Placed pdf changes color

[Zone9Mag]

I have placed a pdf file in InDesign and the 100% Yellow fills change to 96% Y and 4%Cyan. The pdf is generated in and from a Photoshop file (CS2) CMYK where the yellow is 100%. I've checked in CMS profiles and can't see a reason. Any help? I'm using Highest Press setting for pdf.

[GuyB]

Hi Zone9Mag,

Sorry, I don't have an answer for the color shift but is there a particular reason why you place a PDF from Photoshop in ID ? If not, why don't you try to place a .psd file in ID and see if the same thing happens.

[The Repro Kid]

To add to what GuyB is saying, the color shift is probably occurring when saving the Photoshop file as a PDF, not after placing it in InDesign.

Another thing is it's kind of weird that every CS program gives you a different set of options when saving/exporitng as PDF. Try using the "Leave color unchanged" setting instead of the CMYK option, if photoshop has that and include the ICC profiles, and use Bridge to set your color management to make sure your settings are all equal.

But I'm with GuyB. I always place Photoshop files now in all my programs. I only place TIFF, EPS, or PDF if for some odd, rare reason, I have to.

[Zone9Mag]

Thanks Repro and Guy B, I appreciate the note on pdd's. I'll use in future - The Photoshop files placed change, too. So I'll research the CMS more and see if I find a cure. Could it be that eyedropper is simply reading differently in InDesign? It's always 4-5% Cyan change. I'll check for exact sample color shifts for other colors besides yellow and let you know. Thx Again.

[DCurry]

Could it be that eyedropper is simply reading differently in InDesign? It's always 4-5% Cyan change.

I don't think you can trust the eyedropper for that - I seem to remember InDesign giving me a warning once that using the eyedropper sampled from the preview, which might be RGB, rather than from the actual placed hi-res image. A better way to tell for sure if the color changed is to use the Separations palette. Set it to view Separations, then move your cursor over the desired area and read what the percentages say in the Separations Preview alette - they are accurate.

[The Repro Kid]

I've gotten that same message. And it makes sense that the program wouldn't know what the true colors are in a linked file are.

[Zone9Mag]

The separation preview/cursor shows it at 100% yellow - So eyedropper is off. I've gotten the eyedropper warning, too. What spooked me was my proofs from bureau had color cast - most in yellow. Thanks to all