> {quote:title=dannigd wrote:}{quote}
> Also your question on converting vector cmyk art to a pantone color there is a plug in for Illustrator that will let yo do this.
Hi D and joshuac,
I think (hope?
) you are referring to our plugin range, *[Phantasm CS|
http://www.phantasmcs.com/]*. If not, sorry... but here's a simply solution using this software along with Illustrator CS2 and CS3.
I am presuming that the use of Illustrator is an option!
*1)* Drop the PDF into Illustrator (CS2 or CS3 with either *Phantasm CS Designer* or *Studio* installed).
*2)* Select the background image.
*3)* Open *Effect -> Phantasm CS Designer | Studio -> Duotone...*
*4)* Click on the default orange color square to open the *Color Picker* and then, in this window, click on the *Color Swatches* button and select *PANTONE 158 C* followed by *OK*.
*5)* Adjust the color tone's curve in the *Duotone* window to suit - see example below:
!http://www.phantasmcs.com/printplanet/applying_duotone.png!
6) Click *OK*.
This has now ensured that the background image uses only the chosen spot color. This can be proven by viewing separations (Phantasm CS Studio tool) as shown below:
!http://www.phantasmcs.com/printplanet/quick_seps.png!
In this example, I haven't set the black text or lines to overprint, which would naturally be advisable.
However, I would also advise an additional initial stage to improve the contrast of the background image. This will ensure more control of the final tone of the spot image...
In between stages (*2*) and (*3*) follow these steps:
*A)* Right-click (or Ctrl-click on a one button Mac) on the selected image in Illustrator and choose *Release Clipping Mask*.
*B)* De-select all.
*C)* Select the image once more and *Ungroup*.
*D)* De-select all (stages *A* to *D* were due to the file being an imported PDF).
*E)* Select the image (it should now be an un-clipped and un-grouped CMYK image) and select *Filter -> Phantasm CS Designer | Studio -> Desaturate...*
*F)* Tick *Gray Tone* before *OK*'ing. The image should now be a pure grayscale version.
*G)* Open *Filter -> Phantasm CS Designer | Studio -> Levels...* and drag the left and right Input markers to the start and end of the histogram curve. *OK* this.
!http://www.phantasmcs.com/printplanet/applying_levels.png!
Now when you apply a duotone, you will find much more control with the duotone curves. I also found that a higher contrast version looked good when a Black tone was added. See below:
!http://www.phantasmcs.com/printplanet/spot_and_black_duotone.png!
In total, applying all these steps took less than a minute.
I hope this is of some interest,
Nick
Re: Converting CMYK or RGB to Pantone colors?
Linear Mode
