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ottoGraphic
ottoGraphic
Participating Frequently
November 3, 2023
Answered

Converting process colours to spot colours in Photoshop

  • November 3, 2023
  • 3 replies
  • 2033 views

Here is a question about converting process colours to spot colours in Photoshop. Is there a straightforward way to change CMYK to 2 or 3 chosen (spot) colours, let's say red, green and blue, which I would like to print with. I am a graphic artist and screen printer so I do all the printing myself. I know that the printed image won't be an accurate representation of the original photo, but I would like the best approximation possible. I've tried manually modifying the CMYKs in Multichannel, but I can't get a decent result. Does Photoshop have a way of doing this? 

    This topic has been closed for replies.
    Correct answer Stephen Marsh

    Well, much appreciated Stephen, that's given me some good bits of advice.

    Thanks for taking the time.


    @ottoGraphic – You're welcome!

    3 replies

    Jumpenjax
    Community Expert
    JumpenjaxCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    November 3, 2023

    Image/ mode/ RGB. Unless I misunderstood what you are asking. That is the easiest way I know.

    Lee- Graphic Designer, Print Specialist, Photographer
    ottoGraphic
    ottoGraphicAuthor
    Participating Frequently
    November 4, 2023

    thanks for the suggestion, I have looked at the RGB option, but I can't find a way to turn them into printable colours. I am actually going to print manually with ink on paper.

    Stephen Marsh
    Community Expert
    Stephen MarshCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    November 3, 2023

    Straightforward? Probably not. The easiest way would be using a multi-channel ICC profile.

     

    It really depends on the image content.

     

    Can you post a sample image?

    ottoGraphic
    ottoGraphicAuthor
    Participating Frequently
    November 3, 2023

     

    This is the photo I am experimenting with at the moment. RGB would be the obvious way, but how do I extract printable colours from that? I'll have a look at how to do the MC ICC profile.

    Stephen Marsh
    Community Expert
    Stephen MarshCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    November 4, 2023

    Creating your own MC profiles would need appropriate hardware and software ($$$$).

     

    Here are examples from a Risograph printing process, which is more akin to screen printing than other processes like toner or inkjet:

     

    https://risolvestudio.com/collections/riso-color-profiles

     

    Anyway, my comment about MC ICC profiles was more theoretical than practical if you don't have the tools.

     

    This basically comes down to performing channel operations, Apply Image or Calculations to manually craft your own channels.

     

    The problem is the preview.

    kglad
    Community Expert
    kgladCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    November 3, 2023

    in the future, to find the best place to post your message, use the list here, https://community.adobe.com/

    p.s. i don't think the adobe website, and forums in particular, are easy to navigate, so don't spend a lot of time searching that forum list. do your best and we'll move the post (like this one has already been moved) if it helps you get responses.



    <"moved from using the community">
    ottoGraphic
    ottoGraphicAuthor
    Participating Frequently
    November 3, 2023

    Thanks for moving the post, I was unaware that I was using the wrong forum.

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