Images with Transparent Backgrounds Change Background Colors

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Level 1

8 points

Images with Transparent Backgrounds Change Background Colors

I have a document in which there are colored shapes and other images in the background and when I insert a tiff or png image with transparent background (special artwork made in other applications, ie: Photoshop) on top of those, on the screen and in preview looks everything looks fine, but when I print it out on paper, the background graphics change their color behind the transparent parts of the tiff or png image. I even tried exporting the Pages document as a PDF and then printing, and while it's a little better, the discoloration is still there.

At first I thought it was an artwork problem and troubleshooted on that side. I'm fairly certain now though that it's a problem with Pages because when I import or insert my artwork into Illustrator I don't get this problem and the document prints fine.

I tried first searching for a similar topic in the forum, but found none, so I'm wondering if anyone else has experienced this problem. Secondly, does anyone know of a way to correct this?

1.4 Ghz PowerPC G4 iBook & 2 Ghz PowerPC G5 iMac, Mac OS X (10.4.10), 2-3 years old

Posted on Feb 21, 2008 1:14 PM

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Answer 1

Matt_S Author

Level 1

8 points

Feb 25, 2008 12:14 AM in response to Matt_S

bump

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Answer 2

Feb 25, 2008 5:29 AM in response to Matt_S

I do not recognise the problem, but it seems similar to some other problems, where I think a fix was to print to PostScript and then to open the PostScript file in Preview. You could try it, and see if it helps.

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Answer 3

Matt_S Author

Level 1

8 points

Mar 5, 2008 10:06 AM in response to SermoDaturCunctis

All right, after much more testing and troubleshooting I've come up with a few things. Printing as a PostScript file, PDF file, or any other file for that matter does not resolve my problem. I still get the color shift on solid background colors in the transparent background area of transparent images that I import into Pages.

After this I moved on to trying to tweak my printer settings. This kind of resolved my problem. When I went to print, I went to the "ColorSync" submenu and I changed the Color Conversion setting from "standard" to "in printer." This seemed to resolve my problem for one of the printer's in my room. When I sent it to the other printer (same brand of printer, different model) with the same new print settings this trick didn't work.

I still believe this a software problem with Pages and I'm wondering if it's worth trying to seek further help to resolve this issue at the Apple store with a Mac Genius or with any other support possibilities.

The reason I'm really looking to resolve this is because I think Pages 08 is a really great program and like to install it on all our computers in our computer lab. The problem is there's no art text or headline text application (which our students like to do) built into pages so I have to import artwork made in another application, hence my original dilemma. I'm going to hold onto hope that Apple can resolve this in a future update of Pages.

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Answer 4

Mar 6, 2008 4:04 AM in response to Matt_S

I still believe this a software problem with Pages

Ah, but your belief is based on suppositions and the suppositions are not based on data processing developments -:)

Apple Pages is a client of Apple ColorSync which is the Apple interface to the colour imaging architecture of ISO 15076 aka the architecture of the International Color Consortium. Apple ColorSync is also the interface to the Adobe PostScript colour imaging architecture for applications that depend on Apple Mac OS X to write Adobe PostScript, as Apple Pages does. Adobe InDesign, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Acrobat, and QuarkXPress write their own PostScript, known as passthrough PostScript (cf the Adobe Acrobat interface, for instance).

That aside, you want to begin by NOT configuring your inkjet printer(s) with uncoated copy paper. As a rule, uncoated copy paper has so much optical brightener that it positively fluoresces in broad daylight. Try measuring with a spectrophotometer, and you will see the *b channel in the CIEL a*b D50 2 degree standard observer measurement way, way, way out in the negatives.

Find the inkjet paper the manufacturer intended, and find the manufacturer's ICC profile for that paper. Then calibrate your printer as per the manufacturer's documentation, configure the ICC profile for that paper in the manufacturer's driver, and you should be OK. If you are not using a paper made by the manufacturer, find a photographer who can build you an ICC profile.

Cheers,

Henrik

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