DCS Files? Why use them?

[agentphish]

Hello Everyone-

I'm a graphic designer, but I've never heard of anyone ever actually using a Photoshop DCS 2.0 or 2.5 EPS file before.

I have recently picked up a freelance client who has specifically requested that I use the Photoshop DCS EPS files that they provided to me, explicitly telling me not to convert them. Someone who previously worked for their company created them and has since left, but it's what they are using for floorplans that I am creating brochures for.

When I was in school a few years ago, no one ever talked about DCS files/I never used them or learned about them, and even at the agency I worked at (I'm a corporate design guy now) we never used or even talked about DCS files...

So I'm looking for someone to shed some light on this for me.

Thanks!

[Craig B]

We've used DCS files in a corporate inhouse job once.

The bottom line is that it allows for you to use spot color channels in a Photoshop image and maintain it as a separate plate (since the DCS file is a variation of Photoshop .eps file, somewhat similar to when you create a duotone.)

So, they can be useful in allowing you to incorporate matching spot colors in your photography, or in our case we were printing a job as a 4 color spot job and we converted a 4C photo to 4 separate spot channels that were "sort of" similar to CMYK, which made the photo actually coming out looking awesome with the matching spots. (I don't have exact PMS numbers, but there was a orange, a slightly more turquoise cyan, black and a slightly green yellow.)

So, bottom line is they do occasionally have their use, but it also is real important to speak to your printer if you plan on using them.

Anyway, that's been my experience with them.

[doubting_thomas]

For most people DCS files are a thing of the past. They're messy little dirty
files that are generally unnecessary these days. We run across them
ocassionally, but our work flow handles them with out too much of a
problem. Since layout applications and work stations are so much more
powerful these days, and file formats are more robust in general, there
isn't a need for a low res preview, hi res output format as often.

Laurens has a very nice page over at Prepressure.com about them.

http://www.prepressure.com/library/file-formats/eps-dcs

[CkretAjint]

I use DCS files for this golf brochure we print. It's 2 colors, black and PMS 877. The silhouete golfer (black) on the silver background comes out awesome every time!

[agentphish]

Thanks for all the helpful information. I think I've got a decent idea now... I might be back to the thread to ask a few other questions once i get into the thick of this project so keep your eyes peeled!

Thanks again!

[The_Black_Knight]

Here's a little secret about spot channels: You can save a layered PSD file with spot channels. If your client absolutely insists on files saved as DCS EPS, then you can save a copy of the layered Photoshop file as a DCS. This way, you keep your layered file, and the client gets what they want, and everyone is happy.