Adobe Illustrator - Spot colors - first time in Illy

Author

Spot colors - first time in Illy

iehsmith

2004-02-08, 3:28 am

I've only used Illustrator so far to make/fix logos to import into Quark.
Now I'm trying to really learn how to use it properly, so I've created
my business card with it. Illustrator 9 on Mac OS 8.6. I've simulated
the printer's standard colors for orange and purple, Have them in
RGB mode designated as global spot colors. Since the solid ink colors
are too harsh for me I'm using screens, that is to say, I'm using tint
percentages to signify screen values figuring that the white in tint
is paper. Is this right so far? I'm going to be paying for horribly close
registration:) I'd know what I was doing if I had created it in Quark,
but here I am. Are knockouts automatic since I haven't selected overprint?
When kerning to the nth degree, can I trust my antialiased preview,
or should I be kerning in outline? Also, in Attributes, is that output
a different setting from the print settings?... Is it the lpi? If not, where
is the lpi?

I will be asking the printer some of these questions and more so that
I can send this properly, but wanted to get as much expert input as
possible. GIFs of the card can be seen here (if that will help):
http://wehosttheworld.com/~sadeyes/...4days/card.html

Remember, all of it is screen tints, the lightest being 10% orange, the
darkest will be 80% purple. I probably have more questions, but I can't
think anymore:)

TIA,
inez

steggy

2004-02-08, 5:28 am

iehsmith wrote:
>
> I've only used Illustrator so far to make/fix logos to import into Quark.
> Now I'm trying to really learn how to use it properly, so I've created
> my business card with it. Illustrator 9 on Mac OS 8.6. I've simulated
> the printer's standard colors for orange and purple, Have them in
> RGB mode designated as global spot colors. Since the solid ink colors
> are too harsh for me I'm using screens, that is to say, I'm using tint
> percentages to signify screen values figuring that the white in tint
> is paper. Is this right so far? I'm going to be paying for horribly close
> registration:) I'd know what I was doing if I had created it in Quark,
> but here I am. Are knockouts automatic since I haven't selected overprint?
> When kerning to the nth degree, can I trust my antialiased preview,
> or should I be kerning in outline? Also, in Attributes, is that output
> a different setting from the print settings?... Is it the lpi? If not, where
> is the lpi?
>
> I will be asking the printer some of these questions and more so that
> I can send this properly, but wanted to get as much expert input as
> possible. GIFs of the card can be seen here (if that will help):
> http://wehosttheworld.com/~sadeyes/...4days/card.html
>
> Remember, all of it is screen tints, the lightest being 10% orange, the
> darkest will be 80% purple. I probably have more questions, but I can't
> think anymore:)
>
> TIA,
> inez

One thing.........RGB is not gonna work for a professional
off set printer. Make Pantone colors or CMYK. White is the
paper in this case, yes.

The rest of your questions.........maybe tomorrow, but sorry
you are in a business that needs some understanding or
training........nighty nighty
--
steg

Paul Asente

2004-02-08, 5:28 pm

In article <BC4B388E.12F8E%inezhsmithspammenot@earthlink.net>,
iehsmith <inezhsmithspammenot@earthlink.net> wrote:

> I've only used Illustrator so far to make/fix logos to import into Quark.
> Now I'm trying to really learn how to use it properly, so I've created
> my business card with it. Illustrator 9 on Mac OS 8.6. I've simulated
> the printer's standard colors for orange and purple, Have them in
> RGB mode designated as global spot colors.

It looks like your job is just two spot colors, no process. If so you
can work in RGB if that gives you colors that look better on screen, but
if not you'll want to switch to CMYK befor printing.

> Since the solid ink colors
> are too harsh for me I'm using screens, that is to say, I'm using tint
> percentages to signify screen values figuring that the white in tint
> is paper. Is this right so far?

Yes.

