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rigoliarts
rigoliarts
Inspiring
May 24, 2011
Answered

Find spot colors in document

  • May 24, 2011
  • 2 replies
  • 36020 views

I'm preparing a document for print and when I go to package for output I get a message that there are a handful of spot colors in addition to the cmyk. Is there a way I can get InDesign to show me where in my document these spot colors are? (There are numerous placed graphics on numerous pages) I can't seem to find a "show" or "page number" for these colors. Also, if the little cmyk symbol shows up to the right of spot color in the swatched panel, am I okay as is to go to press?

      Correct answer Peter Spier

      Perhaps the satest way to see where spot colors are in use is to open the Separations Preview panel and turnon separations, then click the eyeball next to CMYK. Anything left on the page is spot color. If you don't see a spot color listed in the panel, there is none in use.

      You asked if it was safe to go to print with spots, and the answer is it depends. Are you paying extra for spot colors? If not, from the swatches panel flyout menu choose Ink Manager, then check the box to Convert all Spots to Process, and for the best conversion to any known color space, check the box to use Lab values as well. Not sure waht you mean by seeing the CMYK symbol to the right of the swatch -- that means it isn't RGB, but there are two little icons there, and the one on the left will tell you if the color is spot, but neither one will tell you if it is being converted to process in the ink manager.

      2 replies

      Jongware
      Community Expert
      JongwareCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      May 24, 2011

      There always is the Blatner Tools kit. Finding spot color is only one of its many functions

      Peter Spier
      Community Expert
      Peter SpierCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
      Community Expert
      May 24, 2011

      Perhaps the satest way to see where spot colors are in use is to open the Separations Preview panel and turnon separations, then click the eyeball next to CMYK. Anything left on the page is spot color. If you don't see a spot color listed in the panel, there is none in use.

      You asked if it was safe to go to print with spots, and the answer is it depends. Are you paying extra for spot colors? If not, from the swatches panel flyout menu choose Ink Manager, then check the box to Convert all Spots to Process, and for the best conversion to any known color space, check the box to use Lab values as well. Not sure waht you mean by seeing the CMYK symbol to the right of the swatch -- that means it isn't RGB, but there are two little icons there, and the one on the left will tell you if the color is spot, but neither one will tell you if it is being converted to process in the ink manager.

      rigoliarts
      rigoliartsAuthor
      Inspiring
      May 24, 2011

      I used the Ink Manager to convert to process and also checked the lab color.

      RodneyA
      RodneyA
      Participating Frequently
      May 24, 2011

      I think you can do this in Acrobat as well, if you're exporting a PDF file. In Acrotbat, run the Advanced:Print Production:Preflight feature, Digital Printing (color), and look for errors; it should show you where they are.

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