Step-by-Step Use of Spot Color in Illustrator

You will now begin preparing vector graphics to be color separated correctly for offset printing from a desktop publishing software..

All graphics must be prepared and then PLACED in InDesign.
Once the graphic is placed it becomes a LINK in InDesign.

The graphic you are viewing on the InDesign page is a low resolution file which represents the original high quality file.

The LINK is the path to that high resoultion/quality file.
Always check the LINK palette to be sure the graphic is LINKED.
Proper linking is essential to accurate "output."

Each Pantone color (spot color) will be on it's own separation.

Also, with spot colors you may use as many tints/screens (99%-1%) of a color that you want.

These tints/screens are actually all the same ink color and will appear on the same color printing plate as the 100% solid designation of that color.

ONLY Pantone Spot colors and/or CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black) are used in offset lithographic printing.

RGB is used only for the web.

Choosing Spot Colors in Illustrator
Illustrator>WINDOW Menu>
SWATCH Libraries>Color Books>PANTONE SOLID COATED

There are several Pantone options.
Read the options before you choose one.

Resizing in Illustrator

Select object

Double click Scale Tool to activate Scale box.

Type in enlargement or reduction number in the Uniform Scale box.

Ungrouping in Illlustrator

Select object

OBJECT Menu>Ungroup

SAVING in Illustrator

You can save an Adobe Illustrator file which will be PLACED in Indesign as either a native file format — .ai or as an .eps file.

If you choose to save the file as an eps the steps are as follows...

1.) FILE>SAVE AS (name file)>FORMAT(select Illustrator EPS)
>WHERE(choose folder on your desktop)>select SAVE button

2.) EPS OPTIONS window opens

>FORMAT (Choose TIFF(8-bit color)
Format gives you several options.

Determine the characteristics (the way you want to view the graphic in the DTP software) of the preview image that is saved in the file.

The preview image is displayed in applications (such as, desktop publishing software InDesign) that cannot display EPS artwork directly.

If you don't want to create a preview image, choose None from the Format menu.
Otherwise, select a black-and-white or color format.

If you select TIFF (8-bit Color) format, select a background option for the preview image:
Transparent to produce a transparent background or Opaque to produce a solid background. (Select Opaque if the EPS document will be used in a Microsoft Office application.)