PUB2000: Spot Colors Turn Grayscale in Publisher 98

If you save a Microsoft Publisher 2000 Spot Color publication in Publisher 98 format, some of the spot color information may be lost when the publication is set up for spot color printing in Publisher 98. Specifically, spot colors chosen in Publisher 2000 may be converted to black and white when the publication is set up for spot color printing in Publisher 98.

Publisher 2000 supports a wider range of spot colors than Publisher 98. Publisher 98 uses the closest supported approximation available for the spot color determined in Publisher 2000, effectively changing the spot color. Once the spot color has been changed in Publisher 98, the original spot color will be displayed as grayscale.

More specifically, Publisher 98 supports only 35 different spot colors:


NOTE: Colors determined by RGB values are not supported by Publisher 98 spot color.

Method One

If you are working on a file that was created in Publisher 2000 don't change the spot color settings in Publisher 98 . If you do not change the settings from Publisher 2000, your spot colors will print correctly from Publisher 98.

Method Two

Change the affected colors within Publisher 98 to a supported spot color.

After you have set the publication up for spot color, you can recolor any objects that have been rendered as grayscale. Right-click an object, point to Change <object>, point to Fill Color, and then click one of the supported spot colors.

Method Three

Choose a supported spot color when working in Publisher 2000.

1. On the Format menu, click Change Spot Color.
2. Click the drop down arrow for each spot color. The first set of color choices will be supported in Publisher 98. Choices under More Colors will not be supported in Publisher 98.
3. Click OK to apply the changes. Notice in your publication that all objects using these spot colors have been updated.

Your publication will now convert correctly to spot color within Publisher 98.

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in Microsoft Publisher 2000.