Handling
- Map All Spot Colors to Process—transforms all spot colors to process, using the simulation space color management.
- Don't Map Spot Colors—indicates spot colors that will be printed on their own spot-ink separations in final output
Note: However, the spot colors are converted to process for proofing on the CMYK inkjet proofers, mapped to the proofer space.
- Don't Output—leaves blank spaces on the proof where spot colors are supposed to print. When you select Don't Output, some options on the Spot Colors tab become unavailable because you don't need them.
- Map spots to process enable spot tint—transforms all spot colors to process colors using color library files and/or the proofer profile; also enables the Enhance Spot Tint When you select a CMYK color library, the processor uses the CMYK recipe that is defined in the color library. When you select an L*a*b* color library, the processor uses the proofer profile from the ICC Settings tab to transform the L*a*b* recipes into the proofer color space.
Auto-Resolve Spot Color Naming Conflicts
(Applies only when Handling is set to Don't Map Spot Colors) Automatically renames identical PANTONE spot color names that have different endings (for example, CV and CVC) so that the colors remain on the same separation. From the Resolve to list, select the ending. For example, in the Resolve to list, select C to have PANTONE 871 CV and PANTONE 871 CVC renamed to PANTONE 871 C.
Note: PANTONE 028 C (coated) and PANTONE 028 U (uncoated) both print using the same ink (a mixture of pigments specified by the PANTONE company), but they are different colors because they are printed on different paper stocks (coated vs. uncoated). The proofer processor doesn't automatically rename these colors because it assumes they are different colors.
Resolve Ambiguous Spot Color Recipes
Resolves the spot color recipe to the recipe found in the selected spot color library to ensure that the spot colors print on the same separation when an input file has conflicting recipes for a particular spot color.
Note: This feature is always enabled—you cannot clear the check box.
Selective Map to Process
Allows color separations to be remapped in job pages. Selecting this check box activates the Manual and Automatic options.
For Manual processing, each file automatically pauses in the Controller Viewer Queue, with a paused icon and pencil icon beside each proof file name. You click the pencil icon to open the Edit Separations dialog box, and click the paused icon to resume the processing.
Note: The Selective Map to Process option overrides the Handling option. When you select the Selective Map to Process check box, all separations in the job appear in the Edit Separations dialog box.
(Approval only) Automatic—If Automatic is selected, the file doesn't pause in the Controller Viewer Queues window. The conversion happens automatically during processing—the system identifies the colors for which no Approval recipe definition exists in the media configuration and automatically converts the colors to process color. The system uses the recipe from the first color name match that it finds in the following places in the following order:
- User library when selected on the Spot Colors tab
- Factory library when selected on the Spot Colors tab
- Input file when the Extract from input file option is selected
If the Selective Map to Process check box is not selected, file processing will fail when a color lacks an Approval recipe in the associated media configuration.
Source of recipe
Extract from Input File
Uses the exact color recipes that are defined in the input files.
Lookup in Spot Color Database
Looks in the spot color database for the color recipe of each color defined in the input file.
User Library
Specifies the user library that you want the system to search for spot color recipes. Select None if you don't want to search any user libraries. This option is available only if the Look Up In Spot Color Database option is selected.
This option is not available if Extract From Input File is selected.
You can override this selection on a per-proof basis if Selective Map to Process is enabled.
Factory Library
Specifies the factory library in the color database that you want the system to search for spot color recipes. Select None if you don't want to search any factory libraries. This option is available only if the Look Up In Spot Color Database option is selected.
This option is not available if Extract From Input File is selected.
You can override this selection on a per-proof basis if Selective Map to Process is enabled.
Use Recipe from File if not in Library
Uses the spot color recipes that are stored in the input file if the recipes are not found in user or factory libraries. This option is automatically selected for you when you select the Look Up In Spot Color Database option.
This option is not available if Extract From Input File is selected.
Spot tint colors
Enhance Spot Tint Color
Enables the hot folder or virtual printer to more accurately simulate spot color tints that are printed on press or on another target device. It also lets you simulate the highlight minimum dot seen in flexographic printing if desired. The Enhance Spot Tint Color option applies only to spot colors. You control process colors by selecting a simulation DeviceLink on the ICC Settings tab.
The Enhance Spot Tint Color option becomes available when you set the following options on the Spot Colors tab:
- In the Handling list, select Don't map spots.
- In the Handling list, select Map Spots to Process Enable Spot Tint.
- Select the Look up in spot color database check box.
- In the User Library list and/or in the Factory Library list, select a library.
Use spot tint library
Enables the software to use spot-tint color libraries to emulate the spot-tint color for each color in the selected user and/or factory library.
User library or factory library
Displays the name of the user library and/or factory library that is selected on the left side of the Spot Colors tab. In the Spot Tint Library list, select a spot-tint color library. Each spot-tint color library is associated with a color library. The Spot Tint Library list displays only the spot-tint color libraries for the selected color library. None appears when no spot-tint color libraries are selected or when no spot-tint color libraries exist for the color library. You can create spot-tint color libraries in the Spot Tint Color Library Manager, which is available from the Configure menu.
If you select two spot tint libraries (one for a user library and one for a factory library) and the settings in the selected spot tint libraries conflict, a warning icon appears. Click the Summary button to view the settings for each spot tint library, and use the Spot Tint Library Manager to align the settings between the two spot tint libraries.