> I'm going to be paying for horribly close
> registration:) I'd know what I was doing if I had created it in Quark,
> but here I am. Are knockouts automatic since I haven't selected overprint?

Yes.

> When kerning to the nth degree, can I trust my antialiased preview,

Yes.

> or should I be kerning in outline?

No.

> Also, in Attributes, is that output
> a different setting from the print settings?... Is it the lpi?

No, it's the resolution of the printer for purposes of flattening
curves. You generally don't want to change this from 800. However,
there were some versions of Illustrator that had a bug that sometimes
reset this to an inappropriately low value, so check that it's still 800
before you print. I don't remember if 9 was one of these versions.

> If not, where
> is the lpi?

You can specify screen frequency in the Separations Setup dialog, but
you probably want to let the printer do that for you.

Nice design, BTW!

-- paul asente
To reply, make the host be the same as my last name

iehsmith

2004-02-08, 6:28 pm

> From: Paul Asente <usenet@not-asente.com>
> Subject: Re: Spot colors - first time in Illy
>
> In article <BC4B388E.12F8E%inezhsmithspammenot@earthlink.net>,
> iehsmith <inezhsmithspammenot@earthlink.net> wrote:
>
>
> It looks like your job is just two spot colors, no process. If so you
> can work in RGB if that gives you colors that look better on screen, but
> if not you'll want to switch to CMYK before printing.

It looks closer on screen in RGB, but do I need to change it to CMYK
prior to sending to the printer? I'm not sure yet if they will want
the original file or PDF or what. I have no way of printing a composite
right now since the cats killed the inkjet:( I'll be paying for a photocopy
proof.

>
> Yes.

Ah, good. I've been very frustrated. Purples and blues make be crazy.
I can't truly match it on screen at 100%, but close; much worse are
the screen tints, they look nothing like the printer's samples at different
screen percentages.

>
> Yes.

Thank goodness:)

>
> Yes.
>
>
> No.

Again, thank goodness on both scores:)

>
> No, it's the resolution of the printer for purposes of flattening
> curves. You generally don't want to change this from 800. However,
> there were some versions of Illustrator that had a bug that sometimes
> reset this to an inappropriately low value, so check that it's still 800
> before you print. I don't remember if 9 was one of these versions.

Ah, I will check it. I might have fooled with it, but if I select all
and change it back to 800 all should be well, yes?

>
> You can specify screen frequency in the Separations Setup dialog, but
> you probably want to let the printer do that for you.

Most likely. I trust printer's prepress people much more than myself,
but I try to make their lives as easy as possible. That's why I always
talk to them before I send files, so they get what they want.

> Nice design, BTW!

Thank you so much. It means a lot to me coming from you. Designing
for myself is always a major struggle, but so far I still don't hate this
design:)

Thanks so much, I might have more question to come,
inez

Paul Asente

2004-02-09, 1:28 am

In article <BC4C10E9.13041%inezhsmithspammenot@earthlink.net>,
iehsmith <inezhsmithspammenot@earthlink.net> wrote:

>
> It looks closer on screen in RGB, but do I need to change it to CMYK
> prior to sending to the printer? I'm not sure yet if they will want
> the original file or PDF or what. I have no way of printing a composite
> right now since the cats killed the inkjet:( I'll be paying for a photocopy
> proof.

If it really is a spot-color-only job, it doesn't matter which mode you
use on screen. Use whichever looks best...but don't trust it too much.
It's better to use the printer's samples.

>
> Ah, I will check it. I might have fooled with it, but if I select all
> and change it back to 800 all should be well, yes?

Yes.

>
> Most likely. I trust printer's prepress people much more than myself,
> but I try to make their lives as easy as possible. That's why I always
> talk to them before I send files, so they get what they want.

They will most likely have specific settings that they want to use for
whatever they use to print it. If they can tell you what those are, you
can use them but any prepress shop worth its salt should check them.

>
> Thank you so much.

You're welcome!

-- paul asente
To reply, make the host be the same as my last name