DCS Files in Illustrator

Mickey · 06-10-2004, 08:53 PM

I have never brought DCS into illustrator, but I could see how that may be a problem if you imbed them in the actual ill doc. Did you try sending the doc again with preserving the links (and sending the photoshop DCS file) so that they can try to re output the seps with illustrator refering to the origional DCS file instead of using the imbeded object.

If you have a postscript printer you can always test it out and see if it seps properly there.

I use Quark as a layout program and have not had any problems with DCS files in the process your describing, I would think that illustrator should work the same as long as you don't imbed them!

dsmgdesign · 06-10-2004, 09:07 PM

Thanks for your reply!! I should also add, my printer asked that we embed to files rather than linking them. Also, they do not have Quark and asked we send them illustrator files. Hence my dilema.

Do you know how to color seperate on a laser from Illustrator?

Mickey · 06-10-2004, 10:12 PM

OK, Im using OSX and Ill. 10 so your setup may be different. Go to FILE>Separation Setup, from here you will need to choose Open PPD (in osx they are in the library>Printers>PPDs) then you will have to choose the one that has the same name as your laser printer. Then choose page size, orientation etc... Make sure that the colors you want to print have the image of the printer next to it in check box area.

click ok

Choose Print... Select your printer. then go to the drop down menu and Choose Adobe Illustrator 10. In this window there is a OUTPUT Dropdown window. Choose Separate NOT Composit

Hit print and that should do it.

Hope that helped...

dsmgdesign · 06-10-2004, 10:52 PM

Thanks! I'll try that next and see what happens.

In the meantime, after I read your first reply, I triedimporting the DCS file in quark just to see if the problem was with illustrator or with the DCS file. What I see in quark when I import it into a picture box is a very low res black and white bitmap preview, instead of the nice greyscale and spot color image. Is the DCS supposed to do that?

Mickey · 06-10-2004, 11:07 PM

Yep! That is the single file with 72dpi composit means. It takes the two colors (plates) and combines them into a low res image that you can place in layout programs for placement only. Your printout will even look like crap. But your color seporations will look great. If you print a composit on your laser printer you will see what I mean, then go and print seps on that same printer... the seps wil be full res and look good!

dsmgdesign · 06-10-2004, 11:25 PM

This is really beneficialy, I feel like I'm finally making progress...you are a god send.

Now, are there other options I can choose when saving the DCS in photoshop so I can show my client a color comp? If I show him seperations or anything else but the finished assembled piece, he won't get it.

Some more info. I tried the seperations set up in Adobe Illustrator that you suggested.On the assembled single DCS files with 72dpi composites, the PANTONE spot color was greyed out in the check box area and had a generic 4-color process Icon instead of a printer Icon. When I tried bringing in just one of the single DCS files, but this time with no composite, the PANTONE spot color doesn't even show up in the check box area. I must be doing something wrong with the original DCSimage to begin with, right??

Mickey · 06-10-2004, 11:49 PM

First question... Save it as a DCS 2.0 file, Single File With Color Composite (72 Pixel/inch). Check the Haftone Screen and the Transfer Function boxes but not the Image Interpolation one (Don't know what they do but that is how I do it and it works) This is low res but should show up in color on your proofs.

#2... I don't really know what to tell you about the Illustrator sep problem. I have never printed seps out of illustrator before I always import all of my illustrator eps files into a quark page for printing. I would just try the DCS 2.0 format like I said then bring that into a blank illustrator doc. don't embed just preserve links and save as a eps file, then bring into a Quark doc and try to print seps from there. See if that works, if it does then you can try it with your other doc. and if the seps come out fine thru quark then they sure as hell sould work for illustrator.

What is your setup? Mac or PC ~ What oporating system. and what versions of the programs are you using?

dsmgdesign · 06-11-2004, 06:58 PM

PC
Windows 200
Adobe Photoshop CS
Adobe Illustrator 8.0

dsmgdesign · 06-11-2004, 07:25 PM

.....I forgot to add:

I wouldLOVE to use Quark as the last assembler for press. Unforunately the printer in China does not have Quark. They do have Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Photoshop (and possibly Adobe Pagemaker.....unforunately we do not have Pagemaker and I do not know the program very well anyway). So, next question: Can Adobe Photoshop make color seperations? All the images are from there anyway, I would just have to add some of thetext which is pretty light. Or would they have print each channel (the PANTONE spot color and grey) seperately by hiding the other channel, then hope for the best with registration, etc.

Mickey · 06-11-2004, 09:06 PM

You really have me stumped on that one... I NEVER print out of Photoshop. Go through the print menu and see if it has any info about color seps...

dctech · 08-24-2007, 04:40 AM

You can output seperations thru adobe photoshop.Most commonly called grayscale seperations.I currently print seperations thru photoshop and adobe Illustrator.

jimking · 08-24-2007, 02:33 PM

DCS files are tricky files to seperate. My experience with them in the last 15 years has been good and bad. Years ago Scitex used DCS files. Scitex is one of the inovators in digital graphics in printing back in the early 1980s. Through the years Adobe software, printer's workflows etc have migrated in someway away from using the language of DCS files whilst still maintaining that they are ok to use it seems. Another words as time gone by my experience is DCS files have become more difficult to seperate than they were years ago. It seems printer rips and workflows do not like them. I'm no expert in these type of files but many people in many printshops have problems with them. To my thinking placing a DCS file in Illustrator may compound the problem. We've always manage to seperate these files but they've been very difficult.

Drawing a Blank · 08-24-2007, 02:41 PM

Hopefuly the OP has solved his problem by now.
Holy thread resurection Batman!!

jimking · 08-24-2007, 02:48 PM

Originally posted by Drawing a Blank

Hopefuly the OP has solved his problem by now.
Holy thread resurection Batman!!

Good grief! I had no idea it was that old.

DCS Files in Illustrator

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