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DJ46648896
Participant
June 4, 2019
Question

Save Spot color Illustrator file to CMYK pdf

  • June 4, 2019
  • 3 replies
  • 9955 views

Hi Team,

Please advise how to save an illustrator file with spot colors to CMYK pdf. I know it is possible using print option and converting from.ps file.

But i need to know the possibilities of doing it through save as pdf option.

Thanks & Regards,

Dj

    This topic has been closed for replies.

    3 replies

    Peter Villevoye
    Community Expert
    Peter VillevoyeCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    June 4, 2019

    There are many ways to do it.

    The easiest is to simply select all artwork and use the command Edit > Edit Colors > Convert to CMYK to quickly convert any Pantone (PMS) color to Process (CMYK) values. Be sure to Undo this step after saving the PDF, if you want to retain a version of your file with spot colors, or just make a separate version of the AI file.

    Want to check what's happening beforehand ? Use the Windows > Separation Preview to see which Pantone inks are in use in your artwork, and perhaps manually change these swatches to Process.

    A bit late to the party, old-fashioned and cumbersome is indeed to use your own method: creating a PostScript file by using the Print command and let Pantone inks convert to Process.  Don't do that...

    And in case you've already created the PDF including the Pantone inks, then use the Ink Manager in Acrobat to convert them.

    It's never too late to convert RGB or Pantone to Process...

    However, using the method JDanek suggested will only convert and correct color spaces in Process colors. It ignores any Pantones...

      D
      DJ46648896Author
      Participant
      June 4, 2019

      And in case you've already created the PDF including the Pantone inks, then use the Ink Manager in Acrobat to convert them.

      Could you able to save the converted process color pdf using this method ? I could not!

      Peter Villevoye
      Community Expert
      Peter VillevoyeCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      June 4, 2019

      Look for the Ink Manager (it depends a lot on your version of Acrobat, which menu or panel to look for, but it's in there, somewhere...)

      Adobe Help: Print production tools overview in Acrobat Pro (2017 and DC)

      Here it is in Acrobat Pro XI, under the Tools section for Print Production:

      Check the option in the lower part of the panel, to convert spot colors to process.

      Bill Silbert
      Community Expert
      Bill SilbertCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      June 4, 2019

      The method of making a pdf from an exported postscript file using Acrobat Distiller is an out-of-date method that for the most part should not be used. Making a pdf as the previous poster said is the best way to go.

      J
      jdanek
      Inspiring
      June 4, 2019

      Save As > PDF ( you will see settings on the left side of the dialog box > Output > Color > Convert to Destination > Destination = Working CMYK ).  You could also create a copy of the original file using CMYK color swatches that replace your existing Pantone swatches.  But, that gets a bit complicated. 

        D
        DJ46648896Author
        Participant
        June 4, 2019

        Thanks for the reply. I tried what you have suggested but it also not working! Still i see the spot colors in the pdf output preview.

        Can you please save and share the pdf preset ?

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