Select the object or objects you want to overprint.
Last updated on
Oct 25, 2026
Learn how to control overlapping inks and prevent registration gaps in Adobe Illustrator using the Attributes panel and Print dialog.
Overprinting creates a small overlap between adjacent colors to compensate for potential misregistration during printing, helping you avoid gaps in your final output.
By default, opaque overlapping colors knock out the area underneath—the top color removes the background.
Overprinting prevents knockout and makes the topmost ink appear transparent in relation to the underlying ink. This technique works well with black ink to aid registration and to create intentional color-mixing effects with process or spot colors. The degree of transparency depends on your ink, paper, and printing method. Refer to trapping for more information on complex trapping.
Before setting up overprinting, verify with your print shop how ink, paper, and printing variables will affect your final artwork. Use View > Overprint Preview to see an approximation of how overprinting colors will appear when printed.
After setting overprinting options, carefully check overprinted colors on separated artwork using integral proofs (each separation on a single sheet) or overlay proofs (separations on separate plastic sheets stacked together).
Set overprint for fills and strokes
Choose Window > Attributes to open the Attributes panel.
In the Attributes panel, select Overprint Fill, Overprint Stroke, or both.
Note
If you use the Overprint option on a 100% black stroke or fill, the black ink may not be opaque enough to prevent underlying ink colors from showing through. To eliminate showthrough, use a four-color rich black instead of 100% black. Consult with your print shop about the exact percentages of color to add to the black.
Overprint all black in the Print dialog
Choose File > Print.
Select Output on the left side of the Print dialog box.
In the Output section, select Overprint Black.
Configure additional print settings as needed, then select Print.
This option works on all objects that have black applied through the K color channel. However, it doesn't work for objects that appear black because of their transparency settings or graphic styles.
Overprint black objects by percentage
Select all objects you want to evaluate for overprinting.
Choose Edit > Edit Colors > Overprint Black.
Enter the percentage of black you want to overprint in the percentage field.
Select Fill, Stroke, or both to specify how to apply the overprinting.
To overprint process colors that include cyan, magenta, or yellow, and the specified percentage of black, select Include Blacks with CMY.
To overprint spot colors whose process equivalents include the specified percentage of black, select Include Spot Blacks. For spot colors containing both process colors and black, select both Include Blacks with CMY and Include Spot Blacks.
Select OK.
To remove overprinting from objects with a specific percentage of black, select Remove Black instead of Add Black in the Overprint Black dialog box.
Simulate or discard overprinting for composite output
Choose File > Print.
Select Advanced on the left side of the Print dialog box.
From the Overprints menu, select either Simulate or Discard.
Configure additional print settings as needed, then select Print.
In most cases, only separation devices support overprinting. When printing to a composite device or when your artwork contains overprinted objects that interact with transparency objects, use this option to control how overprints are handled.
Use White Overprint to know more about specialized white ink overprinting work.
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