Graphic Novel Printing Too Dark, But Inconsistant - Need Help

[BentoStudios]

I apologize if this gets long.  It probably will.

I've made several orders of my graphic novel and the print quality has been, for the most part really subpar.  I had one good order go through where everything printed correctly and, since then, everything has been just downright terrible.

The current problem is that the printing is inconsistent and, overall, too dark.  My book is a graphic novel and many of my characters are missing entire limbs because the tone is not correct.  Like I said, one order went through just fine.  Since then, I've had some books printed that have a mixture of pages with roller marks from the printer, heavy dark areas that should be gradients, and even pages that look washed.  The most recent order was just entirely too dark with some roller marks. 

I've contacted customer service and they've been trying to help me.

At first, it was because my files were too large.  I fixed that problem.

Next, they told me I wasn't using the Lulu format to make the files the right size.  But I was.  So I redid everything again.

Then, it was that I wasn't uploading them correctly.  So, their advice to me was to just keep trying and trying and trying until their uploader worked.  Finally got that working, somehow.

Then I had to upload it again because that upload didn't take either.  Still not sure about that one.

Then, they told me they had switched printers.  But, the copy that was printed correctly was with the same group as the one they're using to print this batch.

I've sent tons of pictures documenting the black blobs (yes, the gradients literally look like blobs).  These images compare two graphic novels from different orders that are both of poor quality.  So poor that I cannot even sell them.  I sold out of the ones that looked good. 

Now, I'm being told that I have transparencies in my PDF files that are preventing the gradients in SOME of the files from printing correctly.

Honestly, this is the first I have ever heard of transparencies existing in a flattened PDF file.  So, the customer service representative is telling me:

"To flatten your file, the process I would use would be to save your file as a PostScript file and then redistill the file using the Lulu Job Options through Adobe Distiller."

At this point, I'm just worn out. This whole process has been going on since early February.  I need my books this week or next for a convention at which I'm a guest.  I cannot sell what I do have because of these printing errors.

Here is the process I use to save my PDFs in Adobe Photoshop CS5:

1. Make the images and save them as a .PSD and then raster all layers and merge them and save as a JPG.
2. Open the JPG in Photoshop and use Lulu's format to render the PDF.

I have taken my art (for nearly 10 years now) to various print shops, sent it to other companies for use, and have been creating and using PDFs professionally for several years and have never encountered this type of issue.

I did some research into Adobe Distiller and learned (from Adobe's website) that the product will be discontinued in May of 2013.  Given that I cannot purchase it and there will not be support for this product, it seems a little silly to invest in it now.

So.  Has anyone else experienced these problems?  I'm in serious need of help here and I'm looking for some alternatives to a product that will soon be obsolete.

Thanks in advance for your help!

[kevinlomas]

I apologize if this gets long.  It probably will.

It is long yes!

I've made several orders of my graphic novel and the print quality has been, for the most part really subpar.  I had one good order go through where everything printed correctly

When it's good it's very good.

 and, since then, everything has been just downright terrible.

A few people have said they have been having trouble with greyscale books.

The current problem is that the printing is inconsistent and, overall, too dark.  My book is a graphic novel and many of my characters are missing entire limbs because the tone is not correct.  Like I said, one order went through just fine.  Since then, I've had some books printed that have a mixture of pages with roller marks from the printer, heavy dark areas that should be gradients, and even pages that look washed.  The most recent order was just entirely too dark with some roller marks.

That sounds very much like a truly bad problem of a machine that needs a good cleaning.

I've contacted customer service and they've been trying to help me.

At first, it was because my files were too large.  I fixed that problem.

Too large? In what way did you create the file for your book?

Next, they told me I wasn't using the Lulu format to make the files the right size.  But I was.  So I redid everything again.

Lulu format? That's a bit vauge, what did they mean by that? Not the same shape and size as the book's page shape & size?

Then, it was that I wasn't uploading them correctly. 

What do they mean by that, also? They either upload or they don't, they either convert and you get to see a PR PDF, or it refuses with a big !

So, their advice to me was to just keep trying and trying and trying until their uploader worked.  Finally got that working, somehow.

So you was having problems with it then? But that has nothing at all to do with how they are printed. They should print WYSIWYG, not printed the way you describe.

Then I had to upload it again because that upload didn't take either.  Still not sure about that one.

Ditto. But we do seem to be talking about a few problems here, not just a printing one.

Then, they told me they had switched printers.  But, the copy that was printed correctly was with the same group as the one they're using to print this batch.

It matters not who prints it if their QC is rubbish.

I've sent tons of pictures documenting the black blobs (yes, the gradients literally look like blobs).  These images compare two graphic novels from different orders that are both of poor quality.  So poor that I cannot even sell them.  I sold out of the ones that looked good. 

Now, I'm being told that I have transparencies in my PDF files that are preventing the gradients in SOME of the files from printing correctly.

Honestly, this is the first I have ever heard of transparencies existing in a flattened PDF file.  So, the customer service representative is telling me:

But all whites are transparent. Page printing machines do not print white.

"To flatten your file, the process I would use would be to save your file as a PostScript file and then redistill the file using the Lulu Job Options through Adobe Distiller."

I assume they mean Merge, then, but I am sure Lulu's Wizard reports a problem with non-merged images.

At this point, I'm just worn out. This whole process has been going on since early February.  I need my books this week or next for a convention at which I'm a guest.  I cannot sell what I do have because of these printing errors.

Here is the process I use to save my PDFs in Adobe Photoshop CS5:

1. Make the images and save them as a .PSD and then raster all layers and merge them and save as a JPG.
2. Open the JPG in Photoshop and use Lulu's format to render the PDF.

