Recently we had some PDF files with high resolution images which we needed to be printed as a book. After creating the PDF we sent it for printing , but the output was really bad. The images were printed in black and white. In further discussion with few more experts we came to know about two new terms “CMYK” and “Offset Printing“. The reason why our images were printed in black and white was because our Images and text of PDF file were not in CMYK mode. And if you are going for a press release your images and text mode should be CMYK ( Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and blacK) as most of High resolution PDF files are printed through Offset printing.

I would explain CMYK and Offset printing at the end lets deal with the problem first.

Understanding CMYK Problem in printing

To make your PDF compatible to offset printing do the following:

• Go to Advanced Tab > Output Preview.
• This will open up a new dialog box with range of colors. Select combination of CMYK as the below image.
• Now recreate the PDF again. Next time you send it to printing, there wont be any problem.

Now lets quickly understand what is CMYK and Offset printing.

• CMYK stands for Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and blacK. These are the four colors of ink that printers mix to make every color in the spectrum ( This is specially required for high resolution images ).Another drawback of RGB is that it can produce luminous colors which don’t reproduce in CMYK printing, so you can get a nasty surprise if you use RGB files for print work.
• Offset printing is a widely used printing technique where the inked image is transferred (or “offset”) from a plate to a rubber blanket, then to the printing surface. When used in combination with the lithographic process, which is based on the repulsion of oil and water, the offset technique employs a flat (pantographic) image carrier on which the image to be printed obtains ink from ink rollers, while the non-printing area attracts a film of water, keeping the non-printing areas ink-free. [ Source Wikipedia ]

Did U face any problems while printing any PDF documents. Share with us in comments so next time we go for printing again we can take care of it.