How to Add Spot Colors in Photoshop Images (Part 2)

In order to make a production document with spot color information work in other desktop software, you need to understand two issues: First, Photoshop saves spot color information in three ways: grayscale mode, CMYK mode, and multi-channel color mode Second, in order for the file to be used in other desktop publishing software, files containing spot color information must be saved in the DCS2.0EPS format.

The Desktop Color Separation (DCS) file is a pre-separated EPS file that contains low-resolution display images for positioning and high-resolution images for color separation. The DCS2.0 file supports spot color separation and four-primary color separation.

Although many applications support DCS files, their response to DCS files is not exactly the same. For example, Illustrator 8.0 should connect to the not embed-DCS file. (Illustrator7.0 and earlier versions do not support DCS2.0 files.) If PageMaker6.5 is set up correctly, both display and output will be fine. Follow these steps to save Photoshop image files that work in PageMaker 6.5, Illustrator 8.0, and many other desktop software.

1. In Photoshop, from the File menu, select Save AS, select a saved file directory, enter the name of the saved file, and then from the Save AS pop-up menu, select Photoshop DCS2.0EPS format, click OK.

2. In the DCS2.0 Format dialog box, select TIFF (8 bits/pixel) in the Preview item, select Multiple File With Color Composite (72 pixels/in) from the DCS pop-up menu, select ASCII from the Encoding pop-up menu, and then cancel Include Halftone Screen and Include Transfer Function options.

For more tips on how DCS image files work in desktop software, refer to the User's Guide.

On other desktop software

For a smooth and efficient production workflow, when importing DCS 2.0 EPS files in other application software, the spot colors in the file should be merged with the spot colors in PageMaker or Illustrator. Only in this way can the output be correct. The separation results. Illustrator 8.0 manages this process automatically by scanning and comparing spot color names and definitions, and then reminding you how to merge spot colors imported from Photoshop.

In PageMaker 6.5, PageMaker 6.5 will remind you how to merge imported spot colors if PageMaker finds the same spot color in the document but has different definitions. However, when the spot color names are defined with the same difference (or different names, different definitions), PageMaker simply imports spot colors, so the color separation result may not be what you expected. Before outputting, be sure to check your color separation table, and then merge spot colors in PageMaker 6.5. Use the following tips to solve this problem.

1. Match the name of the spot color in the "local" level with the imported spot color (file generated by Photoshop)

For example, to merge the Pantone 353 CVC and imported PANTONE 353 CVC in PageMaker, first open the Color Palette, double-click Pantone 353 CVC, enter PANTONE 353 CVC, and click OK. Be sure to make case, spelling, and space consistent. PageMaker eventually replaced Pantone 353 CVC with PANTONE 353 CVC.

2. Match the spot colors in the "local" program exactly with the imported spot colors (Photoshop generated files)

Still using the above example, double-click Pantone 353 CVC in the Color Palette, select Tint from the Type popup menu, and from the base Color pop-up menu, select the spot color PANTONE 353 CVC to copy and click OK. The PANTONE 353 CVC color still appears in the Color Palette, but now the spot color name in the "local" program is exactly the same as the imported spot color (Photoshop generated file) definition and will be output on the same spot color version.

Using Photoshop 5.0 can easily add the spot color to the image, make the image more vivid and bright, make the four primary colors more rich, master the above-mentioned techniques, make spot color more exciting!