In this Article, you will learn
- which prerequisites are required for this Fixup, and
- how to apply this Fixup.
1. Introduction
The Fixup Change Tonal Value for Spot Color is available in the Workflow. The purpose of this Fixup is to change the tonal value of a selected Spot Color.
2. General
The Fixup Change Tonal Value for Spot Color can be used to adjust and thus change the tonal value of a Spot Color. The existing Spot Color is removed and replaced by a traced color area with the desired tonal value.
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 Change in the area Action,
- activating the option Spot Color or Tone Value in the area Property.
3. Description
This Fixup adjusts the tonal value for a selected Spot Color. The Spot Color is removed and replaced by a traced color patch.
3.1. Requirements and Functionality
For the Fixup to perform as intended, the following requirements must be met:
- There must be at least one Spot Color in the file.
- The Spot Color whose tonal value should be changed should not include any gradients.
Figure 1: The dialog of the Fixup Change Tonal Value for Spot Color
To change the tonal value for a Spot Color, the following options can be selected:
- Templates [1] – settings selected in the dialog can be saved as a template and applied to other Articles/Print Items, as well as used within Fixup Chains and in the Operations Apply Fixups and Check Print Item and Apply Fixups.
- Spot Color [2] – Use the dropdown menu to select the Spot Color for which the tonal value should be changed. All Spot Colors used in the Print Item are available.
- Tone value curve [3]– the diagram shows the curve to be used to create the desired tone value for the Spot Color.
- Input [4] – Enter the value of the tonal value starting from which the tonal value of the Spot Color should be changed. If, for example, 50 is entered in the input field, the tonal value of the selected Spot Color at 50% will be changed to the value entered in the Output input field.
- Output [5] – enter the target value of the tonal value of the selected Spot Color. If, for example, 50 is entered in the input field, the tonal value of the Spot Color, which is in the input field Input, is raised or lowered to the value entered in the Output.
- Add [6] – use this to add a new curve point, which allows you to change the steepness of the ramp in the curve as you wish.
- Linear Curve/Catmull Rom [7] – use this to determine whether the curve should be constructed only from corner points or whether it should be constructed from Bezier curves e.g., catmull rom.
3.2. Before/After
To experiment with this function, refer to the sample file "Sample_Change Tonal Value for Spot Color.pdf". The file contains a large yellow star that has been colored with the Spot Color "Star". The tonal value for this Spot Color should be reduced by 50%.
After applying the Fixup, the file "Sample_Change Tonal Value for Spot Color_End.pdf" is created. Here the tonal value of the color was reduced by 50%. The values from Figure 1 were used.
Figure 2: Left: Initial file; Right: Revised file in which the tonal value of the Spot Color has been reduced
Article update: Workflow 1.20.1 – 04/2025