User Manual

3.2 Checks regarding Colors

Updated on

In this article, you will learn

  • which Checks are available in Check-in Preflight and Fixup Templates regarding Colors, and
  • which solutions are provided to fix the detected issues.

1. Introduction

When print files are uploaded to the Workflow, the documents are checked using Check-in Preflight and Fixup Templates to identify potential errors or warnings early in the production process. Any detected errors or warnings are displayed on the corresponding page within the Workflow and can additionally be documented in a PDF report, which can be provided to the customer for further clarification.

The Preflight check of the print file is based on the activated checks and the severity level defined for each individual check – Error, Warning, or Info.

2. Available Checks for Colors

To take full advantage of a Check-in Preflight and Fixup Template, the corresponding templates must first be created. A template essentially consists of two components – Fixups and Checks. Currently, more than 58 checks are available in the Workflow. To maintain clarity, the individual checks have been divided into different categories.

This article provides a detailed description of all checks assigned to the category Color.

2.1. Image uses device dependent RGB (DeviceRGB)

Category: Color, Image, PDF/X-1a

Description: This Check identifies RGB images that do not contain a source profile. When rendered, these images are assigned the RGB working color space ICC profile defined under Administration > Settings > Color Management.

Solution: Device-RGB images without an embedded source profile can be corrected by assigning a source profile using the Fixup «Assign Source Profile for RGB objects».

Figure 1: The activated Check Image uses device dependent RGB (DeviceRGB)

2.2. Image uses ICC based CMYK

Category: Color, Image, PDF/X-1a

Description: This Check identifies CMYK images that contain an embedded source profile. ICC-based CMYK images are not necessarily an error. However, inaccurate color reproduction may occur if the option Honor Source Profiles for CMYK and Images is not enabled in Administration > Settings > Color Management. In such cases, the embedded source profile is ignored and the CMYK working color space profile is used during rendering.

In the field Exclude ICC Profiles, you should select those ICC profiles that are defined as the working color space profile for CMYK in Administration > Settings > Color Management, as well as any similar ICC profiles, e.g. ISO Coated v2 (ECI) is very similar to ISO Coated v2 300% (ECI) in order to identify only deviating ICC tags in CMYK images during the check.

Solution: Under Administration > Settings > Color Management, the option for CMYK and Images can be enabled in the Honor Source Profiles settings area to ensure that the source profiles are applied correctly.

Figure 2: The activated Check Image uses ICC based CMYK

2.3. Image uses ICC based RGB

Category: Color, Image, PDF/X-1a

Description: This Check identifies RGB images that include an embedded source profile. ICC-based RGB images are not necessarily an error. However, color reproduction may be inaccurate if the option Honor Source Profiles for RGB and Images is not enabled in Administration > Settings > Color Management. In such cases, the existing source profile is ignored and the RGB working color space profile is applied during rendering. In addition, ICC-based RGB images are not allowed in PDF/X-1a-compliant workflows.

Solution: Under Administration > Settings > Color Management, the option for RGB and Images can be enabled in the Honor Source Profiles settings area.

Figure 3: The activated Check Image uses ICC based RGB

2.4. Image uses ICC based Gray

Category: Color, Image, PDF/X-1a

Description: This Check identifies Grayscale images that include an embedded source profile. ICC-based Grayscale images are not necessarily an error. However, the brightness may be rendered incorrectly if the option for Grayscale and Images is not enabled in Administration > Settings > Color Management in the Honor Source Profiles settings area. In this case, the existing source profile is ignored and the Grayscale working color space profile is applied during rendering. Furthermore, ICC-based grayscale images are not permitted in PDF/X-1a-compliant workflows.

Solution: Under Administration > Settings > Color Management, the option for Grayscale and Images can be enabled in the Honor Source Profiles settings area.

Figure 4: The activated Check Image uses ICC based Gray

2.5. Image uses Lab

Category: Color, Image, PDF/X-1a

Description: This Check identifies Lab images. During rendering, Lab images are first converted into the selected intermediate color space defined in Administration > Settings > Color Management > Working Color Spaces > CMYK, before they are converted into the final target color space. As a result, the colors displayed in the PDF viewer may differ significantly from the final printed result. Additionally, Lab images are not permitted in PDF/X-1a-compliant workflows.

Solution: Use the largest possible CMYK working color space, such as eciCMYK v2, to minimize color deviations within the possible target color space.

Figure 5: The activated Check Image uses Lab

2.6. Knocked-out Spot Colors

Category: Object, Page Content

Description: This Check identifies objects – Text, Vectors, or Text and Vectors – that are colored with the specified Spot Color and have the Overprint state set to Knockout. The Check is particularly useful for identifying Technical Colors in a Print Item that are set to Knockout.

Solution: Objects colored with the specified Spot Color and with the Overprint state set to Knockout can either be manually adjusted using the Fixup «Set Overprint State for Spot Colors» or automatically corrected using the Fixup «Set Spot Colors to «Overprint» within the Check-in Preflight and Fixup Template.

