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Posted on 19/07/07 10:40:16 AM |
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chris berry
Overhead Overlord Posts: 724 Reply  |
creating a special red in a channel
I've got a pack shot of an xmas cake on a neutral background which the client wants changing to a christmassy red, which is C:0 M:100 Y:100 K:0 He wants this colour dropped in a new channel. Anyone know how to do it? Cheers Chris |
Posted on 19/07/07 1:55:07 PM |
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Steve Caplin
Administrator Posts: 7075 Reply  |
Re: creating a special red in a channel
Do you mean this is going to be printed as a five colour job? So is this actually a red plate, rather than a new channel? |
Posted on 19/07/07 2:01:22 PM |
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chris berry
Overhead Overlord Posts: 724 Reply |
Re: creating a special red in a channel
Yes. The client wants an extra "christmassy red. |
Posted on 19/07/07 6:27:53 PM |
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tank172
ThreeDee Thriller Posts: 692 Reply  |
Re: creating a special red in a channel
You may want to check with the company that will do the printing. I know that some places require a specific Pantone spot colour or other colour to be used when you want to 'activate' the intended plate (ie fifth plate). In order to acheive 100% true spot red, the printing company will indicate what specific colour to use, then set that value to 100. If they're not using a dedicated plate for spot, M: 100, Y:100 should get you the maximum red available when using CMYK. Every printer uses slightly different methods...so, it wouldn't hurt to give them a call. Hope this helps --Chris |
Posted on 19/07/07 6:35:31 PM |
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tank172
ThreeDee Thriller Posts: 692 Reply |
Re: creating a special red in a channel
Also, you mention the need to "drop the colour to a new channel" In the channels pallet, make a new channel named Spot Red-->select the Magenta channel-->CTRL+Click the thumbnail to load the selelection-->CTRL+C-->click on Spot Red Channel-->CTRL+V-->CTRL+D to deselect-->Go to Yellow Channel-->CTRL+Click the thumbnail to load the selelection-->CTRL+C-->click on Spot Red Channel-->CTRL+V This will copy all colour information in M and Y channels and put them on the new Spot Red channel. That will fullfill the client's request. Just make sure to check the histogram to see if the value is 100% on the areas intended to be pure red... Please note: This method will rasterize all vector graphics & text in the Spot Red channel...in case you're planning for a large print. With every revision you make to the artwork after creating the Spot Red Channel, you'll have to delete that channel and repeat this process. Unless someone knows a workaround... Please, double check with the production company prior to trying this... |
Posted on 19/07/07 8:09:55 PM |
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chris berry
Overhead Overlord Posts: 724 Reply |
Re: creating a special red in a channel
I must be dim. Opened a new spot channel and called it spot red. Where do I select the M channel? Channel mixer is greyed out. Sorry Chris, but this is all new to me. Chris |
Posted on 19/07/07 9:04:26 PM |
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Wayne
Printer’s Devil Posts: 312 Reply  |
Re: creating a special red in a channel
Chris, here is my understanding of spot channels (from a printer's perspective) Most printers will print a spot channel with a solid ink colour (not made from CMYK) that is specified by the client. These colours are, more often than not, specified by a Pantone number. You need to find out exactly what colour your client wants, unless you are choosing it yourself. In the 'New Spot Channel' dialog, set the 'Solidity' to 100%. Then click the colour swatch. This opens the 'Color Picker'. Click on 'Color Libraries' to open up several ranges of Pantone colours. You need to select the actual red your client wants. Say for example you choose Pantone Red 485c from the 'Solid Coated' range, which is a rich, warm, 'Christmassy' red Once this is done, when the job is output into colour separations for printing, there will be an extra film for the spot colour, named 'Pantone 485c'. This lets the printer know exactly what special, or spot, colour the client requires. So whatever appears on the fifth (spot) plate, will be printed in the special Pantone 485c red ink, in addition to the rest of the image in CMYK. The trick, therefore, is for you to place exactly what you want to print in the spot red ink onto the spot channel. Remember, it's a bit like painting on a mask: painting in BLACK on the spot channel will finish up as RED in the final printed image. So, from what you have said, and without seeing your image, I am guessing you need to isolate the background, copy it onto the spot channel and then delete it from the CMY and K channels. As you will know, there are several methods of doing this in Photoshop, just use the method appropriate to the image. I hope this has helped, and wish you the best of luck. If you are still stuck, post again and I'll do my best to help you out. Wayne |
Posted on 19/07/07 9:14:45 PM |
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chris berry
Overhead Overlord Posts: 724 Reply |
Re: creating a special red in a channel
Thanks Wayne - let's see how I go! Chris |
Posted on 19/07/07 10:57:21 PM |
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tank172
ThreeDee Thriller Posts: 692 Reply |
Re: creating a special red in a channel
Very nice explanation, Wayne. I was fumbling a bit when trying to explain, and I completely missed the part about deleting the overlapping CMYK after the Spot channel is introduced   ... Hope I didn't confuse you too badly, Chris Berry.
--Chris |
Posted on 20/07/07 10:22:12 AM |
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chris berry
Overhead Overlord Posts: 724 Reply |
Re: creating a special red in a channel
No, no, don't worry, you haven't confused me at all. But I am thinking of swapping to a simpler occupation, like rocket scientist... Thanks again everyone for your help. Chris |