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B&W print of a colour PDF

Forum Index > Printing & Prepress > B&W print of a colour PDF
2011-08-16 01:09:36
WoOkZZ
Registered: May 27 2011
Posts: 28
Answered

Hi there, I have a colour newsletter that I am trying to setup to print in grey scale but when I go into the advanced print settings the Output won't allow me to select composite grey. So what I did was run a preflight on the colour pdf creating a grey scale copy of it & I have attached that to the colour copy. Is there wither a way I can print just the attachment? or just force the original colour one to print in grey scale.
 
I don't want to use JS because depending on each of the members computers & setups the JS might not work. So any help would be appreciated. Sorry if this has been answered already.

Thanks

WoOkZZ

My Product Information:
Acrobat Pro 9.4.3, Windows
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2011-08-17 11:57:32
#1
KellyMcC
Acrobat 9ExpertTeam
Registered: Jul 11 2011
Posts: 389
Accepted Answer
I answered this in another post, but figured I would put it here as well :)

1. In the Print Production tools, try Convert Colors, Advanced > Print Production > Convert Colors
2. Check the box "Convert Colors to Output Intent" and choose a Grayscale Profile such as "Gray Gamma 1.8" (for example).

This will permanently change the file to Gray, so you might want to save a new copy.

Kelly McCathran
Adobe Community Expert
Certified Technical Trainer+

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2011-08-18 05:32:15
#2
WoOkZZ
Registered: May 27 2011
Posts: 28
Hi Kelly, Thanks for the response, Yeah I figured that one out, well ina round about way. But what I'd really like to know is, is it possible for the PDF to remain in colour on screen but when it's printed to be printed in B&W?Any thoughts?

Thanks

WoOkZZ

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2011-08-18 05:49:51
#3
UVSAR
Expert
Registered: Oct 29 2008
Posts: 1357
Yes you can - the same color space options are available on the print dialog, when you press the "Advanced" button. Choose "Acrobat Color Management" and something like Dot Gain 20, and your color pages will print in grayscale without changing the PDF file.

Automating the process or capturing the toolbar/menu clicks is not possible due to a bug in the scripting API.
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2011-08-18 06:06:09
#4
WoOkZZ
Registered: May 27 2011
Posts: 28
Again you come through with the goods, all that time in caves must give you time to think, thanks. I'm guessing that by changing the 'Colour management' this means that anyone who would want to print it in colour couldn't?

No great problem as I'll post a B&W & a Colour version on my website but was just a thought.OOO Hang on, does what you said about automating mean that I can't save those settings for all users? EG: everyone we send the newsletter too?

Cheers again.


Thanks

WoOkZZ

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2011-08-18 08:11:40
#5
UVSAR
Expert
Registered: Oct 29 2008
Posts: 1357
Kelly's method using the Print Production tool changes the PDF file permanently, removing all color information. My method applies only to the print job being run at the time, it makes no changes to the file and isn't remembered, so you can't save the settings as a default for other people.

In most cases, people can also set a color printer to use only the black cartridge, which has the same effect - but of course you have no control over that.
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2011-08-19 03:33:11
#6
WoOkZZ
Registered: May 27 2011
Posts: 28
So is there no way in the settings to setup the ability to over ride print settings? I'm guessing not as like you mention you don't have any control over the user's printer. Ah well I guess easiest option is either sending out a B&W version or not worrying too much about how it prints out. Me I don't care but the boss does...

Thanks

WoOkZZ

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2011-08-19 07:09:35
#7
UVSAR
Expert
Registered: Oct 29 2008
Posts: 1357
No there isn't - while we have a whole heap of color-management tools in Acrobat, we don't support the idea that a page looks full-color on screen but *automatically* prints in gray, unless there's a duplicate layer involved - and that introduces no end of issues.

There are some function calls within the JavaScript API which would in theory change the print dialog color preferences, but right now they don't.
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2011-08-19 07:11:14
#8
WoOkZZ
Registered: May 27 2011
Posts: 28
yeah that's what I thought, I've pushed the idea to the boss that it's NOT a huge ammount of colour ink so stop worrying about it. He went for that one.

Cheers as always

Thanks

WoOkZZ

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