Before checking and changing traps on a Portable Document Format (PDF) page, you must refine, color-match, color-map, and trap the PDF file in Prinergy. For best results, follow these steps:
- Remove any traps made in a source software.
- Use a composite Adobe PostScript or PDF files as Prinergy input.
Trapping and color matching can be performed only on composite files. Separated files (that is, with one color per PDF page) cannot be trapped by PDF Trap Editor. - Embed any fonts used in the input file.
You can do this either while creating the PostScript output file in the source software, or in Prinergy during the refine step. - Set up the Color Matcher JTP in the refine process template to convert RGB colors to CMYK colors.
Depending on your input file or design requirements, you may want to select Map All Spot Colors to Process (in the Spot Color Handling section), Set Colors to Knockout, and/or Set Black to Overprint (in the ColorConvert section).
Important: Do not set colors to knock out when you will need double hits of spot colors. - Map spot colors to final output color separations.
- For files with opaque colors, set the (Ink) Printing Order in the Prinergy Color Mapping dialog box to determine the trap directions for traps between opaque inks.
You can also set the Treat as Black option for inks. - Add ink types to the color database in Prinergy Workshop. Ink type is set to Normal by default but can be changed in the Color Editor as follows:
- Normal (for example, all process colors and the default for spot colors)—a translucent color that traps to others according to its relative lightness or darkness, or neutral density. You can specify a neutral density in the Color Editor, or the PDF Trap Editor will derive a value based on the color's CMYK composition. Normal colors that border each other and are located under a translucent color may trap to each other.
- Transparent (for example, for a varnish)—a transparent color is not trapped. Transparent colored objects cannot be selected or trapped manually by PDF Trap Editor. Colors that border each other and are located under the transparent color may trap to each other.
- Opaque (for example, for a metallic ink)—an opaque color will only be spread or choked in relation to other opaque inks that come after it in the print order. However, other colors may trap to an opaque color, and an object covered by the opaque color can be choked. Objects that border each other and are located under the opaque color will not trap.
- Opaque Ignored—this color will not be spread or choked. Objects that border each other and are located under the opaque color will not trap.
- Die Line—the die line color is not trapped but is instead treated like a transparent ink. For composite proofs, it is knocked out to ensure die lines are visible for proofing. For separations, it is overprinted.
PDF Trap Editor checks the color database for a spot color's opacity and neutral density values. If a color is not defined in the color database, PDF Trap Editor assumes an opacity of Normal and derives its neutral density from the CMYK values in the file.
- Map spot colors to final output color separations. Click Color Mapping in the Start Refine Process dialog box to access color mapping and change spot color properties in the Color Editor.
- For files with opaque colors, set the (Ink) Printing Order from the Prinergy Color Mapping dialog box to determine the trap directions for traps between opaque inks. The color listed last defines the shape and all other colors will be pulled under it. For example, Color 1 traps to Color 2, 2 to 3, 3 to 4, and so on.
- You can also set the Treat as Black option for inks (Prinergy 2.1 or later color database).
Once the PDF file is successfully set up and refined, you can check, change, and/or add traps in the refined PDF pages using the PDF Trapper for Acrobat.
Note: If you send the refined and trapped pages to another site for output, that site must be running Prinergy version 2.0 or later.