Converting CMYK to Spot Color (InDesign/Illustrator)

I have come across a client that have sent files built in process or CMYK. We want to make it a 2 color job (2 spot colors) but they have not chosen colors. What is the most effective way to determine the spot color that matches the CMYK procees within InDesign/Ilustrator. If it easier to do on one of the 2 programs I am completely open to using either.

You can do it with Photoshop. Click the Foreground color picker, enter the CMYK values, choose Color Libraries, select the Pantone book you want to reference, and the closest ink will be displayed. Keep in mind that the appearance of CMYK depends on the document's color profile or the Color Settings' CMYK Working space if nothing is open. So, for example US Sheetfed Coated will likely return a different Pantone color than US SWOP Coated.

Similar Messages

Convert CMYK to Spot Color or 2 Color in Adobe Acrobat 9 Standard

I have a file that is in a CMYK color format. The original document was created is MS Word. The file is currently CMYK but the printer I am sending it to needs either Spot Color or 2 color. Can I conver CMYK to either of these in Acrobat 9 standard?

I have a similar problem which i did not have before...and it exists only in some powerpoint files which i want to print as a pdf file...and i get the same message as above.
the log says the bellow details...what's the problem and how can i resolve it? thanks.
%%[ ProductName: Distiller ]%%
%%[Page: 1]%%
%%[Page: 2]%%
Cambria not found, using Courier.
%%[ Error: invalidfont; OffendingCommand: show ]%%
Stack:
%%[ Flushing: rest of job (to end-of-file) will be ignored ]%%

Adobe Illustrator is showing CMYK in spot color document

Hi,
I created a PDF using Adobe Illustrator CS4, and although I am only using 2 spot colors, both, Illustrator and Acrobat are showing CMYK plates in the Separations Preview and Output Preview. When I turn off the Spot plates, there is nothing in the document. Could you please help me figure out why is this happenning?
Thanks

Every file has CMYK plates in Illustrator or Acrobat. I think you are over-thinking things.
The important issue is:
Are there any items actually on the plates??
Just because there are plates, does not mean those plates contain artwork. Both Illustrator and Acrobat Pro will always indicate CMYK plates, but if there is no CMYK data, they won't print.

Converting CYMK to spot color?

Alright, i just read the 'how to get help quickly', and will attempt to not let my panic show through too much:
I designed graphics to go into my college's literary magazine. I used only two colors: brown and green (8dc63f and 603913). However, last week he informed us (the magazine production people) that RGB wasn't acceptable, since he was going to print in something called 'spot color'. Never heard of it before, but after reasearching, I think I have a vague grasp on it: basically instead of CYMK printing process, he's just going to have two plates, one with each color, and stamp them on the pages (like screen printing). That's fine, but I don't understand how it relates to my files. So we sent the psd files to the printer's "photoshop specialist" and then yesterday I was informed that there was no way to seperate the colors into pantone plates, and that either the book was now going to be blank (thankfully the cover is going to be printed seperately in CYMK so that's fine), or we could use clipart (!!thanks for discrediting a semester of my work), or I could learn to use illustrator and redesign the whole book by monday.
I panic, obviuosly, because after downloading the trial version of illustrator I realized that it's actually nothing like working in photoshop (where's my tablet sensitivity? this is NOTHING like 'illustrating'), and at the end of last night's terror, this is all i could produce: http://img576.imageshack.us/img576/2993/illustrator.jpg
Now for reference, the image I originally made in photoshop looks like this (when placed on a brown background to simulate paper): http://img829.imageshack.us/img829/7015/photoshopf.jpg
I am very confused, because I don't understand why the printing company can seperate the illustrator file into two color plates, but not the photoshop file. Both use the same colors (Pantone 375 and Pantone 161 C, I've learned). I have no clue how to save ANYTHING in 'spot format', the only difference between photoshop and illustrator is that I can click on the pantone swatch in illustrator.
Obviously I'm ignorant and confused, and I appologise for that, since it only makes this situation worse (who knows if I'm using the right terminology).
tl;dr:
I have a whole bunch of psd files that need to be converted to something called 'spot color format'
the images are graphics to be placed in an indesign file, not to be printed on their own, so really, they have to be in the spot color format.
Is there any way in reality to maintain the quality of these images and convert them into 'spot color format'?
I'm still trying to understand illustrator (I'm really a painter, not a designer -- wtf is a vector), but would love to convert the psd files I already have into something usable. the printer people didn't know how, I don't know how (or even understand the issue), but maybe you will?