Sorry, but just what are you uploading? Are you not creating a file full of pages with images on them?

I have taken my art (for nearly 10 years now) to various print shops, sent it to other companies for use, and have been creating and using PDFs professionally for several years and have never encountered this type of issue.

But have you used such tools as Lulu's Wizards before?

I did some research into Adobe Distiller and learned (from Adobe's website) that the product will be discontinued in May of 2013.  Given that I cannot purchase it and there will not be support for this product, it seems a little silly to invest in it now.

Indeed, I use a 1995 copy of Paintshop Pro 5 for my jpg images, and Word 2010 to create my docx pages. I like to keep what I use simple 

So.  Has anyone else experienced these problems?  I'm in serious need of help here and I'm looking for some alternatives to a product that will soon be obsolete.

Well, just what problem do you mean because you seem to be having a few. Only Lulu can sort out printers that do not QC what they print and what with though.

[BentoStudios]

@Kevinlomas

Yes, there have been several problems.  Obviously.

In regard to the uploader - it was timing out when it was attempting to make a print ready file.  This happened repeatedly.  My files were "larger" in size, not in dimension.  At first, I uploaded them at 600 dpi and then scaled them down to 300 for the second upload which is the one that printed perfectly.  It was on my third revision that I started having problems with the timing out - even though the files were still smaller in size than the second upload.

I have been uploading PDF files which have images.

Lulu's "format" was something they told me I had to download.  It's a setting for Photoshop to save the PDF "correctly" according to them. 

The problems I'm having is that I am the one who has to constantly make all of these changes when it is a printer problem.  I'm trying to find a solution that does not involve using an obsolete product.

[Ken Anderson]

Bento, I wonder if you are getting confused about the Distiller. With any of the CS5.5 components of the Creative Suite the distiller is already an integral part of the PDF conversion engine. You do not need it or need to use it. The Save As PDF option will create exactly the PDF required.

[BentoStudios]

@ Ken Anderson

Thanks!  I am using the Save As PDF feature in Adobe Photoshop CS5 and I'm being told that it's not working by Lulu customer support.  I was thinking that it was good enough as well. 

However, the customer service representative provided me with a screen shot from PitStop Pro showing that there are "transparencies" on practically all of my pages.  Spcifically, 45 times on pages 3 through 72.  I only have 82 pages total and that includes some obligatory blank ones.  I'm not familiar with PitStop Pro and I don't understand this whole transparency issue.

I accepted the customer service representative's offer to run my fifles through distiller.  He kindly did so.  And now I'm being told that I have to download it and then upload it as a revision as well.  This is just getting rediculous.  I don't want to submit another revision of my book because I've already had a really rough go of that whole process.  There's nothing wrong with the content of my book.  And, as far as I can tell, there's nothing wrong with the formatting of it either.

I'm asking them now if there's any other way to submit all of my pages.  As in, can I use jpgs, png, gif, psd?  LOL 

Is there something I am doing wrong in regard to saving the PDF file through Photoshop perhaps?  From day one, I have been rasterizing and merging all of my layers in Photoshop.  Then, I save the file as a jpg.  Open the jpg and save it (using Lulu's template) as a PDF.  I've searched all through the "save as" options and settings and I cannot find anything that I can really change that would do any good.

I was also told by the customer service representative that the Adobe Distiller is included with Adobe Pro.  Thus, expensive.  However, I still read that Distiller is being discontinued by Adobe.  So it still seems pointless.

Any assistance you guys can offer would be greatly appreciated.  Is there another program that is free, open source, not so pricey and not so outdated that I could try? 

[Ken Anderson]

Bento, Try this.

Create the PDF.

Open Adobe Acrobat and then Save As JPEG.

This will create a JPEG image for each page of the PDF.

Then upload each JPEG using FTP to Lulu.

In the Lulu Project then load from your My Files each of the JPEGs.
Sort into order.
Then make the Print Ready File.

If you have InDesign you could place the images into an INDD and then let InDesign make a new PDF for you.  

BTW. Pitstop costs €599 http://www.enfocus.com/buy.php?id=855

[BentoStudios]

Ken,

Is it possible that I could just upload the jpgs I originally created?  I have them all saved as individual files already.  Or would the file size be too large unless I convert it from a PDF back to a jpg? 

Thanks again! 

[Ken Anderson · Accepted solution]

I don't see why not using the same technique.

You just need to make sure that the images have been flattended.

I have a client for the same type of job who has sent me both PDFs and JPEGs.
I found that using my original described technique provided and smaller JPEGs than the those produced by Photoshop in the first place.

To repeat - FTP the files and then make sure you sort them in the right order.

A big advantage of this is that if you need to change just one page you only need to re-upload that page and then slot into position.

Hint - in Photoshop from the menu - Image, Adjustments, Levels set the Output Levels to 10 & 240. 

[BentoStudios]

Thanks!  I'll try this out today and see if I have any better luck.  I appreciate you taking the time to offer some solutions and explaining that it does make a difference if I go from PDF to JPG.  Seems crazy, but if it works, it works.  LOL

Thanks again!  I'll let you know if I have any luck.

[BentoStudios]

It took three hours, but I got everything converted, uploaded, print ready, etc.  I purchased a copy and set it for 3-5 day delivery.  I'll let you know if it looks better/worse. 

When I asked the representative about using some other format, he said I could use jpg but PDFs work better.  LOL  PDFs haven't been working at all.  Let's see how jpgs do! 

Thanks again for your help.  I'll let you know how it goes.