Expert: Kevin Stohlmeyer - 4/5/2008

Question
QUESTION: Hello,

I have a vector image i created in illustrator (CS). I mainly work in Indesign and do almost all of my output from there.
My Indesign file is 3 spot colors, with one of them black.
I'm using the black Pantone spot in the coated library. From there i am screening the image to 25%. I was going to use the spot color 424 but I was getting that and another black in my indesign file.
I have checked my seps in my profile etc. and I am still getting cmyk in my ink manager. I have also checked all of my imported files (3 files). There is another file that is an eps and I've also cleaned out the palette and just selected the same black.

My printer is working from a pdf, but says there are still two items coming up cmyk.

any help would be great.
Thank you
nd

ANSWER: Hi Nickola,

In Illustrator, you have to make sure you spot colors remain intact. Go under Effects>Document Effects Raster Settings and make sure you have the box for Preserve Spot Colors checked.

That will keep your spot colors. Alos, if you are working in InDesign, convert all files to an AI file, not a pdf to import into InDesign.

Thanks

Kevin




---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I looked under  my effects>doc effects raster and i do not have an option of preserve spot colors. (i'm only working in  CS not CS3). I have an option for cmyk, bitmap, or grayscale, so i did switch to grayscale, then an option for resolution, clipping, and background. I did a search in cs help but only got info on importing bitmap from photoshop.
I only export out of indesign as pdf, i always import into indesign with Ai or eps files.
??
thank you again.

nd

Answer
CS automatically preserves your spot colors. When you import into InDesign, your spot colors show up in the colors palette. That tells you that everything is coming in ok.  The issue is with InDesign exporting your pdfs, not Illustrator. If you are using InDesign CS, there should be an option in the export>PDF options to preserve your pdfs. Check the help menu there, since I am not an InDesign expert, Im not sure.

Thanks

Kevin