INDESIGN ISSUE: having Trouble setting file up as 2 color

[Tom-D-Signs]

This is the first itme I have done a 2-color project. I have always either done B&W or full color.

I have layed out a placemat in InDesign. I then converted to a pdf file which I thought would be ready to go to print, but they called back saying there where issues with the file

One of the images was an rgb image, which i switched to cmyk. I also switched the file to CMYK in the pdf creation.

I was wondering if there is any other specific way i should be setting this file up to where it will print just black and blue?

[chalsema]

I would switch those CMYK images to grayscale. Also, are they asking for PDF? Maybe it would better to just send the InDesign file and the pictures to the printer. Make sure to delete any colors you don't use from the swatches palette. Maybe someone else will have better advice, but this is always the way I was taught to do it.

[jimking]

Chalsema advise is right. However the fact that you converted that RGB to CMYK says to me that image is in color, not a B/W image. If the image has color in it lets say blue and black and you wanted the blue to print in spot and the black as black than you'll have to do a couple of tricks in photoshop in order for it to seperate properly. Is this the case?

[Tom-D-Signs]

Yes jimking
Half of the design is in Blue (Some text, part of the logo, border, and various others) and the rest is in black

They said my pdf was full color, and they would have to charge an extra $50 to rework it to 2-color.

I figured though there was something on my end where i could change it or originally set the file up as 2 color instead of 4 color

[jimking]

Have you output color seperated lasers? Is the blue a spot color you created in indesign? What I'm trying to get at is how much of this page is created in indesign and how much of it is imported photoshop, illustrator, freehand files. By outputing to seperated lasers you can see where the mistakes are and then address those issues only.

[defjoe]

well considering your image is CMYK....

also by default.. PDF convert to CMYK unless specified.


first 2 color job?

what PMS blue... did you pick that out yet?

[Tom-D-Signs]

I actually let the client choose the PMS color with the print company. I believe they chose "190-2 C"

The entire placemat, minus the logo, was designed in InDesign. Only other thing, I copied a few lines of text from an excel doc. and pasted them.

Have you output color seperated lasers? I'm not really sure what "seperated laser" are or how to do this


first 2 color job? Yes, I normally do B&W order forms or Full color sell sheets, catalogs, or signs

[jimking]

One of the main functions of a printshop is to do seperations--each color for each cyclinder on the press. What you need to do is print your file to a laser printer (color or black and white doesn't matter). In Indesign's print dialog box you'll see a small window listing all the fuctions, pick output then you will see a the word "color" next to the word you'll see "composite cmyk" change that to seperations instead. Also add crops and names (small window again) reduce to fit if you have to so that you can see the names of the colors that are printed. Also in the color pallet, remove all unused colors so you can narrow the field abit. The whole point of this is to make all your COLOR objects the same color (SAME EXACT NAME) and make all black--BLACK.

[mokeyshine]

Tom-D-signs

190-2 C is not a PMS color. It is a Pantone Process color—specifically C80 M75 Y0 K20.

269 C is a "PMS color" and a close facsimilie

[Tom-D-Signs]

Thanks I will give that a shot and see