Photoshop Basics Tutorial: Spot Color Channel Basics

Spot-color channels, which can store the channels of spot-color information-that can be applied to images and printing as a spot color, which distinguishes it from the alpha channel. At the same time, spot-color channels have all the features of an alpha channel: Saving selection information, transparency information. Each spot color channel is just one store of the corresponding spot color information in grayscale.

A very long time to form, but usually rarely involved in the topic, is the spot color channel.

I have been in the profession for several years, has been to print design and printing Seihan mainly, but the spot color channel for me is still a relatively unfamiliar topic, usually little contact, almost no (I'm telling the truth), because even if you do spot color, with the usual method is enough to deal with, and many spot colors are done on the CD (I use CD typesetting), PS Spot-color channels are rarely used.

Because everyone's trust to me moved me, so recently I have done some research on spot color channel.

Originally thought oneself already understood the spot color channel content, after further research, incredibly found a lot of things we usually rarely contact, there are a lot of things I also know for the first time, but also found a lot of problems, in the full text I will be with the spot color channel related things as comprehensively as possible to show everyone, At the same time also put my problems listed, I hope we discuss together.

Although still fur, but after all, is the first step, I hope to give you a more correct, practical things so that there is no contact with the spot-color channel of friends less to take detours.

Of course, there must be imperfections, and even incorrect (will inevitably do subjective judgment), if you find that you must help me point out and correct.

But there's always a problem. This is why I dragged so long to send this post reason: With what method, a complex content of the spot color channel, simple and orderly, easy to express, with what kind of example can let everyone better understand the various types of spot color channel.

I tried to make some efforts, in the practical, reasonable principles to complete the following content.

All right, let's start our discussion--

First, let's take a look at the concept of spot-color channels.

Spot-color channels, which can store the channels of spot-color information-that can be applied to images and printing as a spot color, which distinguishes it from the alpha channel. At the same time, spot-color channels have all the features of an alpha channel: Saving selection information, transparency information. Each spot color channel is just one store of the corresponding spot color information in grayscale,

is independent of the color display on the screen.

Spot color and its characteristics

Spot color ink refers to a kind of premixed color ink (or special premixed ink), used to replace or supplement the printing color (CMYK) inks, such as bright orange, green, fluorescent color, metal gold silver ink, etc., or can be bronzing version, concave version, etc., but also as a local varnish version and so on, It does not depend on the CMYK four-color mixed, each spot color in the press requires a special printing plate (can be simply understood as a pay spot color film, printing for spot color separate print), spot color means accurate color.

Spot color has the following characteristics:

1. Accuracy. Each spot color has its own fixed hue, so it solves the problem of the accuracy of color transfer in printing;

2. Field sex. Spot colors generally define colors with field colors, regardless of how shallow the color is. Of course, you can also add to the spot color screen to render any shade of the spot color;

3. Opacity and transparency. Crayon color (contains opaque white), black Shadow (contains black) and metal color is relatively opaque, pure color and paint color is relatively transparent;

4. Performance gamut width. Spot color gamut is very wide, more than RGB, CMYK performance gamut, so, most of the color is CMYK four-color printing inks can not be presented.

Before we use spot and spot color channels, to know whether the spot color image needs to be pierced; spot color ink overprint in other inks, how to prevent the appearance of moire; If you want to import spot color images into typesetting software or vector software, how to save spot color image file as DCS 2.0 EPS files and other issues need to be clear. In a word-keep your head clear all the time!

Let's start with step-by-step instructions:

First, create spot color channel (sample version: PS6 Simplified Chinese version)

What color mode can a spot color channel create a build? The answer is that you can generate spot channels in all color modes except bitmap mode. Some might say, isn't that a mess? Can the images in RGB and lab modes be printed? Don't worry, wait for me slowly:

Because the basic method for creating spot channels is the same, I have chosen the lowest-channel grayscale mode to start.

In order to facilitate browsing and production, I press 55mmx90mm business card size to do, all the methods mentioned in the article can be applied to any spot color related to the printing, packaging (because it is not possible to write all the spot color types can be encountered).

Explanation, the Bigfoot tribe (A tribe of Beetle-crushers) is not to say that my feet are really big:

That is true

Tribe: A unit of social organization consisting of many families, clans, or other groups of the same ancestor, culture, and leading group; a group of people with a common vocation, interest, or habit.

Beetle-crusher: Bigfoot, Big boots. Among them beetle also have the meaning of stupid person, extended for rookie.

Bigfoot: A group of amateurs with common occupations, interests, or habits that are

Down-to-earth, step of the doer.

As for the design has not done any consideration, we do not think too much, just an example:

There are several ways to create a spot color channel:

First: Create an empty spot-color channel

Step 1, select New Spot channel from the channel panel's Drop-down menu,

Step 2, Pop-up dialog box select color and density after determining.

The spot color generally selects the Pantone color, and when the Pantone color is selected, the spot color name is automatically added to the Name box.

For the interpretation of density, see [II, specify the density of spot color (transparency, also known as hardness)].

can also be customized any color, such as K:16, the name changed to spot color silver.

Select Pantone Color, generally according to customer needs or within the scope of the design needs to find and select. Then operate on the spot color channel. I added a color block to it;

Look at the image, in grayscale mode can actually see color, hehe: No wonder, spot color is actually a kind of free from the normal printing color, can not be affected by the color mode, in the current state, no matter what you turn to the feasibility of color mode, spot color channel is unchanged. I say so, is not everyone can understand why in a variety of color mode to generate spot color channel, we just have to ensure that the final color mode and storage format to meet the printing requirements, and no longer worry about the spot color channel will follow the changes (its adaptability is too strong).

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