'paint' greyscale photo with spot color?

[tallenvt]

I would like to 'paint' discrete, select areas of a greyscale mode photo with a spot color. The image will be used in an InDesign document that will converted to PDF for printing using only black and a spot color, so it must remain either grey scale or duotone. can anyone please refer me to detailed instructions on how to paint with spot color in photoshop?

[Akash Sharma]

Hi Tallenvt,

Are you looking to color a specific part of a black and white image or are you going to convert a colored image into black and white and then paint a specific object colored? This is an example: Combine black and white with color in a photo |

The output once saved in PDF format should carry the edits as such.

Thanks,

Akash

[c.pfaffenbichler]

Add a Spot Channel and paint on it.

But keep in mind to do knockout and bleed manually if necessary, because Spot Channels have no Layers capabilities so far (or vice versa).

[c.pfaffenbichler]

By the way: I would recommend saving as psd (with a Background Layer) and placing that in Indesign.

But maybe you could post an image (or link to one) to illustrate the effect you are after.

Do you want to »replace« black with the spot color, mix black and the spot color, …?

[tallenvt]

i want only the plant to be green using spot color pantone 7734 C. It must be saved either as greyscale [which is not possible i think) or duotone--which i cant seem to find a way to isolate to a discrete area.

[c.pfaffenbichler]

It must be saved either as greyscale [which is not possible i think)

What gave you the idea that that’s not possible?

[tallenvt]

the option is greyed out once the spot color is applied. if i do save as greyscale, the green vanishes.

[c.pfaffenbichler]

I have no problems saving such a file as psd.

[c.pfaffenbichler]

the option is greyed out once the spot color is applied. if i do save as greyscale, the green vanishes.

Please post a screenshot including the pertinent Panels and the Save-dialog window.

[c.pfaffenbichler]

or duotone--which i cant seem to find a way to isolate to a discrete area.

Duotone translates the gray channel into two output channels via curves, so it is indeed not possible to limit the effect to parts of the image.

i want only the plant to be green using spot color pantone 7734 C.

Solid or should the spot color have brighter area, where it gets rasterised, too?

[tallenvt]

any option to combine greyscale photo with pantone spot color would be useful

[rob day]

With the image in grayscale mode, select the leaf and choose New Spot Channel from the Channels panel

Click Color to select your Pantone spot

Color correct the two channels as needed, Save as .PSD, and place:

[tallenvt]

been there. it you save as anything other than duotone or greyscale [e.g. psd], the printer cannot run it as a black and one-spot color file.

[c.pfaffenbichler]

been there. it you save as anything other than duotone or greyscale [e.g. psd], the printer cannot run it as a black and one-spot color file.

So can you save the grayscale image with the spot channel as psd or not?

[tallenvt]

yes, i can, but then when i drop it into the indesign file, it wont work for a black and 1-spot color file. but maybe i am missing something. i will try again.

[rob day]

when i drop it into the indesign file, it wont work for a black and 1-spot color file.

Can you show your Separation Preview and Links panels with the doc open?

[c.pfaffenbichler]

I have no problems with placing a grayscale image with a spot channel in Indesign.

Please post screenshots to clarify how you save the image and place it in Indesign.

[rob day]

been there. it you save as anything other than duotone or greyscale [e.g. psd], the printer cannot run it as a black and one-spot color file.

My example is being saved as a .psd grayscale, and InDesign is correctly separating the spot as you can see in my Separations Preview panel.

[Bob_Hallam]

In PS CC  Add a spot color channel in the Channels Palet when doing so you can select what type of spot color you choose to use By clicking on the square of color. 

You can also choose from any of the color libraries. 

Than paint away in that channel.

[c.pfaffenbichler]

Were you able to achieve the intended result. yet?

[G_Hoffmann]

As long as the number of prints isn't very large, it's probably cheaper to print

the mentioned document as a supplement of the daily CMYK stuff instead of

a special K+Spot installation.  No problem to reproduce 7734C by CMYK.

Best regards --Gernot Hoffmann