Overprint turned itself on?

[Howard Owen]

I received some business cards back from the printer yesterday and the
customer's logo overprinted, showing primarily the drop shadow underneath. I
checked the original FH9 file (Windows 2000) and, sure enough, the fill
inspector showed that the overprint box was checked(and I sure as he!!
didn't do it). Further, I have my prefs set to show overprinting objects and
it did not pick it up. Is this just a freak occurrence? Has anyone else seen
it? I've been sending files to press for some time, but this is a new one on
me.

Thanks,
Howard

[Odysseus]

Howard Owen wrote:

>
> I received some business cards back from the printer yesterday and the
> customer's logo overprinted, showing primarily the drop shadow underneath. I
> checked the original FH9 file (Windows 2000) and, sure enough, the fill
> inspector showed that the overprint box was checked(and I sure as he!!
> didn't do it). Further, I have my prefs set to show overprinting objects and
> it did not pick it up. Is this just a freak occurrence? Has anyone else seen
> it? I've been sending files to press for some time, but this is a new one on
> me.
>

I've never seen this happen all by itself -- or not to show the
little Os with "Show Overprint" active -- but a common 'gotcha'
occurs when a piece of artwork starts its life as Black text, which
has overprinting turned on by default. This setting generally
persists even after the text has been filled with a different colour
or gradient, converted to paths, or the like, unless the box is
deliberately unchecked at some point in the process.

Did you send a proof with the job went it went to the printer? If so,
someone should have alerted you that there was a problem.

--
Odysseus

[Howard Owen]

> Did you send a proof with the job went it went to the printer? If so,
> someone should have alerted you that there was a problem.

I sent it via email so there was no hard copy proof, but I did include a
jpeg of the file as it should have printed. Apparently having someone look
it over is an extra cost option with this printer (Copy Craft). They offered
to reprint the job for half price, but due to the time constraints (the
cards were needed TODAY) and the budget, (no more money for cards) this
doesn't really help me to rectify this situation. I doubt that I will ever
see this client again.

Since I sent the file to the printer this way, it, of course, is my fault. I
may well have imported the logo as black and then changed the color on the
layout... I honestly don't remember. What really irks me is that the
overprint display failed me. PressReady does not RIP overprints correctly
either, in case anyone is interested.

Live and learn. :(