I tried this with the image you posted, so I can describe in detail the steps.
From the image menu choose Duplicate to keep the original for reference.
From the Image menu choose Mode > CMYK Color.
In the Channels palette, delete (by dragging to the trash there) all channels except the Yellow and Black channels.
Double click the icon of the Black channel and in the window that opens click on the color swatch, then in the next window that opens click the Color Libraries button, and when the next window opens type quickly on your keyboard 161, make sure the desired color is picked and press OK on this and previous window to apply.
Repeat the same for the Yellow channel but choose 375.
Select the 161 channel (former Black) and press Ctrl + L to open Levels. Drag the middle arrow of Input Levels referring to the original to get similar darkness (to me around 0.30 looks similar shade). Press OK to apply and close.
Hold Ctrl and click on the icon of the 375 (former Yellow) channel to load its shading as a selection, and press Ctrl + Shift + I to invert the selection.
Make sure the 161 (former Black) channel is selected and press Ctrl + L to open Levels again. Move the right (white) arrow of the Output Levels (at the bottom) until the background matches in brightness the background of the original (to me 150 looks similar).
That's basically it based on my quick try with your image. This example should help you understand the basic idea and from there if you like, you can further play with the image if you feel you can make it any better with these two colors.
Regarding Spot colors, the idea is that a printing press uses 4 color plates (in Photoshop represented as the four CMYK channels when the image is in CMYK color mode) to print all possible process colors by mixing these four colors (inks). Spot colors are pure inks in cans and each spot color (ink) requires its own plate. Sometimes people print 4 process color plus an additional spot color for achieving a special effect like gold ink or pure corporate color to ensure color consistency which may not be as good when using the four colors mix. But very often, spot colors are used for printing with less than 4 plates to save money and sometimes for artistic effect with special inks.
Following the above example converts the CMYK document to Multichannel Color mode and you have only a few file formats available for saving in the Save As options. From these, practical ones are DCS and PSD files. Both are OK for printing but you may want to confirm with your printer. However if you want to place Multichannel image in programs like Illustrator or inDesign you have to use DCS.

Adobe Acrobat 9 Pro is showing CMYK in spot color document

Hi,
I created a PDF using Adobe Illustrator CS4, and although I am only using 2 spot colors, both, Illustrator and Acrobat are showing CMYK plates in the Separations Preview and Output Preview. When I turn off the Spot plates, there is nothing in the document. Could you please help me figure out why is this happenning?
Thanks

Acrobat will always show the CMYK framework - even if there's no CMYK in there. You'll also notice that if the file contained RGB, calRGB, LAB etc - it also shows in the Output Preview as CMYK since it's in simulation mode (enough of that for now)!
You might want to use the SHOW feature in Output Preview or even use a preflight profile to double check ...
Cheers,
Jon

Please help me how to take the "Spot Color" in illustrator?

Hi,
Please help me how to take the "spot color in illustrator CS" using vb script (or) java script.
Regards,
Prabudass E.

Prabudass, If you are just wanting to see if the illustrator file uses spot colors - run the Delete Unused Panel items from the default actions. then view the swatch palette in small or large List View. The color names that have a square containing a gray circle (spot) to the right of their color names are spot colors. The following will get the spot color name of an existing swatch named "Color1" and change it to "Nicks Swatch" and will assign the CMYK values stated. if (app.documents.length > 0){ var swatches = app.activeDocument.spots; for(i=0;i<swatches.length;i++){ var currSwatch = swatches[i]; if(currSwatch.name == "Color1") {currSwatch.name = "Nicks Swatch"; var newColor = new CMYKColor(); newColor.cyan = 35; newColor.magenta = 0; newColor.yellow = 50; newColor.black = 0; currSwatch.color = newColor; } }} When this script has run the swatch palette will not immediately reflect the changes to the swatch name until you double click on a swatch and click OK or Cancel in the Edit Swatch dialog. I hope that I have understood your question correctly and that these responses are helpful. Good Luck Nick

