1.1 "Edit" tab

Updated on Oct 02, 2024

In this chapter you'll learn

how to edit Process and Spot Colors,
how to transform Objects and Images and
how to use the "Edit" tab in the best possible way.

1. Introduction

Objects like images, vectors and text are the heart of every PDF. Therefore, we will give you an overview on how to quickly and efficiently change fill, stroke, color and attributes and add objects in the PDF Editor.

2. "Edit" tab

In the Edit tab it's possible to modify the objects of a PDF file. Hence, you can change the shape, color and the position of an object as well as the Overprint state for Stroke and Fill as well as select additional actions.

The tab is split into five setting areas as well as the area for Actions (described in detail in the Actions article). These areas are:

Transform [1] – Define the position and size and apply transform the selected objects by rotating, mirroring and scaling as a group or transform all objects individually.
Color [2] – Determine the Color Value, the Tonal Value and the Opacity for the Stroke and the Fill of a selected object.
Attributes [3] – Determine the Line Width, the Corner Type, the Overprint state for selected object as well as assign these Attributes to a Layer.
Other [4] – Solely specify whether the change should be updated after each entry or whether you want changes to be made individually elsewhere.
Arrange [5] – Determine how objects should be arranged, aligned, adjusted or distributed.

Figure 1: The setting areas of the Edit tab without the Actions area

The following description goes into the options that available in each settings area in more detail.

2.1. Transform Objects

In the Transform settings area, a variety of functions are available to change the size and position of objects. Whether transformations are to be applied to the entire selection or to the individual objects in the selection can be determined separately.

Figure 2: The settings area Transform in the Edit tab

2.1.1. Change Size and Position with mouse

To change the size of an object in the PDF Editor, take hold of the object at the corners of the box and scale it, as familiar from other applications. By additionally pressing the Shift key, the aspect ratio is maintained and thus the size is changed proportionally.

The position of a selection can be changed by moving the selection to the desired position.

2.1.2. Transform by Entering

If you have already selected an object, you can get started in the Transform settings area.

Origin [6] – By selecting the origin, determine the starting point from which the transformation should take place.
X and Y value – Allow you to enter the coordinates to which you want to move an object. The coordinate system is based on the top left point, the coordinates displayed describe the point selected in the origin.
Width and Height – Allow you to determine the width and height of the selected object.
X and Y scaling – Allow you to scale the selection along the horizontal (X-scaling) or vertical axis (Y-scaling).
Keep Proportions [7] – Control whether the proportions of width and height as well as the X and Y scaling are kept.
Change as Group [8] – If this option is selected, selected objects are transformed as a whole. If it is deactivated, the transformation is carried out on each individual object of the selected objects.
Mirror Horizontally [9] – Allows you to mirror the object horizontally.
Mirror Vertically [10] – Allows you to mirror the object vertically.
Rotate [11] – Allows you to define the rotation for selected objects.

Changing values in input fields

You can change the values in the input fields by entering the value directly or by pressing the up and down arrows on the keyboard.

2.2. Edit Images

Images in PDF files are always defined by a clipping path (image frame) and an image content. The following describes how you can edit the two objects as a whole or separately.

2.2.1. Edit Object Frames and Images

The object frame of an image - clipping path and image content - can be selected with the Selection Tool [V] and changed as described in Transform objects.

2.2.2. Edit Image Frames

The peculiarity of images is that the object frame [13] includes another frame, the so-called image frame [12] (image content). However, the size of the image frame does not necessarily have to be the same size as the object frame. The object frame acts as a kind of clipping path for the image. This means that the images in the object frame can have a larger image frame.

Access the image frame with the Direct Selection Tool [A] which can then be moved and transformed. You can quickly switch between the Selection and Direct Selection Tool by double-clicking on the image.

Figure 3: The object frame and image frame of an image object

Display Object and Images frames

How to show and hide the border frame for object and image frames is described in the article View and Analyze Print Data in the sections Displaying object frames and Displaying image frames.

