In this article, you will learn
- which prerequisites are required for this Fixup, and
- how to apply this Fixup.
1. Introduction
The Fixup Convert Spot Colors to CMYK 0/0/0/0 is available in the Workflow. The purpose of this Fixup is to convert selected Spot Color to CMYK white and set the overprint state to "Knockout".
2. General
The Fixup Convert Spot Colors to CMYK 0/0/0/0 can be used to convert Spot Colors to CMYK white (0/0/0/0). The areas of the selected Spot Color are created as a white CMYK area, which means that the areas behind it are set to Knockout.
For example, use this Fixup to convert a Print Item in which white areas are colored with the Spot Color "White" to CMYK White (0/0/0/0) so that these "areas" remain white even on a printing system that does not have white printing ink and objects behind them do not show through.
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 Object in the area Category,
- activating the option Change in the area Action,
- activating the option Knockout in the area Property.
3. Introduction
Use this Fixup to convert the selected Spot Color to the CMYK values 0/0/0/0 (white). The overprint status is set to Knockout, ensuring that when the "white" object is removed, underlying objects are not revealed.
3.1. Prerequisites and Functionality
For the Fixup to perform as intended, the following requirement must be met:
- Spot Colors are used in the file.
Figure 1: The dialog of the Fixup Convert Spot Colors to CMYK 0/0/0/0
Select the following option to convert Spot Colors to CMYK White.
Spot Color Name [1] – select the Spot Colors that should be converted to CMYK values 0/0/0/0 from the drop-down menu. Only those Spot Colors that are in the Print Item can be selected in the selection field.
3.2. Before/After
To experiment with this function, refer to the sample file "Sample_Convert to CMYK_White.pdf". The file shows white flowers. The blossom was created in the Spot Color "White". The Spot Color is now to be converted to CMYK White.
After applying the Fixup, the file "Sample_Convert to CMYK_White_End.pdf" is created. In this file the Spot Color "White" has been converted to CMYK White.
Figure 2: Left: Original file; Right: Edited file in which the Spot Color was converted to CMYK White
Article update: Workflow 1.20.1 – 04/2025