Use the Color Database Editor to manage color definitions in the system color database. The changes you make to the color database are accessed by all process templates in the system.
The first time you open the Color Database Editor dialog box, the Client software updates your local copy of factory color database information. This generally takes less than two minutes.
What is the color database editor?
Use the Color Database Editor dialog box to:
- View factory libraries such as PANTONE 1999 and PANTONE 2000
- Create, add, edit, and delete user-defined colors and user libraries
- Search for colors in a selected library
- Copy multiple factory library recipes into user libraries and user-defined recipes between user libraries
Settings (screen and trap) defined in the output Process Template Editor dialog box, Calibration and Screening section and Refine to PDF Process Template Editor dialog box, Trapping section override the screen and trap settings in the Color Database Editor dialog box.
What is the color database?
The color database stores information about spot colors.
The color definitions in the color database enable you, via automated processing, to:
- Convert spot colors to process colors or simulate spot colors on a proof
- Override color recipes from composite PostScript and PDF input files with one standard color recipe used for all pages
- Provide recipes for separated PostScript files that don't reliably contain spot color recipes
- Store ink parameters required for trapping (neutral density and opacity)
When the system looks for a color definition, it looks in the following order:
- User libraries
- Factory libraries
- Color information stored in the input file
To specify which user library and factory library is searched during automated processing, edit the process template.
What information is stored?
The color database stores the following information:
- Neutral density
- Opacity
- Alternate color values and alternate color space name (CMYK, L*a*b*)
- Screening angle
Factory library
Currently four PANTONE factory libraries are supported: PANTONE 1999: CMYK and L*a*b*, and PANTONE 2000: CMYK and L*a*b*.
The PANTONE factory libraries are a standard feature. The library consists of color definitions for PANTONE colors.
The installation wizard automatically installs the four PANTONE factory libraries and loads them into the color database.
You cannot edit or remove a PANTONE color definition or any other factory library definition. To override one of the standard color definitions, copy the PANTONE color definition to your own user library, and set the search order, in the process template, to search your library first.
PANTONE Factory Library With QuarkXPress, Illustrator, and Photoshop
The PANTONE factory library is intended for use with files produced by QuarkXPress software, Illustrator software, and Adobe Photoshop , all of which also contain the PANTONE factory library. The names of PANTONE colors used are captured in the files that are output from these software programs. However, color definitions are not always captured along with the PANTONE color name so your system uses the name to match the selection from the desktop application with the proper color definition from PANTONE.
QuarkXPress software, Illustrator software, and Photoshop all add characters to the end of PANTONE color names. Your system knows the rules by which each of the software applications changes PANTONE color names and can automatically figure out which color definition is the correct one.
When you submit a file from QuarkXPress software, Illustrator software, or Photoshop to Prinergy Evo, in the Refine to PDF process template dialog box, Spot Color Handling section, select the Auto Resolve Spot Color Naming Conflicts check box to refine the file. Prinergy Evo recognizes the PANTONE color name, matches it to the PANTONE color in the PANTONE factory library, and uses the color recipe from the PANTONE factory library.
Prinergy Evo can override, via settings in the process template, the color recipe in your input file with a recipe in the factory or user library.
Pantone factory library with other desktop applications
If you are processing a file that is produced by any desktop software other than QuarkXPress software, Illustrator software, and Photoshop, Prinergy Evo might not know the rules by which the desktop software changes the PANTONE color name. For example, if your software uses different rules to name the PANTONE colors, then you may need to create a user library with the PANTONE color recipes.