Expert: Amy - 6/8/2006

Question
I am putting together a logo standards booklet for a client,
detailing proper ways to display the logo.  I am having trouble
explaining the inks.  The logo really only uses three spot colors,
but part of the logo is made up of gradients.  One gradient
starts at 100% of the first spot (cool gray) down to 1%.  No issues
there.  The problem is in determining how to mangage the other
gradient, which blends the two remaining spots (aqua blue and
royal blue).  Can a gradient of two spot colors be printed
accurately, or will most printers convert this to a process blend?  
The gradients are only about half the logo too.  The rest of the
logo only uses the straight spot colors.  But maybe this is
irrelevant if I need to use process inks to make the two-color
gradient.


I don't believe this is a platform specific question but I am on a
mac in AI CS.

thanks for the help!

Dave H.

Answer
Hiya Dave,

Do you think I could get a look at the file?

You would have to export to legacy version 9 since that's what I work on. Or save as EPS, although I don't know if you've used any transparencies you need to preserve for this question.

I *believe* the spots should be okay as you describe but I want to prepress check it and see.

The issue you'll need to discuss with your printer is the angles to print the spot colors at to get the best result (no banding).

Please send the file to me at AmyLynPace@yahoo.com and I'll take a quick look!

-Amy