Using Spot Colors

Spot colors are colors printed with special and exclusive inks. By contrast, colors printed using 4-colors: C (Cyan) M (Magenta) Y (Yellow) K (Black) are called process colors. When using an inkjet printer with no spot color inks, spot colors must be converted to process colors for printing.
VersaWorks can convert spot colors to process colors for printing. The spot colors available in VersaWorks are registered as "spot color library". You can also create a new spot color library if necessary. When using the spot colors registered in the spot color library of VersaWorks in the illustration application, the spot colors are converted to the closest matching process color.
However, VersaWorks will only recognize spot colors in vector data. Colors used in raster data such as a bitmap image are not recognized.

This section explains how to print jobs using spot colors and to edit the spot color library.

Printing with spot colors
Creating a spot color library
Saving the spot color library as a file
Deleting the spot color library
Editing the [User Defined] spot color library
Fine tuning the output color


Printing with spot colors

Follow the procedure below to perform printing using the spot colors.

Step 1: Select the spot color
Step 2: Create the spot color data in another application
Step 3: Start printing


Step 1: Select the spot color

Before creating the spot color data in your application, select the color you want to use from the spot color library of VersaWorks and take note of names of spot colors.
Follow the procedure below to check the name of the spot color registered in the spot color library.

  1. Click [Edit] - [Spot Color Settings].
    The [Spot Color Settings] window appears.
    Tip
    • The [Attribute] shows [Preset] for a preset spot color library and [User Defined] for a spot color library you created.
      Creating a spot color library
  2. Select a library in [Spot Color Library Name].
    You can view the following information:
    Spot Color Name Color preview and spot color name
    Lab (or CMYK) Color value specified in the library
    Tip
  3. After you have taken note of the spot names that you want to use, click [OK].

Step 2: Create a spot color data in another application

In your application software, create and save a illustration data using the spot colors.
Make sure the spot color names used the application software are identical to ones noted in "Step1: Select the spot color." If the names don't match, VersaWorks will not recognize as spot colors.
Names of spot colors are case-sensitive, so make sure the name is typed correctly.

Step 3: Start printing

Check if spot colors are properly recognized, and then start printing.
  1. Click [File] - [Add Job to Queue A (B)], and then select the data created in your application.
    The selected data is added to the job list.
  2. Select and double-click the job from the job list.
    The [Job Settings] window appears.
  3. Click , and then select [Convert Named Color].
    When spot colors are properly recognized, the following information is displayed.
    Spot Color Name A caution mark () is displayed for spot colors defined in Lab color space, if the color cannot be reproduced (out of gamut) with the selected media or print quality.
    Output Color Displays the color values of the process color resultant from the conversion of the spot color.
    Details Click this button to display the [Spot Color list] window.
  4. For the spot color defined in the Lab color space, select the color conversion method from the [Matching Method] list box.
    This setting is applied when the color conversion is performed (The setting in [Matching Method] under [Quality] - [Color Management] - [Properties] will be ignored).
    Characteristics of each matching method
    Note
    • Spot colors not defined in the Lab color space will be printed according to the calibration curve set in the [Media Settings] window. In this case, the ink limit does not apply. Be cautious of excessive ink usage when printing.
      Prepare for creating a profile
  5. Configure the necessary print settings such as the media settings, and then click [OK].
  6. Select the job from the job list, and then click .
    Rip'ing and printing are performed.

