Activity 7: Add a spot ink to a print calibration curve

Background

Most of ColorFlow's color control elements control color reproduction of process inks on printing devices. Process inks, typically CMYK, are inks that are overprinted in various combinations on the output device to achieve the desired color. Spot inks are specially mixed inks that are printed by output devices in addition to process inks. 

In ColorFlow, a default spot ink (black) is used for undefined spot ink. You can add more spot inks in addition to the default one for a curve-controlled device condition or a print transfer curve. You can add a spot ink that uses the same calibration curve as a process ink. You can also add a custom spot ink that uses a unique curve to control its tonality. 

Tasks

Goal
Create and add a custom spot ink for the print calibration curve you created in a previous activity.

Task 1: Add a spot ink to the print calibration curve

1. In ColorFlow, click the Print Curves tab.
2. In the Print Calibration Curves list table, find and click the print calibration curve XX new print calibration curve for tonal match.
3. In the curve object in the Viewer window, click the Property icon .
4. In the Device Condition Properties dialog box, in the Spot Inks section, click the Add button .
5. A spot ink item is added to the Spot Inks list with the default name Spot 1. 
6. Define the spot ink:
   1. Double-click the Spot 1 column and enter Pantone 123 as the name of your spot ink.
   2. Double-click the Color column and then click the RGB tab.
   3. Enter 255 for Red, 199 for Green, and 44 for Blue.
   4. Click OK.
   5. Click the Curve column and choose Custom.
   6. Click OK.
7. Create a Tint Ramp chart:
   1. Click the Measurement icon .
   2. In the Charts section, click the Add button .
   3. A chart appears in the Charts list with a default name.
   4. From the Chart Type list, choose Tint Ramp. 
   5. In the Tint Set section, click the Edit button .
   6. Click the Add button and enter 0 10 25 50 75 90 100.
   7. Click OK.
   8. From the Process Ink Set list, choose None(spot inks only).
   9. Click Save.
8. Enter the measurement values. In a real-life situation, you might need to print the chart and measure the chart using a measurement device. For the purpose of this training, you will enter the EDA values.
   Note: If the spot ink was added when you first define the properties, you can measure the CMYK and spot colors in the Chart tab. If you add additional spot inks after you have done the measurement, you must enter or measure the spot ink by clicking the View button in the Measurement tab.
   
   1. Click the Measurement tab.
   2. Click View to open the Tonal Response dialog box.
   3. Click Spot.
   4. From the Spot Ink list, choose Pantone 123.

   5. In the Tonal  Response section, enter the following EDA values:

      Tint in	EDA
      0	0
      10	12
      25	29
      50	57
      75	84
      90	96
      100	100

   6. Click OK.

Task 2: Define the spot ink target to an industry specification:

1. Click the Conversion icon .
2. Click the Spot Inks tab and choose ISO Curve B (2004) 1 from the Target list.
3. From the Curves Method list, choose Tonal Match.
4. Click OK.
   The print calibration curve is re-generated to match the spot ink target.

Outcome

You have added a custom spot ink to a print calibration curve.