Hints for future functions

In future versions, more advanced functions for handling images will be available. The following options are planned:

Change image resolution
Change image compression
Crop image frame to object frame to eliminate data waste
Export selected image
Edit image in an image editing program and apply changes to the print file
Replace image with another image

2.3. Edit Colors

If you have selected an existing object with the Selection Tool [V], you can make various changes in the Color settings area of the Edit tab. The functions available to the user in this area are described below.

Before you can change the color for the selected object, you must first select whether you want to change the Fill color or the Stroke color. To do this, select either Fill or Stroke [14]. The current color values are then displayed for the selected surface or contour of an object. The corresponding hue of the surface color is displayed in the color patch [18].

Fill and Stroke colors can be created either as a Process Color or as a Spot Color in the print file. To add a new Fill or Stroke color or to delete a color, click on the "..." selection menu [20].

2.3.1. Process Color

As shown in Figure 4, the Fill color is a Process Color with the CMYK values 100/0/100/00 and an opacity of 100%. You can change the color in the following ways:

Change Color Values [16] – Change the corresponding color values for the selected color space by entering the desired values. Depending on the color space, a different number of input fields are offered.
Change Color Space [15] – change the color space by selecting the Target Color Space in the selection menu. The following Color Spaces are available:
- RGB – This transfers the color value of the Source Color Space (e.g. CMYK) to the Target Color Space RGB according to the settings in the color management of the default settings. Then change the color values in the Red, Green or Blue input fields. The value range for the individual channels is between 0 and 255.
- CMYK – This transfers the color value of the Source Color Space (e.g. Lab) to the Target Color Space CMYK according to the settings in the color management of the default settings. Then change the color values in the Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black input fields. The value range for the individual channels is between 0% and 100%.
- Lab – This transfers the color value of the Source Color Space (e.g. RGB) to the Target Color Space Lab according to the settings in the color management of the default settings. Then change the color values in the Lightness, a-axis and b-axis input fields. The value range for the L channel is between 0% and 100%. The value range for the a and b channel is between -127 and + 128.
- Grayscale – This transfers the color value of the Source Color Space (e.g. CMYK) to the Target Color Space Grayscale according to the settings in the color management of the default settings. Then change the percentage value in the input field for the color hue. The value range for the individual channel is between 0% and 100%.
- Indexed – Conversion to this color space is not yet available.
- Bitmap – Conversion to this color space is not yet available.
Change Opacity – enter the desired percentage in Opacity [17]. The value range for opacity is between 0% and 100%.
Delete Fill Color – Select the command of the same name in the "..." selection menu [20].

Figure 4: The Color settings area with the display of a CMYK Process Color

Replace Process Color by Spot Color – Replace Process Color with Spot Color - replace the selected color with a Spot Color that already exists in the document or a system-wide defined Spot Color by clicking on Spot Color [19]. You can then select the desired Spot Color from the drop-down menu in the dialog that opens.

Figure 5: The dialog Add Spot Color

Convert to Spot Color - to convert the selected color to a Spot Color, select "..." from the selection menu [20], select the Convert to Spot Color command. In the dialog that opens, you can assign a Spot Color name [21] and specify the desired Alternate Color Space [22] and the Alternate Color Values [23] for the new Spot Color.

Figure 6: The dialog Edit Spot Color Definition

2.3.2. Spot Color

As shown in Figure 7, the Fill color [24] is a Spot Color with a Tonal Value [26] of 100% and an Opacity [27] of 100%. You can change the Spot Color in the following ways:

Select Spot Color - select the appropriate Spot Color in the Spot Color selection menu [25]. All Spot Colors of the current page as well as all system-wide Spot Colors defined in the default settings are available for selection in the selection menu.
Change the tone value of the Spot Color - enter the desired percentage in Tint [26]. The value range for the tone value is between 0% and 100%.
Change the opacity of the Spot Color - enter the desired percentage in Opacity [27]. The value range for the opacity is between 0% and 100%.
Convert Spot Color to Process Color - Click on the Process Color button [28] - a dialog to confirm the change opens. If this is confirmed, a Process Color is created in the Alternate Color Space and the Alternate Color Values of the original Spot Color.
Delete Fill color - to do this, select the command of the same name in the "..." selection menu [29].

