Need help now! Preserving color in Pages to PDF format

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Level 1

15 points

Need help now! Preserving color in Pages to PDF format

I read the other recent post on PDF-CMYK and I may be in the same boat. Right now, I need to get my Pages newsletter (6 pages long) saved in a PDF format that will preserve the original colors I used in Pages. This PDF will be emailed and be posted online for others to read online--so I need the same colors. Everything I have tried has failed - but this for some reason worked, and I dont know why (nor I am not sure what it is doing) -

From Pages Print, Save PDF as PostScript (no clue what this is). It created a 40MB file. I used Preview to open it and it converted it to a PDF - *perfect color match to original Pages document* Yes!... BUT - in the title bar I can see the name of my file, it has .pdf a the end. So I try to File Save it in the required directory and it reverts to the off-colors. The off colors consistently appear when I try to use any other PDF save format.

My goals -
#1 Time-date Priority (less than 24hrs) I need a compressed email friendly newsletter in PDF to share via email/web download.
#2 Print ready PDF version (not sure on the file requirements yet)

HELP!!

MacPro 2.66, 250GB drive, 2GB ram, Mac OS X (10.4.8)

Posted on Mar 22, 2007 6:45 AM

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Answer 1

Mar 22, 2007 8:38 AM in response to me100finn

CMYK is not used on the internet--those are the colors of ink for printing. You want an RGB file for online use. Try going back to the original file and using the PDF button in the print dialog rather than exporting as PDF. (Do not use PDF-X for this and do not create a Post Script file as an interim step).

BUT the odds of getting an emailable file from a 6-page PDF with lots of graphics are not high, unless you compress it to the point where the color/quality will suffer. You would be better off posting it someplace for people to download.

As with a plain photo, you generally will need two versions of your file: one at the highest resolution for printing, one that is a smaller sized file for onscreen viewing.

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Answer 2

me100finn Author

Level 1

15 points

Mar 22, 2007 8:50 AM in response to Barbara Brundage

Thanks. Yes, I realize i need RGB. When I try any of the PDF print options (either export or print PDF or Compressed PDF or Email PDF) they ALL change the color layout of the entire newsletter!! The colored blocks behind the text are all altered, but all of the inserted JPGS are just fine.

I managed to use Automator and applied a custom Quartz filter to apply an RGB profile and render the intent on the shading and it seemed to help some, but it is not the same as the original. This action I created has to start with a PDF file to run it - so you can see I am back at square one with the PDF save not capturing the correct colors. This action took a 7+mb PDF file (created via Export) and made it into 660kb (oh, I also used a compression quartz filter too in the action).

I only had one problem with one image getting fine white lines horizontally through it. I suspect that is one image that was very large to begin with. I will try to resize it in PSE and then insert a smaller version of it. The rest of the jpg's were fine.

Right now this newsletter PDF has to be emailed to members and it will be posted online for download. It will also be emailed to prospective commercial printers to give them a preview of the project (but not use this actual file for printing).

So I am still stuck with PDF saves not preserving my original colors.

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Answer 3

Mar 22, 2007 9:07 AM in response to me100finn

Hmm. A couple of things: is your monitor calibrated? Have you tried opening the colorsync utility and running profile first aid? Does the PDF look different in Adobe reader than in Preview?

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Answer 4

me100finn Author

Level 1

15 points

Mar 22, 2007 4:04 PM in response to Barbara Brundage

Monitor calibration should not be a factor here - I am not comparing the printed product to the screen. I am comparing on screen Preview vs Pages.

I do not have Adobe Reader, but my sister does and she described the same color washout as I am seeing on Preview PDF.

I ran the Profile First Aid and it corrected a profile for an Epson ICC and a designjet. That wasn't useful due to the fact that I am not using those for onscreen color matching.

This is frustrating - I took much time to select proper colors throughout the Pages document to match the images and accent the overall appearance. Now PDF wont save those colors as is.

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Answer 5

mmacchi

Level 1

0 points

Mar 23, 2007 2:43 PM in response to me100finn

First off a few questions:

When you originally set up your document, did you set it up as RGB or CMYK? Also do your images have embedded color profiles? Third, when you selected your colors for the layout did you use Pantones, RGB, or CMYK, or the eyedropper?

You said you are comparing on screen right? Because different pograms interpret color differently. I know this stinks, but it is the truth. Due to your timing you may want to go in and tweak a version of your document skewing the colors to match visually. This is a very backwards way of doing things, but it may be less fustrating.

If you have Adobe Professional you can compress, reorder pages, and adjust color profiles. I suggest working with this program, for final output of any pdf document. It allows you to edit pdfs as opposed to just viewing them as in Acrobat reader.

power mac Mac OS X (10.4.9)

power mac Mac OS X (10.4.9)

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Answer 6

me100finn Author

Level 1

15 points

Mar 23, 2007 7:40 PM in response to mmacchi

Thanks for your input.

1. I was not aware that I could setup a Pages document as RGB or CMYK - how is that done?
2. The images will most likely all have sRGB profiles attached (that is my current working space choice across the board) - they all appear just as-is in any version of a PDF that is generated.
3. Color selections were default from the template at first. Most of the others were used with the eye dropper to match a color from a photo on the page. Each page is a variation of a brown or gold or cream to have an overall brown theme in the six pages.
4. I dug out my monitor calibration box and gave it a run last night. I am looking at the Export version of the PDF vs Pages original on screen right now - amazingly, it is much better than prior to calibration. Hmmm. Eeek... I need to fix a picture there...oh my!

Lastly, I am debating the whole app issue and trying to understand what I am in for. This is a job that I will do quarterly (in color) and monthly in b&w using Pages. If it is going to be this much of a deal, I am considering a new app... InDesign or use Adobe Acrobat Pro with Pages... totally clueless and that is a whole NEW thread...so don't wanna start with that here. I need to deal with Pages right here and now.

Thanks!!

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