Figure 6: The activated Check Knocked-out Spot Colors

Check for Spot Colors to be set to Knockout

In this Check, include at least the Spot Colors that were used in the Fixup «Rename Spot Colors». This ensures that the Fixup was correctly applied to the uploaded print file.

2.7. Object is not CMYK

Category: Object, Color

Description: This Check analyzes the print file for the presence of color spaces outside CMYK. The aim is to ensure that all content is optimized for the print-specific color space, helping to prevent unwanted color deviations during the production process.

Solution: Objects that are not using the CMYK color space can be adjusted in the Workflow by applying the Fixup «Convert to CMYK». Alternatively, the Fixup «Convert RGB Vector Objects to CMYK Working Space» is available for use.

Figure 7: The activated Check Object is not CMYK

Using the Check

Use this Check only if your Workflow strictly requires processing CMYK print data. Since all objects outside the CMYK color space are recognized as hits, this may result in a high number of matches and can significantly limit automated processing of the print data.

2.8. Overprinting Spot Colors

Category: Object, Page Content

Description: This Check analyzes the print file to determine whether objects using the specified Spot Color are set to Overprint. The Spot Colors to be included in the Check can be defined by the user. Overprinting Spot Colors can negatively affect the readability of barcodes or QR codes when these elements are colored using Spot Colors.

Solution: Overprinting Spot Colors can be corrected afterward using the Fixup «Set Overprint State for Spot Colors» or using the Fixup «Set Spot Colors to «Overprint»» within the Check-in Preflight and Fixup Templates.

Figure 8: The activated Check Overprinting Spot Colors

2.9. Prohibited Spot Color Names in use

Category: Color

Description: This Check analyzes the print file for the use of prohibited Spot Color Names. Spot Color Names must not match the names of Process Colors, as this can result in the Spot Color being rendered as the identically named Process Color – bypassing proper color management.

Solution: Rename incorrect Spot Color Names using the Fixup «Rename Spot Colors» or apply the Fixup «Rename prohibited Spot Color Names» available in the Check-in Preflight and Fixup Templates.

Figure 9: The activated Fixup Prohibited Spot Color Names in use

2.10. Registration Color used

Category: Color

Description: This Check analyzes whether objects colored with registration color are located within the selected Page Box. Different definitions of black, such as CMYK black (0/0/0/100), Rich Black (e.g. 40/40/0/100), RGB black (0/0/0) or Registration Black, can lead to different visual results in print. Therefore, special attention must be paid to the correct use of the registration color.

Solution: Objects that are colored with the registration color can be corrected in the Workflow using the Fixup «Convert Registration Color». Additional Fixups such as «Convert Rich Black to 100% K», «Convert Black Text Objects to Rich Black», or «Redye CMYK Objects» can be applied afterwards to the Print Item to ensure consistent black representation in print.

Figure 10: The activated Check Registration Color used

Ignore objects outside

If your print files consistently define both the TrimBox and the BleedBox, it is recommended to select the option TrimBox, as this will ignore crop marks in the print file.

If, for any reason, the TrimBox is not available in the print file, the BleedBox is used first. If the BleedBox is also not defined in the print file, the system automatically switches to the CropBox.

2.11. Spot Color has no Lab color values

Category: Object, Color

Description: The print file verifies whether the alternate color space of the Spot Color includes Lab color values. Only Spot Colors equipped with Lab color values can be optimally converted into the target color space. Use RegEx (regular expressions) to search for Spot Color Names. The expression PANTONE.|Spot. finds all Spot Color Names that contain PANTONE or Spot at the beginning of the name, followed by any characters. The expression «.*» (the default value of the variable) checks all Spot Color Names.

Solution: Convert all Spot Colors with CMYK values in their alternate color space to CMYK. To do this, use the Fixup «Convert Spot Colors with CMYK alternate Colors to CMYK», which is available in the Check-in Preflight and Fixup Templates, or apply the Fixup «Convert Spot Color to CMYK» afterwards in a Fixup Chain or by applying the Fixup.

Figure 11: The activated Check Spot Color has no Lab color values

2.12. Spot Color is not a Stroke

Category: Object, Color

Description: This Check identifies whether objects with the specified Spot Color Names have only a Stroke color applied but no fill color.

Solution: If it is a Dieline, the Fixup «Add a Dieline for Irregular Shapes» or the Fixup «Derive a Dieline from Spot Color» could be used to create a new Dieline consisting exclusively of a Stroke. However, these methods are considered «quick and dirty» solutions. For print data requiring higher precision regarding the cropping the Print Item, it is recommended to request a new print file.

Figure 12: The activated Check Spot Color is not a Stroke

Spot Color Names to be checked

In this Check, make sure to include at least the Spot Colors that were already used in the Fixup «Rename Spot Colors». This is important because the Check is executed only after the Technical Spot Colors used in production have been renamed.

2.13. Spot Color Name in use

Category: Object, Color

Description: This Check analyzes the print file for specific Spot Color Names. It can be used, for example, to detect whether Spot Colors such as White are present in the print file. RegEx expressions can also be used for the search.