Summary
Displays a summary of the settings for the color library and any spot colors that you customized for the library
Calculate all spot tint colors
Enables the software to use four data points to calculate the spot-tint color for each color in the selected user and/or factory library—Minimum dot on plate (%), Minimum dot printed on press (%), Contrast Index, and Dot Gain at 50%.
Simulate
Enables you to simulate the dot gain for the 50% tint or the minimum highlight dot techniques used in flexographic printing. Select one of the following options:
No Highlight Adjustment—turns off simulation of the flexographic minimum highlight dot, but lets you simulate the spot tint colors on press.
Highlight Bump—simulates the flexographic technique that moves the fine highlight dots into the tone range that can be imaged on a flexographic plate. This technique is sometimes called a bump curve. For example, when 5% is the smallest highlight tint that can be imaged on a flexographic plate, all tints in the input file from 0.1% to 4.9% are moved into the tone range between 5% and 100%. In other words, the Highlight Bump option raises the input values from the identified minimum dot. As a result, printed images appear darker.
Highlight Minimum Dot—simulates the flexographic technique that removes the fine highlight dots from a flexographic plate and images them at 0% or paper tint. In other words, the Highlight Minimum Dot option clips the input values below the identified minimum dot. As a result, printed images appear to lack detail in highlight areas.
Minimum Dot on Plate
Specifies a percentage from 0.1 to 10 that identifies the smallest highlight tint that can be imaged on a flexographic plate.
In the Simulate list, when you select Highlight Bump, all tint percentages in the input file that are below the Minimum Dot on Plate value will be moved above the value. As a result, the tint range is compressed (for example, from 5% to 100%) and images appear darker. The Minimum Dot on Plate value must be equal to or less than the Minimum Dot on Press value.
In the Simulate list, when you select Highlight Minimum Dot, all tint percentages in the input file that are below the Minimum Dot on Plate value will be imaged at 0% or paper tint. As a result, the highlight areas lack detail.
Minimum Dot Printed on Press
Note: The Minimum Dot Printed on Press box is optional. It is not required for Kodak Proofing Software to enhance spot color tints, but it can provide additional information for the software to use.
Specifies a percentage from 0.1 to 30 that identifies the dot gain on press for the minimum dot that can be imaged on a flexographic plate. In other words, the Minimum Dot Printed on Press value identifies the dot gain for the Minimum Dot on Plate value. For example, when the minimum dot on a flexographic plate is 3% and the dot prints on press at 15%, you would type 15% in the Minimum Dot Printed on Press box.
The Minimum Dot on Plate value must be equal to or less than the Minimum Dot on Press value.
Contrast Index
Determines where to place the contrast reduction in the tone scale for the bump curve to simulate how the flexographic press prints. In other words, the Contrast Index value determines whether you see the contrast reduction in the highlights, midtones, or shadows.
The Contrast Index option becomes available when you select Highlight Bump in the Simulate list. The Highlight Bump option simulates a bump curve used in flexographic printing. A bump curve shortens the tone scale and consequently reduces contrast.
In the Contrast Index box, type a number that is greater than or equal to the Minimum Dot Printed on Plate value and less than or equal to 200. One digit after the decimal point is allowed. The Contrast Index value must be equal to or greater than the Minimum Dot Printed on Plate value. For example, when the Minimum Dot Printed on Plate value is 9, the Contrast Index value must be 9 or greater.
From 0.1 to 100, the Contrast Index value indicates where the contrast reduction ends and the original tone scale for the input file is preserved. For example, a Contrast Index value of 60 indicates that the contrast reduction is spread over the highlights and midtones up to a 60% tint in the input file.
From 100 to 200, the contrast reduction is spread over the entire range of the input tints. The following examples illustrate several Contrast Index values for the case where the minimum dot printed on plate is 9%.
Example 1—Contrast Index value is 150 (the default setting)
A setting of 150 spreads the contrast reduction evenly across all tints in the input file. As a result, you see some contrast reduction in the highlights, midtones, and shadows. The x axis is the tint on plate, and the y axis is the tint in the input file.
Example 2—Contrast Index value is set to its minimum setting and is equal to the Minimum Dot Printed on Plate value
For example, when the Minimum Dot on Plate value is 9, the Contrast Index value is 9 too.
The minimum setting squeezes the contrast reduction into a single point—the minimum dot on plate. As a result, the highlight areas (below 9% in this example) lack detail, but the midtones and shadows are unaffected. The x axis is the tint on plate, and the y axis is the tint in the input file.
Example 3—Contrast Index value is 60
A setting of 60 spreads the contrast reduction over the highlights and midtones up to 60%. As a result, you see less contrast in the highlight and midtone areas, but shadow contrast is unaffected. The x axis is the tint on plate, and the y axis is the tint in the input file.
Example 4—Contrast Index value is 200
A setting of 200 shifts the contrast reduction to the shadow areas. As a result, the highlight areas retain their contrast, but the upper midtones and shadow areas lose contrast. The x axis is the tint on plate, and the y axis is the tint in the input file.
Dot Gain at 50%
Specifies a percentage from 0 to 40 that indicates the measured dot gain on press. Decimals are not allowed. Zero indicates no dot gain (also called linear). For example, when a 50% dot in the input file measures 68% on press, you would type 18% in the Dot Gain at 50% box (68 - 50 = 18).
| Parent topic: Spot color settings |