Expert: Kevin Stohlmeyer - 6/13/2008

Question
QUESTION: i have created cmyk files in photoshop 8.0 and need to somehow save them so that they can be opened in illustrator as spot color files.  i have an average understanding of photoshop and very little understanding of illustrator.  i have tried many things including saving as dcs spot color file but when 'placing' this file in illustrator it becomes completely pixelated.  please, any help is very much appreciated.  thanks so much.

ANSWER: Hi Harold,

The problem is your DCS file actually is showing a jpg or tif preview when you place it in Illustrator. Im concerned about the versions you are using and whether or not they are compatible, since your PS is out of date.

One suggestion I have without know what version of Illustrator you have is to try opening the DCS file in Illustrator instead of placing it. (DCS is actually an .eps file with extra channels). Also make sure you are saving with a color composite with a .tif preview (pc).

If neither of these work, please write back and let me know what version of Illustrator you are using, and the specs on the PS file (size, resolution, number of spot colors, etc.) I will need this information to answer this more effectively.

Thanks

Kevin




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

QUESTION: Thanks so much for your prompt response, although it still does not help the situation.  I have created cmyk files in Photoshop CS (8.0) that are going to be used as silkscreens where the colors need to be separated as spot colors. I can save the cmyk files as a jpeg, pdf, eps or psd.  I am not sure what version of illustrator my silkscreener uses but they have told me they need the files already set as spot colors.  I have gone and created the file in spot colors in photoshop and save it as spot colors, but can only save it as spot colors in a few options when i go to "save as."  They are Photoshop, Photoshop Raw, and Photoshop DCS 2.0.  I have tried them all and when i then try to open it in illustrator cs (10.0) i receive the following message: "DCS EPS files cannot be opened or embedded. Please place the file using the Link option."  So when i do this the image is completely  pixilated.  And when i save it as a psd file, illustrator gives me the message that the file is in an unreadable format.  I do not know what to do.  At all. Please help. Again, thank you for your time and help.

ANSWER: Hi Harold,

DCS is your only option to have readable spot colors from Photoshop. Once you link it, even though it appears pixelated, have you tried printing a proof to see what kind of quality you get? Im thinking it may just be a pixelated low-res preview image since it is a linked file.

Try printing it out and see how the quality looks. If it is ok, then you are all set, if not, let me know and I can dig some more.

Thanks

Kevin




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

QUESTION: Thanks again for your effort, but still no luck.  When i sent the file to my silkscreener it was not able to be opened and so they asked for it as a pdf file.  I don't see how this is possible because as we've confirmed, spot colors can only be saved as dcs files.  I did try to print it as you suggested, but it is entirely pixels and not clear at all.  I assume that i need to do something in illustrator, but do not know what that is and all of my research has led me back to saving it differently in photoshop.  argh.  thanks again for your continued efforts.

Answer
Hi Harold,

DCS is the only way to preserve spot colors from Photoshop. However, saving as a pdf from Illustrator should do the same. What resolution is your PS file?

Are you doing anything in Illustrator to the file or are you just placing the photoshop file into Illustrator?

Thanks

Kevin