Solution: Spot Colors are identified solely by their name. If you need to rename the Spot Colors later, you can apply the Fixup «Rename Spot Color» to adjust the names accordingly.

Figure 13: The activated Check Spot Color Name in use with already entered values

Using this Check

If the print data requires Spot Colors such as a White, Primer, or a Varnish channel, as these separations are essential for production on the selected Substrate, it is recommended to perform this Check at the very beginning of the production process.

2.14. Text or Vector element uses Lab

Category: Color, PDF/X-1a

Description: This Check identifies text and vector objects that are defined in the Lab color space. These objects are converted during rendering into the selected intermediate color space specified under Administration > Settings > Color Management > Working Color Space > CMYK, before they are converted into the final target color space. This can lead to noticeable color differences between what is displayed in the PDF viewer and the printed result. In addition, Lab-based text and vector elements are not permitted in PDF/X-1a-compliant workflows.

Solution: Use the largest possible CMYK working color space – for example eciCMYK v2 – to minimize color deviations when converting to the final target color space.

Figure 14: The activated Check Text or Vector element uses Lab

2.15. Text- or Vector object uses device dependent RGB (DeviceRGB)

Category: Color, Text, PDF/X-1a

Description: This Check identifies RGB images without an embedded source profile. When rendering such images, the RGB working color space ICC profile defined under Administration > Settings > Color Management is automatically assigned. If this working space ICC profile differs from the profile originally used to create the image, this may result in significant color deviations in the output. RGB images are not permitted in PDF/X-1a-compliant workflows.

Solution: DeviceRGB images can be assigned a source profile retroactively by applying the Fixup «Assign Source Profile for RGB objects».

Figure 15: The activated Check Text- or Vector object uses device dependent RGB (DeviceRGB)

2.16. Text and/or Vector objects use ICC based CMYK

Category: Color, PDF/X-1a

Description: This Check identifies CMYK text and vector objects that contain an embedded source profile. ICC-based CMYK objects are not necessarily an error, but may be rendered with inaccurate colors if the option Honor Source Profiles for CMYK, Text, and Vector is not enabled in Administration > Settings > Color Management. In such cases, the embedded source profile is ignored, and the CMYK working color space profile is used instead during rendering.

In the option Exclude ICC Profiles, you should select those ICC profiles that are either defined as the working color space profile for CMYK under Administration > Settings > Color Management, or are similar in nature, e.g. ISO Coated v2 (ECI) is very similar to ISO Coated v2 300% (ECI). This ensures that only significantly different ICC profiles in CMYK text and vector objects are detected by the check. Additionally, ICC-based CMYK text and vectors are not permitted in PDF/X-1a-compliant workflows.

Solution: Under Administration > Settings > Color Management, the option for CMYK, Text, and Vector can be activated in the Honor Source Profiles settings area.

Figure 16: The enabled Check Text and/or Vector objects use ICC based CMYK

2.17. Text and/or Vector objects use ICC based Gray

Category: Color, PDF/X-1a

Description: This Check identifies gray text and vector objects that contain an embedded ICC profile. ICC-based gray text and vectors are not necessarily an error, but may be rendered with inaccurate colors if the option Honor Source Profiles for Gray, Text, and Vector is not enabled under Administration > Settings > Color Management. In such cases, the embedded profile is ignored, and color rendering may not be accurate. ICC-based gray text and vector objects are also not permitted in PDF/X-1a-compliant workflows.

Solution: Under Administration > Settings > Color Management, the option for Gray, Text, and Vector can be activated in the Honor Source Profiles settings area.

Figure 17: The activated Check Text and/or Vector objects use ICC based Gray

2.18. Text and/or Vector objects use ICC based RGB

Category: Color, PDF/X-1a

Description: This Check identifies RGB text and vector objects that contain an embedded ICC profile. ICC-based RGB text and vector objects are not necessarily an error, but may be rendered with inaccurate colors if the option Honor Source Profiles for RGB, Text, and Vector is not enabled in Administration > Settings > Color Management. In such cases, the embedded source profile is ignored, and the RGB working color space profile is applied instead during rendering. ICC-based RGB text and vectors are also not permitted in PDF/X-1a-compliant workflows.

Solution: Under Administration > Settings > Color Management, enable the option for RGB, Text, and Vector in the Honor Source Profiles settings area to ensure color-accurate display and PDF/X-1a compliance.

Figure 18: The activated Check Text and/or Vector objects use ICC based RGB

2.19. Tint Value of Spot Color less than

Category: Object, Color

Description: This Check verifies whether the tint value or opacity of the specified Spot Color falls below a defined minimum threshold. This ensures that the corresponding Spot Color separation for Primer, for example, is set to 100%, so that the Primer application is rendered and printed as intended during color profiling.

Solution: If the tint value or opacity of a Spot Color is too low, the tonal value can be corrected and adjusted using the Fixup «Change Tonal Value for Spot Color».

Figure 19: The activated check Tint Value of Spot Color Less Than

Article update: Workflow 1.20.1 – 05/2025

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