How to assign spot colours in mult-channel mode? 1

[mistercitizen]

I've begun with a RGB file, which I have removed one of the channels from, to automatically create a multi-channel file with two channels: Channel #1 and #2.

How do I assign a Pantone to each of these channels?

Thanks in advance!

 

[blueark]

In the channels palette, double click one channel. The "Spot Channel Options" dialog appears, with a section called "Ink Characteristics". Double-click the color and choose a new ink. If you only get the normal color picker, click the "Custom" button to get Pantone colors.

Repeat this for each channel. Now you can paint on each channel individually. When sending to print, you may need to save as a DCS file. Be warned that many printers have trouble with these files, so check with them first.

 

[blueark]

By the way, when I say "Double click one channel" I mean double click it's thumbnail. Either that, or in the channels popup menu, select "Channel Options".

 

[mistercitizen]

Thanks for the tip. I actually worked it out eventually.

What sort of problems do printers get with the DCS 2.0 format, as I am condsidering using it in my next job which involves pantones.

 

[blueark]

Ask them. Usually their RIP doesn't understand the format and either misinterprets the file, or doesn't output it at all. Send them a test file if they're not sure. They don't have to output it, they just have to see if it RIPs correctly. Don't forget that although many printers have trouble with them, there are many that will process them flawlessly, so shop around.

 

[mistercitizen]

Thanks.

Sounds a little dicey. Is there any sure-fire workaround for using DCS? Such as embedding it in a PDF of another file format?

What about multiple DCS file option? (when saving DCS)

I would use a duotone image, but I can't acheive the same tonal range that I'm getting by creating a multi-channel file.

 

[blueark]

Embedding it in a PDF might work. I tried placing a DCS file in Quark and exporting a separated PDF which seems to be accurate. Again, your printer is the only person that can confirm this for you.

The multiple DCS file option isn't really used much these days; it's an optimization left over from the days when computers weren't very fast. It might make a difference on very old RIPs, but you can probably ignore it safely.

 

[mistercitizen]

Thanks again for all of your great responses Bluark - a star for you! DCS Guru!

Interesting point about the "multiple file" DCS ootion - these are the sort of things the Photoshop manual doesn't tell you. (believe me - I read half the thing trying to work this out!)

One last question:

What exactly do you mean by "seperated PDF"? Is this merely a PDF that will seperate correctly, or it it a setting in a Acrobat dialog box?

 

[blueark]

A "separated PDF" is just a PDF with each separation on an individual page, sort of like having each channel on it's own page. It doesn't seem to be an option in Distiller on the computer I'm working on right now (although it's a little out of date), so I'm assuming it's an option in the postscript print driver Quark is using. Quark uses the driver to create a PostScript file, Distiller converts it to a PDF. The option is in Quark. You don't really need to worry about it, I only used it for verification. I've never had to use it for a real job.