Creating spot color in Illustrator CS4 js

Hi,
I need to create spot color in Illustrator CS4 with js, with assigned name and color values. Here what I have:
myColor = myDoc.spots.add({name:"FOIL", colorValue:[10, 0, 100, 0]});
But it comes out as process instead of spot and the color is not assigned.
Thank you for your help.
Yulia

the add function has no parameters, you have to add them after
addSpot ('FOIL', 10, 0, 100, 0);
function addSpot(name, c, m, y, k) {
    try {
        swatch = app.activeDocument.swatches[name]; // if swatch exists....
        addSpot (name+='1', c, m, y, k); // ...add 1 to swatch name
    catch (e) {
        var newSpot = app.activeDocument.spots.add();
        newSpot.name = name;
        var newColor = new CMYKColor();
        newColor.cyan = c;
        newColor.magenta = m;
        newColor.yellow = y;
        newColor.black = k;
        newSpot.colorType = ColorModel.SPOT;
        newSpot.color = newColor;
        var newSpotColor = new SpotColor();
        newSpotColor.spot = newSpot;

CMYK to spot color

how can i change one part of a file that has been created in cmyk to spot color without changing the rest of the cmyk art?

Still too short. An informative description is required.
In other words, please describe as detailed as possible what you want to do. Step by step, so one at least can understand it.

Help converting to 2 spot colors

Hello All,
I am ashamed to say I am a teacher in a vocational high school that doesn't know much about
computer programs. I am an old camera/stripper person. I have been teaching 24 years and am well
versed in PageMaker, In=Design and Photoshop.
What I am trying to do is the following.
I am trying to convert a vector image into 2 spot colors.
For example: I have a wreath and bow    I would like to print the wreath in a
PMS 348 and the bow in 185 Red.
I can of course do this with process colors, but often the job does not warrant
using process so I would like to be able to print using solid PMS colors.
I think that is it in a nutshell. I have tried to work in Photoshop but have had no luck.
My questions are:
1. - I am using a Vector image from an artbook CD. - Is this good?
2. - Can I convert a picture downloaded from the internet?
3. - How can i learn to do this? - I have looked for online help and the school will not pay
for me to take a course.
Lastly, I understand layers well but have little to no knowledge of Channels
I sure would like to be able to show the students how to do this. Does anyone know how to do this
or where I can view tutorial on this matter.
I sure would appreciate any help.   Thanks   Print Dad

You don’t say what version of Illustrator, but regardless if you already have vector art I’d stay away from converting a rasterized image to vector. There are relatively easy ways of doing what you want with a vector image with the merge swatch feature, but that depends on what sort of vector image you have. Presumably the vector wreath you are working with is made up of a number of rgb or cmyk values.
1         OK, so you are starting with a vector image, that’s a good start. Are you positive it is vector? In Illustrator can you see all the points when you select the object, and not just one big square?
2         You could convert a picture from the internet, but that would not work nearly as well.
3 See below:
Delete all the swatches from you pallet. Drag a 185 & 348 swatch from the pantone pallet to your swatch pallet.
Set the Magic Wand to a useful value (double click on the wand to bring up the dialog box). The lower the value the more work you’ll have to do, but you’ll wind up with more shades of red and green).
Click on the most saturated area of red with the Magic Wand Tool. Click on your 185 red swatch. Hide the newly minted resulting 185 red (Ctrl-3).
Click on the next most saturated area of red with the Magic Want Tool. Click on your 185 red swatch. On your color pallet, reduce the pantone 185 red to less than 100% to taste. Hide the result with the Ctrl-3 command again.
Keep going until there is no red remaining visible, and then do the same with the green.
When you can see no more remaining parts of the wreath, you should be almost there. Just to be sure, do Ctrl-A and make sure nothing gets selected (for instance white objects) when you do so. If nothing gets selected, you should have only the items you have colored. Use the command Ctrl-Alt-3 to reveal all the items you have hid. (The hide and unhide are under the OBJECT menu, but the shortcuts are a bit quicker). If you do have white objects, you can still use the pantone red/green and set the color percentage to 0%.
Select the print command and print to a postscript device. (A .pdf output will work if you are not hooked up to a postscript printer). In the resulting print dialog box click on the “Output” command in the upper left corner. Under the Mode select “Separations” Hopefully if all went well, under the Document Ink Colors only 185 Red and 348 Green will have a little printer icon next to them.
No need to concern yourself with channels.