Figure 7: The settings area Color with the the display of a Spot Color

Apply changes immediately?

If you do not want to confirm every change manually by clicking on the Apply checkbox, but want changes to be applied immediately, you can do this using the Apply changes immediately option in the Other settings area.

Specific Colors

There are some Spot Colors that have to be considered separately, as they have special features:

None - with this Color Space objects can be designated when the object has "no" color. Note that by setting the color space to None - the spelling is important - the object is still preserved even though it is no longer visible.
All - in practice this color is called Registration Color or Registration Mark Color. Unfortunately, graphic designers tend to use this color instead of a Rich Black in their design. The Registration Color consists of 100% color application for any Process and Spot Color. Thus, the Registration Color contains a total color application of 700% in a print file with CMYK data and three Spot Colors .

Background knowledge on Color Spaces

Knowledge of colors and Color Spaces is part of the prepress equipment. If you would like to learn more about Spot or Process Colors such as additive or subtractive color mixture, you will find all the important information in the Glossary.

2.4. Edit Spot Colors

Spot Colors are used very frequently in practice, especially in the packaging industry. The handling of Spot Colors is therefore a central tool of a PDF Editor such as this PDF Editor. Read on to find out how to create, edit, convert and merge with other Spot Colors and also how to delete Spot Colors.

2.4.1. Convert Spot Color into Process Color

Spot Colors can be converted to a Process Color for individual objects or entire pages.

To convert Spot Colors for single objects proceed as follows:

Select an object with the Spot Color that you want to convert.
In the Edit tab navigate to the Color settings area.
Click on the Spot Color [19] symbol (Figure 6).
The color will be converted to the Alternate Color Space with the corresponding Alternate Color Values.

To convert Spot Colors for a whole page proceed as follows:

Select the menu item Edit Document Spot Colors...
Select the Spot Color that should be converted [30].

Figure 8: The dialog Edit Document Spot Colors

To convert the Spot Color, press Convert to CMYK [36].
The Edit Spot Color definition dialog opens. You can now enter the desired CMYK values and complete the conversion by pressing OK.
However, if you want to convert the Spot Color to another Color Space, select the desired Color Space [38] in the Edit Spot Colors dialog and then enter the desired values for the Target Color Space.

Figure 9: The dialog Edit Spot Color

2.4.2. Change Alternate Color Space as well as Alternate Colors for Spot Colors

Each Spot Color has an Alternate Color space with corresponding values. If you want to adjust the existing values or change the Alternate Color Space, proceed as follows.

Select the Edit Spot Colors... menu item in Edit.
Select the Spot Color to be changed [30] (Figure 8).
To change the Alternate Color Space, select the desired entry in Color Space [38] of the Edit Spot Color definition dialog (Figure 9) and enter the corresponding color values for the new Alternate Color Space. If you only want to adjust the Alternate Color values, stay in the current Alternate Color Space and only change the values.

2.4.3. Rename Spot Color

The definition of the Spot Color is based exclusively on the Spot Color name, including different upper and lower case letters. Correct spelling of Spot Color names is therefore a very important option when dealing with Spot Colors. If you want to rename a Spot Color name, proceed as follows:

Select the Edit Spot Colors... menu item in Edit.
Select the Spot Color that should be renamed [30] (Figure 8).
Click Rename... [34] (Figure 8) to change the name of the Spot Color.
When entering the new Spot Color name, make sure that you have not mistakenly inserted a space at the end or beginning. A Spot Color name with a leading or trailing space is a different Spot Color when removing the space at the front and back!

Figure 10: The Rename Spot Color dialog

Convert to Registration Mark Color

If you want to convert a Spot Color into a Registration Mark Color, you simply have to rename the Spot Color to "All".

