problem with importing spot-color gradients from Illustrator to ID

[pjotz27x]

A client came with an IDD(CS1) with several Illustrator-files imported, the colors were 2 PMS colors. In Seperation preview everything was fine, only the gradients were in CMYK, so I ended up with 6 colors. I thought maby the client had been messing up, but when I made an AI-document myself with such a gradient the same thing happenned. When I make the gradient in ID it's allright, but it is too much work to import and place all the AI-shapes in ID and fill them again with the ID-gradient. In QuarkXpress this was never a problem, but I also don't intend to make it all over in Xpress, the document is too complex, there are several AI-files (in Xpress you have to convert to .eps first, I should put them in place in the qxd, in short making it all over).Anyone familiair with the problem? Anyone knowing a solution? My thanks will be humoungous...
Pit from Holland

 

[jmgalvin]

If you want to print a postscript file to distill in Acrobat, you cmigh be able to change the spots to process. Select Adobe Postscript as printer and Adobe pdf as PPD (unless you wan to use the PPD for your printer).

Go to the Output tab and clcik on Ink Manager. At the bottom of that window you'll see All Spots to Process. Chaeck that.

You could do this direct to print - bypassing the pdf - but the pdf gives you an onscreeen proof of the conversion from spot to process, which could have a lot of variation depending on the PMS spots used.

Using OSX 10.3.9 on a G4

 

[bcryer]

Strange -- I just tested this scenario as I am currently working a similar project.

My file contains 4 spots -- 2 of which come in from an .eps file created in Illustrator with Gradients -- no problem. Separation previews as it should -- 4 spots, no cmyk and when I generate a PDFX1-A, separation is fine as well.

Are you 100% positive that the gradients which were created in Illustrator have the spot assigned or did the client possibly click on process?

I would check there first. If that isn't the case, try checking preferences.

 

[pjotz27x]

thanks for the answer but I'm afraid it's not what I'm looking for. I want to end up with only the two spot-colors, send my file to the RIP-station with its own PPD to be printed in gray on film/plate whatever. When I change them in process I end up in CMYK, having 2 colours less then the 6 before but still 2 more than wanted (and calculated), and with all the variation in the PMS-spots, the double in the costs etc.
I wonder why I cannot find a proper way to handle it with everybody talking about the benefits of ID compared to Quark and the 'impecable integration' of Illustrator and other Adobe programs in ID, where this thing in Quark is just a piece of cake... There must be a (simple) solution, with all those people working in the Graphic Industry using InDesign?
Maybe it's something in the saving of the AI or .eps file, I cannot find any usefull import option in ID.
However thanks for reacting,
pit

 

[pjotz27x]

my last answer was directed to jmgalvin, reading the reaction from bcryer there must be a way, I go check all the preferences in both AI and ID, anyone else having a tip: be welcom!

 

[pjotz27x]

FOUND IT! (thanks to bcryer)
Had to change the preferences in AI
preferences > files & clipboard > (turn of) use low resolution Proxy for Linked Eps;
in my preferences it was turned on, still do not understand why Quark is able to handle eps-files without changing the prefs, but whatever. And in case of gradients it's evident that in InDesign you cannot use the AI-files (Quark also only handles .eps)
Thanks (also tek-tips, this was my first visit and probably not the last!)

 

[pjotz27x]

was a little premature about the prefs, whatever pref it's about the AI-files imported that don't work, when imported in .eps the seperations do seem to work (with the pref off or on). Before I annoy you people with more about this I first have to check the concerning files in the studio on monday, thanks anyway, have a good weekend