opens, you have the pdf options. I use it all the time with Publisher, and Word, and I get proper cmyk pdf's, with black type remaining as true 100 percent black, every time.

-Sev

 

[steve.weiss]

Ok so I found that you can get a 1 color black from MS Word but only on a PC here are some screen shots!

Illustrator

 

[steve.weiss]

Acrobat Pro Black only

Acrobat Pro Cyan Magenta Yellow

 

[Hopkins Printing]

Hi Gordo,

To add to what Steve said, if you are working in Microsoft Office 2007 or later and don't already have the "Publish to PDF or XPS" add-in, you can download it for free from Microsoft's website:

Download: 2007 Microsoft Office Add-in: Microsoft Save as PDF or XPS - Microsoft Download Center - Download Details

Best regards,
HP

 

[gordo]

Thanks all for your help!
I've passed the info on to my associate and hope that it works for him.

Best, gordo

 

[Stephen Marsh]

Hi Gordo, as discussed this is possible. MS Word is RGB based - so the PDF will commonly be RGB, with "pure black text" being 0r0g0b values. If text is not exactly 0r0g0b then one will probably have issues. Using Acrobat Pro and/or additional plugs like Enfocus PitStop or Callas pdfToolbox one has more flexibility and one can also convert the RGB black elements to pure 0c0m0y100k values. One can also convert raster images and or other content to CMYK as well in Acrobat Pro or with plugs.

Stephen Marsh

 

[gordo]

Hi Gordo, as discussed this is possible. MS Word is RGB based - so the PDF will commonly be RGB, with "pure black text" being 0r0g0b values.

Does that mean that a CMYK image placed into MS Word becomes an RGB image?

best, gordo

 

[PrintIT]

Does that mean that a CMYK image placed into MS Word becomes an RGB image?

best, gordo

Just placed a CMYK image into Word 2007, and made a PDF with Acrobat settings set to "Leave Colors Unchanged" and it did indeed make an RGB PDF.


Setting the Acrobat settings to "convert all colors to CMYK" created a CMYK PDF (but it must be going through conversions twice - CMYK to RGB when bringing it into Word, then RGB to CMYK when making the PDF - sounds like a recipe for color shift).

Ain't Microsoft great?

 

[Stephen Marsh]

Just placed a CMYK image into Word 2007, and made a PDF with Acrobat settings set to "Leave Colors Unchanged" and it did indeed make an RGB PDF.

Thanks PrintIT, this is as expected, as MS Office products are sRGB by nature. If you wish to have CMYK or spots from MS products - then one should use MS Publisher.

I have not performed tests to see what MS Office is assuming as the source space of the CMYK file, before it is converted to (s)RGB. Is it using the unknown screen preview colour or is another more complex colour conversion taking place?

I would convert all elements to sRGB before placing them in MS Office, even if MS Office will allow the insertion of CMYK originals. This should allow for closer colour as one can assign/assume the CMYK source profile before going to sRGB.

Setting the Acrobat settings to "convert all colors to CMYK" created a CMYK PDF (but it must be going through conversions twice - CMYK to RGB when bringing it into Word, then RGB to CMYK when making the PDF - sounds like a recipe for color shift).

Ain't Microsoft great?

Forgetting about the image for now, what about the solid black text 0r0g0b? What happens to it when you make a CMYK PDF with your method. My guess is that the final text will be rich black, not 0cmy100k.

Acrobat Pro and the previously mentioned plugs will allow the solid black text 0r0g0b elements to be converted to black only - if the source is RGB to begin with.

I would not blame MS too much in this case, their office software is RGB based and if one is going to try to do CMYK work then one has to know how to deal with input and output to get good results on press. Although one should use the right tool for the job at hand, MS Office files can be taken to press if one knows what they are doing.

EDIT: Attached is a crop of the section of the Acrobat Pro Convert Colours command for converting 0rgb elements to 0cmy100k.


Stephen Marsh

 

[Lukas Engqvist]

In Acrobat pro there is always the color converter which will let you have pure blacks.