2.4.4. Delete Spot Color

There are two possible ways to delete a Spot Color. Decide for either step 3 or step 4 of the following description:

For both cases, navigate to Edit and select the Edit Spot Colors... menu item.
Select the Spot Color that should be deleted [30] (Figure 8).
Press Delete with Objects... [35] (Figure 8) to delete the Spot Color including the objects.
Press Rename... [34] (Figure 8) and change the name to "None" to delete only the Spot Color and keep the objects. The objects no longer have a color definition, but can be selected and colored again at a later time.

2.4.5. Merge Spot Colors

Many prepress departments carry out the harmonization of naming regarding incoming print data with Spot Colors almost daily. In other words, Spot Color definitions such as Dielines, grooves, white or varnish etc. must be given uniform names. Names can be standardized either by renaming individual Spot Color names or by merging Spot Colors.

If you want to merge Spot Colors, proceed as follows:

In Edit select the Edit Spot Colors... menu item.
Select the Spot Color [30] (Figure 8) that should be renamed.
Press Replace with Spot Color... [37] (Figure 8) to select a different Spot Color name.
In the select the desired Spot Color. The selection menu displays the Spot Colors that are on the current page and all Spot Colors that you have created in the PDF Editor default settings.
Merge by clicking OK.

Figure 11: The dialog Replace with Spot Colors wit access to Spot Colors defined in the PDF-Editor

Advices for Durst Workflow users

If you want to apply all the above activities automatically in Durst Workflow, you can use special Fixups such as Delete Spot Colors, Rename Spot Colors, Rename, Delete or convert Spot Colors and others. Some Fixups can be applied when the Print File is uploaded to the Workflow or at a later time, either manually or automatically within a Fixup Chain or directly in the Check-in Preflight and Fixup Template.

You can read more about the Data Preparation options in Durst Workflow in the article Data Preparation.

2.4.6. Create Spot Color for current page

If you want to create a new Spot Color for the current page, proceed as follows:

In Edit select the menu item Edit Spot Colors... .
Click New... [32] (Figure 8) to create a new Spot Color.
In the Edit Spot Color Definition dialog, enter the name of the Spot Color [39], select the desired Alternate Color Space [40] and then enter the values for the alternate color.
Confirm the new creation by clicking OK, which means you can now access this Spot Color in other dialogs.

Figure 12: The Edit Spot Color Definition dialog in connection with the creation of a new Spot Color

2.4.7. Globally create Spot Colors for the PDF-Editor

For technical purposes, but also for your own processes, it can be very useful to create frequently used Spot Colors in advance. For example, Primer, Varnish and Punch are often created. If you want to work with standard Spot Colors read more about that in the Article Dealing with Standard Spot Color.

Deleting and editing Spot Colors across pages

If the option Display all Spot Colors of the Document (Figure 8) is activated, the commands Delete with Objects, Convert to CMYK and Replace with Spot Color affect all pages.

2.5. Handle DeviceN Colors

DeviceN colors are by definition a Spot Color that can either be made up of several Spot Colors and/or CMYK with a defined tonal value. The purpose of this color construct is to fill an object with one color - e.g. 100% black + varnish - without having to create two objects that have to be colored separately with the respective Spot Color. As a designer, you will appreciate such options when changes need to be made to a document. As a prepress specialist who has to prepare data in flexographic printing, you will also need such color definitions if you want to create correct color separations for the individual printing units.

Typical examples for the use of DeviceN colors would be:

Black varnished text - a text or an outline converted into text is created as deep black (50/50/0/100) and should also be varnished (Spot Color varnish)
Objects with a white background - a colored vector object or text should have a white background
Varnished, colored objects with a white background - a black text (100% K) must have a white background and also be printed with a varnished finish as it is printed on a transparent Substrate
Logo - the color area of a logo must be printed with two Spot Colors with different tonal values

2.5.1. Create DeviceN Colors

The procedure for creating DeviceN colors is described below using the example "Creating a black (100 K) varnished text".

