Grayscale Images are RGB

[Dov Isaacs]

Two possibilities here ...

(1)	Assuming you are using the "RGB option" for "save as PDF" or printing to the Adobe PDF
PostScript printer driver instance, except for images are in EPS format, all grayscale and
CMYK images imported into FrameMaker will come out as RGB. FrameMaker is a GDI application
except when NOT using the "save as PDF" without the RGB option.

(2)	Many images that users THINK are grayscale are actually RGB. When using the various
options in Photoshop to convert a color image to black and white, unless you ALSO apply
the option to convert what looks like a grayscale image to actual grayscale, you will end
up with an RGB image in which for every pixel R=G=B in value.

R=G=B "grayscale" RGB images typically do not properly print with only the K (black) channel
on most devices and/or with most drivers.

So, UNFORTUNATELY, with FrameMaker you have two options, both assuming that the image really
is grayscale and not an R=G=B RGB image:

The first option is to use "save as PDF" and don't select the RGB option. This only works for
FrameMaker 9 and may be problematic if you run into one of the bugs associated with NOT using
the RGB option. (When you don't select the RGB option, FrameMaker uses the PostScript Level 1
generator from the older UNIX versions of FrameMaker to generate PostScript for distilling.
I won't comment on that further! :-(  )

The second option is to open the images in question in Photoshop and resave as EPS (ASCII with
TIFF header). This option also could be used to "fix" any R=G=B RGB grayscale images; simply
convert to grayscale in Photoshop before saving as EPS.

	- Dov



> -----Original Message-----
> From: framers-bounces at lists.frameusers.com [mailto:framers-bounces at lists.frameusers.com] On Behalf Of
> Scott White
> Sent: Thursday, January 28, 2010 6:55 AM
> To: framers at lists.frameusers.com List
> Subject: Grayscale Images are RGB
> 
> I've been playing with the settings with Acrobat Distiller 9 and Framemaker 9 trying to fix my
> grayscale images coming out rgb. I have been sending samples to my printer and each and every sample
> he is telling me my text is black but the images are rgb. These are the same images we have used for
> years in other catalogs with them and they were fine.
> 
> I have followed his step-by-step acrobat distiller settings for 9 and the results are not what I
> expect. He said he can convert the files for me at no charge, but I would like to find out why this is
> happening.
> 
> I print my Frame file to the acrobat printer option. I have a specific, press-quality print setting
> within distiller 9 using my printers recommendation. Create the pdf.
> 
> What I did in the past with older versions of Frame is I would print to postscript and then distill
> and generate my pdf that way. No problems.
> 
> We are running this on a mac through parallels. Windows XP Pro and Framemaker 9 with all the updates.
> 
> Any thoughts would be appreciated.
> 
> 
> 
> Scott White
> Media Production & EBC Manager
> Implementation Coordinator
> 210-704-8239
> swhite at alamark.com