User Manual

3.18 Change "Overprint" to "Multiply"

Updated on

Find out in this article,

  • which requirements must be met for this Fixup and
  • how to apply the Fixup.

1. Introduction

The Fixup Change "Overprint" to "Multiply" is available in the Workflow. The aim of the Fixup is to change the overprint status "Overprint" to the Blend Mode "Multiply".

2. General

Use the Fixup Change "Overprint" to "Multiply" to multiply overprinting objects and create the same effect again. The application of this Fixup can result in longer RIP times but can be used to create a PDF that does not contain any overprinting objects. A use case would be e.g. to display a PDF in PDF display programs which cannot cope with overprinting objects. In case the appearance changes more than defined in the selected value - Delta E 00 less than 1 or Delta E 00 less than 2 - the Fixup is aborted.

Find the Fixup in the Data Preparation tab of an Article, Order, or Production Job by

  • entering the name of the Fixup in the Filter area,
  • activating the Color option in the Category area,
  • activating the Change, Reduce or Optimize option in the Action area,
  • activating the Overprint or Knockout option in the Search area

3. Description

With this Fixup, overprinting objects are set to "Multiply" in order to create PDF files in which no overprinting objects occur. If the appearance changes too much as a result of the changes, the Fixup is canceled. Select the appropriate Delta E 00 value for the Fixup.

3.1. Requirements and Functionality

For the Fixup to do what it promises, the following requirements must be met:

  • There are overprinting objects in the print file.

Figure 1: The dialog of the Fixup Change "Overprint" to "Multiply"

Use the following option to change Overprint to Multiply:

  • Allowed Deviation [1] – in the selection menu, select the ∆E00 value up to which the appearance of the overprinting objects may change. The following options are available:
    • ∆E00 lower 1 – The maximum color change in appearance does not deviate from the value "∆E00 less than 1". The Fixup is canceled if the value is higher.
    • ∆E00 lower 2 – The maximum color change in appearance does not deviate from the value "∆E00 less than 2". The Fixup is canceled if the value is higher.
    • Variable Content [2] –select the desired placeholder - database field or user-defined field - from which the value for selecting the permitted deviation should be retrieved. The following values must be found in the selected field for the deviation to be selected:
      • 1
      • 2

Figure 2: Values in the selected field for the option Allowed Deviation

3.2. Before/After

To experiment with this function, refer to the sample file "Sample_Change "Overprint" to "Multiply".pdf". The print object has been constructed in two layers. The Print Item itself is in the background. A gray, overprinting area has been placed over it to give the image a gray veil. This area is now to be multiplied by the background.

After applying the Fixup, the file "Sample_Change "Overprint" to "Multiply"_End.pdf" is created. Here, the gray area was multiplied over the background. The values from Figure 1 were used.

Figure 3: Left: initial file with activated overprint preview; Right: edited file where the grey area was multiplied - with activated overprint preview

Check PDF display programs for overprint preview

Open the source file in your preferred PDF viewer program, e.g. Preview under macOS. If you only see a grey area, the PDF viewer does not support the overprint function!

Article update: Workflow 1.17.2 – 07/2024

Previous Article 3.17 Change Overprint State of a Spot Color
Next Article 3.19 Change Tonal Value for Spot Color
Still Need Help? Contact Us