Expert: Kevin Stohlmeyer - 3/3/2010

Question
I am familiar with using channels to separate CMYK, but they always come up greyscale. I would like to print off each layer individually (Cyan, magenta, yellow and black), but need to have the colors visible.

Answer
Hi Sarah,

There is no automatic way to have this happen. I actually had the same question a few months ago. Here is the solution:

Go to the individual channel in the channels panel, highlight the channel and select all. Copy the contents of the channel.

Then go to your layers panel and paste the contents in. This will give you a black and white version of the contents of the channel. Next, add a Solid Color Adjustment Layer filling it with 100% Cyan, Magenta or Yellow (pasting will give you a black version so no need to color). Then adjust your Adjustment Layer's blending mode to Screen.

This will give you a color channel that you can now print out in color.


Thanks

Kevin