Converting Grayscale to PMS Color

[regis218]

Does anyone know how to take a vector image which is made up of many shades of black, and apply a PMS color to it, and maintain the different shades? I have several complicated pieces of vector art that I need to convert to a pms color.

Thanks!!!!!

 

[blueark]

You could try opening the swatch library containing the PMS color you need, then hold down alt/option and drag it onto the black swatch in the swatches palette. This is the normal way to globally replace a color, but I don't have Illustrator on this computer so I can't verify it right now!

 

[askIllustrator]

If its all shades of black the essentially its already separated. If not, make sure your swatch is a spot color and re-color each 'band' in the blend screening each shape back a little further each time. If it appears to have been created from a blend I suggest deleting all of the "in between shapes" leaving the first and last ones. Re-color those two and re-apply a the blend. That way the blend will be live and you can have more control of the 'bands' by editing the value of the blends master shapes. AI will separate this correctly if you have used spot colors on both sides of the blend. If you are sending the file out or placeing it in a layout app, you might think about expanding the blends again once everything is just the way you want it. BEHOLD! As Steve Jobs introduces us the latest in desk-lamp technology!

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