Converting from a spot color to a color for a RGB document?

How can I take a spot color from the Pantone Swatches Library and convert it for use in a RGB document? Thanks.

kat,
You may:
1) Click the Pantone Swatch, or a path to which it is applied;
2) Switch to RGB (for RGB, CMYK for CMYK) in the Color palette/panel, and ;
3) Click New Swatch in the Swatches palette/panel flyout, see that Color Type says Process Color, give it its name (and make it Global if relevant), and press OK.
With that you will have the corresponding RGB colour (closest match) as a swatch.

Text reflow when converting from rgb spot color to process black

The setup that I'm using is a G5 Mac OSX, version 10.4.11. The InDesign application is CS3, version 5.0.3. The fonts are loaded into Extensis Font Reserve, server 1.7.4. The InDesign document has a text box using 2 different font sets. One set, Helvetica Neue, uses the rgb spot color. The other one, a mixed set of New Century Schoolbook, is used for a paragraph which is process black. When deleting the rgb spot color from the swatches and converting it to process black, the New Century Schoolbook reflows which had already been process black.
If I just select the Helvetica Neue type and change that line to process black there is no reflow problem.
When I tried this document on another Mac with the same set up there was no reflow. Is this an InDesign preference problem? Thanks

If you change the color back and then back again, do you get more reflows?
The reason I ask is that when InDesign opens a document, it holds the existing composition of stories until you apply any edit. So, it could be that what you're seeing here is that yours and your user's setups are different enough that reflow is inevitable the moment you edit the text, and changing the color counts as editing.
Dave

Color separation CMYK and SPOT Color

Hi,
I am new to the Acrobat SDK and I need to write a plugin for separating the colors (CMYK and Spot)
from a PDF file. I Believe I need to use the Acro_Color library classes for doing this. Can you please
point me some sample code fragments to achieve how to separate these colors and generate a separate
PDF file for each color.
Kindly help me in this.
Thanks in advance..
Thanks
sabdul

Do you actually need to do true separations, where each page of the new
PDF is a separate "plate" OR just simple separations of objects?
If the latter, then just walk through the objects (PDEdit APIs) and copy
them from one to another.
If the former, there are a variety of methods - some simpler than other.
Depends a LOT on your specific requirements with respect to PDF levels,
standards compliance, etc. You will probably need to talk to some people
in the print production industry to better understand the specific
requirements.

Convert CMYK to Spot?

I've a pdf that has some text that is cmyk and is supposed to be a spot, can that text be converted to spot in Acro (9x) or do I need to have the person re-work the file and resend?

I'm designer for publishing company and we dealing with printer, normally we send CMYK PDF file to printer for output sometime there is RGB file in that file.
How to check where is the RGB part and where is CYMK part?

Convert cmyk image to grayscale within Illustrator

Now that we can finally change the color of grayscale images, it would be nice to change a cmyk image to grayscale.
EDIT: I just remembered you can with Adjust Color Balance, oops!

1) select all
2) edit -> convert to grayscale

Converting CMYK colors to spot color?

My publisher/printer requests a "hi-res pdf" as camera ready copy for a book I'm writing which will be printed in 2 colors (black and a spot color shade of blue). The pages have images from various sources and text with CMYK approximations of that blue which I'd like to convert to the spot color. Is there a convenient way to do this sort of operation through "preflight" or convert colors - so the final document has only K of CMYK and the spot color?

Yes, see my reply here.

Converting CMYK to Spot Color (InDesign/Illustrator)

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