Tip

See Also
Using Roland Color System Library

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Creating a spot color library

Perform the following procedure on VersaWorks.
  1. Click [Edit] - [Spot Color Settings].
    The [Spot Color Settings] window appears.
  2. Click .
    The [Create Spot Color Library] window appears.
  3. Enter the desired name in [Spot Color Library Name], select the color space in [Color Space], and then click [OK].
    The new spot color library is created.
    Note
    • When using a measurement instrument, color space must be set to [Lab].
      Once a library is created, you will not be able to change the library name and color space settings.
  4. Select the created library, and then click .
    The list is added in [Spot Color Name].
  5. Select a spot color that was added, and enter the name in [Spot Color Name].
  6. Enter the color value.
    When you know the Lab value of the spot color
    Enter the color value.
    When using a measurement instrument to measure the Lab value
    You can use a measurement instrument to enter the Lab value. Please refer to the documentation of your measurement instrument to prepare it for measurement. Also, you need to configure the measurement instrument's settings in the [Preferences] window.
    Configure the preference settings
    1. Click [Calibrate].
      The calibration of the measurement instrument starts.
    2. Click [Measure].
      When the [Start Measurement] window appears, use the measurement instrument to measure the Lab value.
      The Lab value is displayed when the measurement is completed.
    When a color space setting other than Lab is selected
    Enter the color values of the process color after the conversion. (For example, C: 0 M: 0 Y: 100 K: 0).
  7. Click [OK].
    The settings are saved.

Note
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Saving the spot color library as a file

Follow the procedure below to save a spot color library as a file.
  1. Click [Edit] - [Spot Color Settings].
    The [Spot Color Settings] window appears.
  2. Select the library to be saved, and then click .
    The [Save As] window appears.
  3. Enter the file name, and then click [Save].
    The selected library is saved to a spot color file.
You can open saved spot color files by clicking in the spot color library.

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Deleting the spot color library

Follow the procedure below to delete a spot color library from the spot color library list. Note that libraries with [Preset] attribute cannot be deleted.
  1. Click [Edit] - [Spot Color Settings].
    The [Spot Color Settings] window appears.
  2. Select the library that you want to delete from the spot color library list, and then click .
  3. Click [OK].

Note
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Editing the [User Defined] spot color library

You can edit libraries (whose [Attribute] is [User Defined]) in the [Spot Color Settings] window by, for example, adding new spot colors or changing spot color values.
  1. Click [Edit] - [Spot Color Settings].
    The [Spot Color Settings] window appears.
  2. Select the library that you want to edit.
  3. Perform the following as needed:
    To copy the spot color
    1. Select the spot color that you want to copy from the library, and then click .
    2. Select the copy, and then enter the name in [Spot Color Name].
    3. Enter the color value.
    To delete the spot color
    Select the spot color that you want to delete, and then click .
  4. After you have finished editing the spot colors, click [OK].

Note
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Fine tuning the output color

You can fine tune the output color if necessary.
Make sure to check the output color every time you make any changes to the color value.
  1. Select and double-click the job from the job list.
    The [Job Settings] window appears.
  2. Click , and then click [Detail] in [Named Color Settings].
    The [Named Color List] window appears displaying the following information.
    Spot Color Name Spot color name used in the job.
    Library Name Library name in which the spot color is registered.
    Library Output Color values defined in the library
    (A caution mark () is displayed for spot colors defined in Lab color space, if the color cannot be reproduced (out of gamut) with the selected media or print quality.)
    Delta E (Only when the library output color is out of the gamut) Color difference from the printer gamut.
    Printer Output Process color values to which the special color is converted.
    (When the spot color is defined in the Lab color space, the color values represent the results from a color matching method displayed in [Matching Method].)
    Matching Method [Matching Method] in [File Format] (only when the spot color is defined in the Lab color space).
    Output Color value displayed in [Edit Output Color].
  3. Perform one or both of the following operations to fine tune the output color.
    To change the matching method
    Right-click the [Matching Method] field of the color to be edited, and then select the matching method.
    This setting is only available for spot colors defined in the Lab color space. This cannot be set for other colors.
    To edit the printer output values
    Adjust the color values in [Output].
    [Output] changes directly the process color value resultant from the conversion.
    In addition to changing the matching method, change the output value if you need further adjustment.
  4. Click [OK].
  5. Click [OK].
  6. Select a job from the job list, and then click .
    Rip'ing and printing are performed.


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