Exporting PDF with Spot Colours from Quark

[swillicott]

Hi,

I am having some trouble getting a 2 colour job exported to PDF from Quark Passport 6.5. The colour separations are showing from within Quark but I do not think they are exporting them into the .ps file or the PDF.

Does anyone know how I can check a pdf to see if the spot colour is still there, everytime I create a pdf from the post script file using acrobat, the colours seem to convert to process CMYK??

Also, I have not done this in a while and normally work in CMYK but the printer has asked for a 2 colour output. Could someone tell me how they would export a pdf from Quark to contain all the CMYK colours and the extra spot colour. The final output is to have two sep's, one in black and one in Pantone Red 032 C. Could someone let me know how they would go about this?

Thanks for any help

Steve

[MD]

Could someone tell me how they would export a pdf from Quark to contain all the CMYK colours and the extra spot colour. The final output is to have two sep's, one in black and one in Pantone Red 032 C. Could someone let me know how they would go about this?

A 2 color job would only have 2 plates if done correctly - Red 032 and Black

The best way to double check the separations is to print them out. First try them from the Quark file and Second from Acrobat using the pdf file.

What version of quark are you using?

[htmldude]

if you're nto sure whether your spot colour is exporting to your pdf open the pdf in acrobat go under advanced/output preview (or advanced/print production/output preview in the new version) and it will list all your colours there.

if you're going to export a pdf from quark try this:
export as pdf, under pdf options goto colour, select mode:composite, setup:composite CMYK and Spot.


let me know if that helps you out.

[swillicott]

Hi MD and Htmldude,

Thanks for your replies.

MD, I am using Quark Passport 6.5. How would i print out the sep's from quark? I have looked at all the print options in the dialogue but can't figure it out - I am sure I am being blind!!

Htmldude,

I have checked for thsw spot colours in acrobat and they are not there. Although I am exporting to post script from Quark and then creating a pdf from that post script - I can seem to export straight to pdf from quark?

All I have is a 'export layout to pdf' option under the 'file' menu. I have looked at the pref's and don't seem to have any options for colour in pdf's?

Could you explain to me again ( in really simple lanquage with big pictures so not to confuse me - ha ha ) how you can export straight to pdf from quark or how you can create a pdf from a quark file using acrobat?

Sorry to be a pain but I am really struggling on this.

Thanks

Steve

[htmldude]

you can export straight to pdf by doing the following;

-go under file to export layout to pdf
-it brings up a box that allows you to name the file and decide where you want to save it to. this box has a "options" button on it. click the "options" button.
-the next box that comes up has 5 tabbed sections, you have "layout info", "hyperlinks", "job options", "output", and "opi". (in quark 7 it gives you the "colour" options tab).
-layout info allows you to insert ownership info and stuff like that
-hyperlinks tab lets you choose whether or not to include hyperlinks when you export the pdf.
-job options gives you the options to embed your fonts and decide if you want to adjust compression options. i personnaly leave them all to compression:none and resolution:keep resolution
- output is where you're going to pick your colour mode. there is a colour output type which you will probably want to change from composite to seperations. leave plates to "used process & spot". with this setting its going to create your pdf with seperate "pages" for each spot colour. if you want to have a full colour pdf with all the colours on the same page i think you need to use type:composite print colours:device N.

that sounds correct but it's still before my coffee kicks in so i might be wrong. i will check once i get to work. hopes this helps to some extent.

[swillicott]

Hi Htmldude,

thanks for the reply. Yes you were right - and it was right in front of me and I did not see it!!!

I have exported the doc in to separations and all seems ok.

One question though, is it correct to supply a pdf with two plates with the pdf not referencing the pantone colours? In other words, when I have created the final pdf which has two pages, one for the black and one for our pantone red colour, both pages look black but I understand that the black will be printed in the requested pantone. But the pdf does not refernce the pantone colour anywhere - I can obviously tell the printer the pantone colour but should it be embedded in the pdf?

I am not sure if I am making any sense so let me know if not??

Thanks For your help with this.

Steve

["Technical" Terry]

You could put some text in the file itself outside the print area. (ie. type "Red 032C Black" and color the text in their respective colors) Otherwise you just tell the printer. I would think that they have some kind of order form or sales rep that you need to deal with. They will get that information. One thing though, you can dictate 032 and get it, but you might ask if there is a "house red". It might be 185 and a bit cheaper. Just a thought if you are not set on a specific hue.

[swillicott]

Ok - Update on this,

I managed to create a separated pdf showing the plated that were needed for this two colour job. But as you can see from above, these came out in black only. But the printers have come nack again and said that the file is still in a 4 colour process and they need them in spot colours? How can I get the pdf to include the spot colours? I am totally confused?

Thanks

Steve

[steve2112]

in the job options change from separations to deviceN. that will make a pdf with only the plates being used.

steve