How to assign and separate spot colors in EPS graphics in Publisher 2000

This article describes how to assign two separate spot colors to a single Encapsulated PostScript (EPS) graphic and how to print it in separate spot colors from Microsoft Publisher 2000. The following topics are covered:

• How to create an EPS graphic.
• How to assign specific spot colors to the graphic.
• How to insert the EPS graphic and set up Publisher 2000 for spot color.
• How to print the spot color separations to a PostScript printer.
• Common mistakes and questions regarding this procedure.

How to Create an EPS Graphic and Assign Specific Spot Colors

NOTE: This procedure uses Adobe Illustrator 7.01. You can follow these general steps as a guide to creating or modifying your own EPS graphic.

This procedure does not work with Microsoft Publisher 2000 and Adobe Illustrator 9.0. If you are using Adobe Illustrator 9.0, you must save the EPS from Adobe Illustrator in Illustrator 8.0 format and then separate it by using Microsoft Publisher 2002. Adobe Illustrator 8.0 does not demonstrate this problem in conjunction with Microsoft Publisher 2000.

To create a simple EPS graphic and assign specific spot colors to the graphic, follow these steps:

1. Start or switch to Adobe Illustrator 7.01.
2. Using the Ellipse tool on the main toolbar draw two ovals in the work area.
3. On the Window menu, point to Swatch Libraries, and then click PANTONE Coated. The PANTONE Coated toolbar appears.
4. On the PANTONE Coated toolbar, find the yellow square that represents Pantone Yellow CVC. Click the Pantone Yellow CVC square, hold down the left mouse button, and drag the color to the first oval. When you release the mouse button, the first oval turns yellow.
5. On the PANTONE Coated toolbar, find the blue square that represents PANTONE Reflex Blue CVC. Click the PANTONE Reflex Blue CVC square, hold down the left mouse button, and drag the color to the second oval. When you release the mouse button, the second oval turns blue.
6. On the File menu, click Save As. In the Save as type box, click Illustrator EPS. Type a name for the file, and then click Save.
7. Click OK to accept the default options in the EPS Format window.

How to Insert the EPS Graphic into Publisher 2000

To insert the EPS graphic into Publisher 2000, follow these steps:

1. Start or switch to Publisher 2000, and create a blank publication.
2. On the Insert menu, point to Picture, and then click From File. Click Browse, navigate to the EPS graphic that you created previously, select it, and then click Insert.
3. On the Tools menu, point to Commercial Printing Tools, and then click Color Printing.
   
   In the list of colors that are used in the Color Printing window, you see the spot colors that you defined by using Adobe Illustrator.
4. Click Spot Color, and then click Change Spot Color.
5. In the Spot Color 1 box, click More Colors.
6. Under Show Colors, click All Colors.
7. In the Color Model box, click PANTONE.
8. Click Reflex Blue, click OK, and then click OK again.
9. Click to select the Spot Color 2 check box.
10. In the Spot Color 2 box, click More Colors.
11. Under Show Colors, click All Colors.
12. In the Color Model box, click PANTONE if it is not already selected. If it is selected, click Change Color.
13. Click Yellow, and then click OK.
14. Click OK, and then click OK again to apply the spot color settings.

NOTE: The EPS graphic may be displayed in grayscale in the publication.

How to Print the Spot Color Separations

To print the spot color separations to a PostScript printer, follow these steps:

1. On the File menu, click Print.
2. Select a PostScript printer. An EPS graphic does not separate to a non-PostScript printer.
3. Under Separations, click Print Separations, and then click All.
4. Click OK.

Common Mistakes and Questions

• When you assign spot colors in a graphics editor, you must specify a PANTONE color by name. If you specify the CMYK or RGB equivalent or approximation, Publisher 2000 does not recognize the color and you cannot separate individual portions of the graphic.
• Publisher 2000 only recognizes correctly prepared EPS graphics as having two spot colors in a single graphic, or as having spot color assigned to a predefined area of the graphic (rather than tinting the entire graphic with a spot color). Any other type of picture must be converted into an EPS graphic and have PANTONE Color assigned to the desired areas of the graphic.
  
  This is accomplished by defining vector (line) based areas and filling those areas with PANTONE color in a method similar to the method described in the first part of this article.
• The colors in the EPS graphic often look different in Publisher 2000 than they do in the preview generated by the graphics editor. This is normal and unimportant. The EPS graphic is printed in the same color from either program if you use PANTONE colors.
  
  The slight differences you see are due to how different programs display the color on the screen.
• A preview of the EPS graphic may be displayed in grayscale on the screen after you set up the publication to print spot color separations. The correctly prepared EPS graphic are printed in color regardless of the on-screen preview.
• If the EPS graphic does not separate correctly, make sure that you check the following:
  1. Make sure that the PANTONE colors are listed in the Color Printing window. If they are not listed, then you did not create the EPS graphic properly and you may need to re-create the graphic.
  2. If the PANTONE colors are listed in the Color Printing window, make sure that the selections for spot color 1 and spot color 2 are both correct.
  3. If the selections for spot color 1 and spot color 2 are both correct, make sure that you are printing the graphic to a PostScript printer.

The third-party products that are discussed in this article are manufactured by companies that are independent of Microsoft. Microsoft makes no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding the performance or reliability of these products.