Select the desired object(s)/text(s) on the page
Color the surface of the objects with the Spot Color Varnish by first clicking on Spot Color [41] and selecting the desired system-wide defined Spot Color Varnish in the Add Spot Color dialog.
The Color settings area of the Edit tab then appears as shown in the following figure. If required, you can also define the Tonal Value [43] for the Varnish extract.

Figure 13: The settings area Color of the Edit tab

In the three dots "..." selection menu [42], select the Add Spot Color menu item.
in the Add Spot Color dialog, select Black from the drop-down menu Spot Color [44].
Confirm the dialog by pressing OK.

Figure 14: The Add Spot Color dialog

The Spot Color now consists of the Spot Color Varnish [45] and the Spot Color Black [46], whereby both color definitions have a tonal value of 100% [47].
The Color settings area in the Edit tab appears as shown in the following figure for a DeviceN color definition.
If you still want to change the opacity, enter the corresponding percentage value in Opacity [48]. Please note that the opacity affects all Spot Color definitions within the DeviceN color.

Figure 15: The settings area Color of the tab Edit with a DeviceN color definition

2.5.2. Edit DeviceN Colors

As soon as you have selected a DeviceN object, a DeviceN list with all Spot Color separations is displayed in the Color settings area in the Edit tab. The DeviceN color definition can be edited as follows:

Add an additional Spot Color channel - in the three dots "..." menu item [50], select Add Spot Color.
Delete Spot Color channel - Click the delete icon [51]. If there is only one Spot Color channel left in the list, it will be displayed as a simple Spot Color in this area.
Change the tonal value of the Spot Color channel - enter the desired tone value [52]. You can enter from 0% to 100%. Even if 0% tone value is meaningless, it is a valid DeviceN color definition.

Figure 16: The settings area Color of the Edit tag with a DeviceN color definition

2.6. Edit Object Attributes

In addition to the color options, you can also change other attributes such as Line Width, Corner Type, Overprint status and Layer assignment for the selected object. To change these attributes, select the corresponding objects and then change the corresponding attribute in the Attribute area of the Edit tab.

Figure 17: The settings area Attribute of the Edit tab

The following functions are available for users in the Attribute setting area:

Line Width: allows you to change the Line Width of the selected object according to the Length Unit that is set in your Preferences for Stroke Unit.
Corner Type: change the corner connection of two lines that meet in an angle. The following Corner Types are available in the selection menu:
- Miter: The corners are created in a sharp shape.
- Beveled: The corners are created in a beveled shape.
- Rounded: The corners are created in a rounded shape.

Figure 18: The possible Corner Types for corners. Left: Miter; Middle: Beveled; Right: Rounded

Overprint - use this to determine the overprint status for the selected objects. The following options are available in the selection menu:
- Knockout: The purpose of carrying out a Knockout on a print area is to ensure that objects in the background are not printed in the covered areas of the object. The printed color is therefore determined by the uppermost object.
- Example: Black text - 0/0/0/100 - which is placed on an image should be set to Knockout if the image in the background should not show through in the text.
- Fill: The selected area overprints underlying objects. The printed color is therefore determined from the Fill color plus the color values of the underlying object. The color value thus becomes darker and darker.
- Example: If a white background is to be printed on a transparent Substrate, the desired area is filled with the Spot Color "White" and the area is set to overprint.
- Stroke: The selected Stroke overprints underlying objects. The printed color is thus determined from the Stroke color plus the color values of the underlying object. The color value thus becomes darker and darker.
- Example: A Dieline or any technical lines in a print file should always be overprinted in practice so that the line is not set to Knockout in the print image.
- Fill and Stroke: The selected Fill and Stroke overprint underlying objects.
Layer - assign objects to an existing layer by selecting a layer name in the selection menu or assign objects to a new layer by entering the desired layer name.

Artikel update: PDF Editor 1.7 – 12/2023

Next Article 1.2 "Image" tab

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