In this article, you will learn
- which prerequisites are required for this Fixup, and
- how to apply this Fixup.
1. Introduction
The Fixup Map CMYK Values from Vector Objects to a Spot Color is available in the Workflow. The purpose of this Fixup is to convert vectors and/or text with defined CMYK values into a Spot Color.
2. General
The Fixup Map CMYK Values from Vector Objects to a Spot Color can be used to transfer CMYK values from vectors, texts or both to a Spot Color. The overprint status can be set by the user.
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 Convert in the area Action,
- activating the option CMYK, Spot Color, Dieline or Overprint in the area Property.
3. Description
This Fixup can be used to convert certain CMYK values of vectors and text into a Spot Color. You can use your own name for the Spot Color or use a Spot Color from the system.
Use this Fixup to carry out the following task:
- Convert a Dieline that was created in 100% Magenta as a path into a Spot Color with the desired name, e.g., Thru-cut.
- Convert pure black vectors – e.g., a QR code – into a Spot Color named 2D code in order to output this color definition in 100 % black when rendering.
- Convert gold areas, which are created in the print file in a CMYK value – e.g., 20/30/80/0 – into a Spot Color Gold, which should then be applied as a gold stamping foil in the final processing.
3.1. Prerequisites and Functionality
For the Fixup to perform as intended, the following requirements must be met:
- The file contains vectors or text elements.
- The vectors/texts were created in CMYK color values.
Figure 1: The dialog of the Fixup Map CMYK values from Vector Objects to a Spot Color
The following options can be used to convert CMYK values from vectors into a Spot Color:
- 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.
- Apply to [2] – select from the drop-down menu which CMYK objects are to be converted to a Spot Color. The following options are available:
- Vectors – all vectors with defined CMYK values are transferred to a Spot Color.
- Text – all texts with defined CMYK values are converted to a Spot Color.
- Text and vectors – all texts and vectors with defined CMYK values are converted to a Spot Color.
- Variable Content [9] – for Variable Content [9], select the desired placeholder – Database Field or User-defined Field – from which the value for the selection of object types should be retrieved. The following values must be found in the selected field so that the object type is selectable:
VectorTextVector_Text
- CMYK values [3] – enter the CMYK values that should be converted into a Spot Color here. The color entered is displayed visually in the preview image.
- Spot Color Name [4] – enter the Spot Color name for the Spot Color that should be created here. The entry of a Spot Color name is deactivated if the option Use system-wide Spot Colors below is activated. For Variable Content [10], select the desired placeholder – Database Field or User-defined Field – from which the value for the Spot Color name should be retrieved.
- Use Systemwide defined Spot Color [5] – activate this option if you want to use a system-wide defined Spot Color or Technical Color for naming the Spot Color.
- Tonal Value [7] – determine the tonal value of the Spot Color that should be created by changing the slider or entering the percentage value.
- Overprint State [8] – select the overprint state for the Dieline that should be created. Choose between Overprint and Knockout.
Figure 2: Values in the selected field for the option Apply to
3.2. Before/After
To experiment with this function, refer to the sample file "Sample_Map CMYK Values to a Spot Color.pdf". A Dieline with the values 0/100/0/0 was created in the file, but not saved as a Spot Color. This line is now to be converted into a system-wide defined Spot Color.
After applying the Fixups, the file "Sample_Map CMYK Values to a Spot Color_End.pdf" is created. The Dieline was converted into a Spot Color. The values from Figure 1 were used.
Figure 3: Left: Original file; Right: Edited file in which the CMYK values have been converted to a Spot Color
Article update: Workflow 1.20.1 – 04/2025