In this article, you will learn
- which prerequisites are required for this Fixup, and
- how to apply this Fixup.
1. Introduction
The Fixup Create a Spot Color Separation for objects using the selected Spot Color is available in the Workflow. The purpose of this Fixup is to create a Spot Color Separation for a selected Spot Color.
2. General
The Fixup Create a Spot Color Separation for objects using the selected Spot Color can be used to create a Spot Color Separation for a selected Spot Color in the print file.
Use this Fixup, for example, to create a Primer, Varnish or White channel for all objects of the selected Spot Color in order to enhance the visual impact of individual colors. You can also use this Fixup to duplicate an existing White channel for HP printing systems.
You can find this Fixup on the tab Data Preparation of an Article, Order or Production Job by:
- entering the name of the Fixup in the area Filter,
- activating the option Color in the area Category,
- activating the option Create in the area Action,
- activating the option White or Spot Color in the area Property.
3. Description
This Fixup can be used to create a Spot Color Separation for the selected Spot Color. It is possible to underfill or overfill by entering the size and changing the color tone or opacity. The user can also decide whether the area of the surrounding Spot Color path should be filled or not.
3.1. Prerequisites and Functionality
For the Fixup to perform as intended, the following requirements must be met:
- The file contains objects that are colored with a Spot Color
Figure 1: Left: The tab Basic Settings in the dialog Create a Spot Color Separation for objects using the selected color; Right: The tab Advanced in the dialog Create a Spot Color Separation for objects using the selected color
The following options can be used to create a Spot Color for a selected Spot Color:
Basic Settings
- Spot Color [1] – select the Spot Color for which a Spot Color Separation should be created from the selection menu. All Spot Colors that are used in the Print Item are available.
- Create Spot Color Channel [2] – in the selection menu, select the Spot Color from which the Spot Color channel is to be created. All system-wide defined Spot Colors that can be output as a separation are available in the selection menu.
- Adjust Size [3] – by entering the desired size, the Spot Color Separation is created larger ("+" values) or smaller ("-" values) than the printing object itself. For Variable Content [7] – select the desired placeholder – Database Field or User-defined Field – from which the value for the size change should be retrieved.
- Tonal Value [4] – the color tone of the Spot Color channel that should be created can be reduced by changing the slider or by entering the percentage value.
- Opacity [5] – the opacity of the Spot Color channel that should be created can be reduced by changing the slider or by entering the percentage value.
- Fill whole object [6] – by activating this option, a separation is created for all objects within the selected Spot Color. For example, if an Outline is selected for the Spot Color, a Spot Color Separation is created for all objects within the Outline.
Advanced
- Layer Name [8] – enter the name of the Layer on which the white separation is to be created. If you do not want to create a separate Layer, you must remove the name from the input field. For Variable Content [10], select the desired placeholder – Database Field or User-defined Field – from which the value for the layer name is to be taken.
- Conformity of Processing Steps according to ISO 19593-1 [9] – a white separation should be created by default according to ISO 19593-1 on the layer White in the group White of the type White. Further information on the ISO standard can be found in the description Processing Steps ISO 15931-1.
3.2. Before/After
To experiment with this function, refer to the sample file "Sample_Create Separation for Spot Color.pdf". The Print Item consists of a bouquet of flowers, most of which are daisies. The inner orange areas of the daisies were created using a Spot Color. A primer is intended to be applied to these areas to enhance the visual effect of the color.
After applying the Fixup, the file "Sample_Create Separation for Spot Color_End.pdf" is generated. A separation with the color "Primer" is created for the orange areas of the flowers. The values shown in Figure 1 were used for this process.
Figure 3: Left: Original file; Right: Edited file in which the Spot Color Separation Primer was created
Article update: Workflow 1.20.1 – 04/2025