spot color channel

[kentucky]

I have been trying to use the spot color channel. for 2 color print jobs. Gray product with a pms 186 color added. in one section. not a duotone. Anyway, it works, in quark and separates, as a DCS 2.0, which is ok, if i print from separated plates here. but if i send to a printer, how will that work... when i export to pdf, it won't show as a composite, but will as separations. under the DCS 2.0 save options, you can save a a composite (72 dpi). is that the one i should choose. I need to know in advance before starting a project, so I know if I can even do it. Is just the preview, 72dpi or will it actually print 72dpi.
Thanks.

 

[Foamcow]

The "Composite 72dpi" thing simply saves a singe file with a 72dpi preview image embeded within the file. Programs like Quark use the embeded preview for their on screen display rather than generating one themselves as they do with a TIF for example. That's why TIFFs look different in Quark to EPS files.

For your purposes you should save the file as a DCS 2.0 Single file with a colour preview. You could use a multiple file format, but for ease of file management I'd go for the single file.
Use ASCII encoding (not ASCII85 - I think that's what it's called in CS). Avoid JPEG encoding - it will probably be OK but can cause problems, so if in doubt, avoid it.

The most important thing is to check with your printer/repro house that they will be able to handle the file. Some RIPS do not like DCS 2.0 files and will output a composite image rather than separating it. Perhaps get them to do a test first (I have dealt with a printer in the past who said it would be no problem but didn't really have a clue and it turned out to be a major problem)

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