How to apply duo-tone to 'placed' images in Illustrator CS 3

[annadesigner]

Hi,

This may be a really basic question...
but I've not used Illustrator to do this before and am wondering if it possible;
in Quark Express when you import a grayscale tif image you can choose the background and foreground colours of it and it changes all the grey/black for the foreground colour and all the white areas to the background colour you've selected.

Is this possible in Illustrator?
I know you can use the 'multiply' function in the Transparency pallette, but I'm never very confident about whether using the transparency functions can create problems for printers...?

Any advice on this stuff would be really appreciated,
cheers,
anna

 

[itchybug]

Anna:

Try using an opacity mask. You can flatten it before going to print.

HTH

Bert

Bert Philippus -

http://www.itchybug.com

 

[BodesMan]

Hi Anna,

I have never tried that workflow in Illustrator, I create a duotone in Photoshop and place the file - linked in Illustrator. I'm going to try what Bert suggested.


info@prepress-online.com

http://www.prepress-online.com

"Tell'em we're comin', and hell's comin' with us.

 

[parkerbrown]

You can do a simlar thing by placing a .BMP into Illy. The BMP must be in BMP colour made AND BMP file type - and then be embedded into Illy.

Select using the direct slection tool (white arrow) and "voila!" you can change the colour of the positve space (the black areas of the bitmap. Because the white areas of a BMP are automatically transparent you can place a contrasting colour underneath for a duo-tone like effect.

Hope this helps you - try it anyway - it's a very handy little technique.

 

[carlow]

Hi annadesigner,

Another possibility is use the appearance palet.

Select your black/white image. See that the appearance palet is visible.

At the top right you have a little triangle, click on it and you will see the option Add new fill. Just apply it.

Now you have two item called fill. Select the top one and change the color of it.

Open up the transparency palet and play with the blending modes (multiply, Darken) and the transparency of your new fill.

This only works if you embed your Black/white image.

You can also play with the color of your original Black fill to create even more dramatic effects.

Don't be afraid of the transparency function. just see that you flatten the transparency when you create a pdf.
Select the object got ot menu 'Object'> 'Flatten transparency' and choose High resolution.
Then you will have no problems
hope this helps
carlow

 

[NFAY]

Anna -

You probably already have this figured out, but if not there is an opacity mask tutorial at:

Opacity Tutorial Here

And here is some info on Flattening:

The document contains artwork that requires flattening.

If your document contains a simple red circle and your name in text it will not require flattening. But the minute you add any effects such as drop shadows, feathers or any type of transparency, you need to flatten your document before printing. If you are sending to a printer, they will most likely have specs you can go by. Since I don't print on a home computer (at all) I have no tips there.

In order to flatten your document for printing (most often done right before printing or exporting to a file that will be printed), select all objects that need to be flattened (I usually select the complete document as I use a lot of effects) and choose Object>Flatten Transparency. Choose your settings. What will work best for you depends on your personal printer or your professional printer's specs. Many magazines want the highest settings. Your personal printer may not need anything near that high. Trial and error could easily be part of the process. If you believe you have flattened your document and are still getting the error message, make sure you don't have any layers locked. You cannot select locked layers and so they do not flatten when using Ctrl+A to "select all".

Before flattening be sure you have your Raster Effects Settings at the same dpi you plan to export or print from. If you move the slider over to the Raster side of the slider you will have a bitmap document. That may be what you need in some cases but beware that a complex document flattened to all raster could freeze your machine even with a LOT of RAM.


More info on Preparing for Pring and Printing Error Here

Good luck.