This document discusses how to keep colors accurate when exporting and printing as PDF
Scenario: Colors are not consistent and accurate when exporting to PDF within Adobe products.
Before printing your *.indd, export to PDF with a CMYK color profile. (Similar steps for Printing your *.ai, save as PDF.)
This example is from Adobe InDesign but similar steps can be taken in Adobe Illustrator.
1. Select
File,
Export from InDesign's main menu. (Adobe Illustrator:
File, Save As)

2. Select
Adobe PDF (Print) and click on
Save.

3.
Adobe InDesign: Select the
Output tab. Change the "Color Conversion" to
Convert to Destination (Preserve Numbers).

3B.
Adobe Illustrator - Select the
Output tab. Select the
High Quality Preset. Match your settings to below.

4.
Adobe InDesign: Check that "Profile Inclusion Policy" is set to
Include Destination Policy.

5. Select
Export or
Save and use Adobe Professional, or PhotoShop to print the PDF.
6. From Adobe Professional or Photoshop, select File, Page Setup.
Caution when printing! Be sure you have the
Tabloid Printer selected in
Page Setup.

7. Select
File, Print... Be certain you are printing to an 11 x17 paper.
