InDesign

Color output options for composites

In the Output area of the Print dialog box, you can determine how composite color in the document is sent to the printer. When color management is enabled (the default), the Color setting defaults result in calibrated color output. Spot color information is preserved during color conversion; only the process color equivalents convert to the designated color space. If you’re not sure which color choice to use, consult your prepress service provider.

Composite modes only affect rasterized images and objects created using InDesign; placed graphics (such as EPS and Adobe PDF files) are not affected unless they overlap transparent objects.

For more information on composite printing, see the Adobe Print Resource Center at www.adobe.com/go/print_resource.

Note: The options available for non-PostScript printing depend on the color model the printer uses, which is usually RGB.

When you print as composite, automatic trapping is disabled; however, you can select the Simulate Overprint option to proof overprinting for text, strokes, or fills.

The Output area in the Print dialog box includes the following Color options. Additional options may also be available, depending on your printer.

Composite Leave Unchanged
Sends a full-color version of specified pages to the printer, preserving all color values in the original document. When this option is selected, Simulate Overprint is disabled.

Composite Gray
Sends grayscale versions of specified pages to the printer when, for example, you are printing to a monochrome printer without making separations.

Composite RGB
Sends a full-color version of specified pages to the printer when, for example, you are printing to an RGB color printer without making separations.

Composite CMYK
Sends a full-color version of specified pages to the printer when, for example, you are printing to a CMYK color printer without making separations. (This option is available only for PostScript printers.)

Separations
Creates PostScript information for each of the separations required for the document, and sends that information to the output device. (This option is available only for PostScript printers.)

In-RIP Separations
Sends separation information to the output device’s RIP. (This option is available only for PostScript printers.)

Text As Black
Select this option to print all text created in InDesign in black, unless it has the color None or Paper or a color value that equals white. This option is useful when you’re creating content for both print and PDF distribution. For example, if hyperlinks were blue in the PDF version, they would print black on a grayscale printer, rather than in halftone patterns that would be difficult to read.