Editing trap color

The colors of adjacent objects are added together to make their mutual trap color, and may result in a color that is too dark and visible. You can set colorants so that any resulting trap colors are lighter.
You can adjust trap color using the Properties Editor.

1. In PDF Trap Editor, select a trap.
2. In the Properties Editor, select the trap's icon in the left pane.
   The trap swatch shows the trap color . The trap's color separations appear in cells in the trap color column and may contain the following:
   • • A ~nn.n value appears in a color separations cell for a trap, where nn.n is a value between 0 and 100 percent. This is the average tint value derived from an adjacent image or gradient within the trap area.
     • A #nn.n value appears in a color separations cell for a trap, where nn.n is a value between 0 and 100 percent. This is the mask and average tint value contributed by a complex bitmap. When more than one object is painting a separation, such as a normal object plus one or more complex masks, #nn.n is the maximal tint value derived from those objects.
     • An nn.n value appears in a color separations cell for a trap, where nn.n is a value between 0 and 100 percent. This is the tint of the separation color.
3. To change the trap's color separations for a trap, you can color with any ink available in the page.
   Double-click a color separation cell and:
   • • Type a new tint value nn.n for that separation, where nn.n is a value between 0 and 100 percent.
     • Enter ~ (tilde) to request that the trap data be derived from an adjacent image or gradient for that separation. An average tint value will be automatically calculated and displayed once you click Apply.
     • Type # (hash) to request a mask and tint derived from a complex bitmap for a separation. The average tint value will be automatically calculated and displayed once you click Apply.
     • Type #nn.n, where nn.n is a value between 0 and 100 percent, to request a mask derived from a complex bitmap for a separation in the tint you specify.

   The neutral density for the trap changes as you edit the trap separations.

4. Click Apply.

See Also

Scaling a trap color