Using Special Colors

[Special Color Settings] is a feature that detects the specific colors in a job by color value (RGB or CMYK) and replaces them with color values defined in VersaWorks Dual. This function is similar to converting a spot color to a process color, with the only difference being that spot colors are recognized by name while special colors are recognized by color value.
To use special colors in VersaWorks Dual, you must define a color (input color) that you want to use as a special color and the color (output color) after replacement. When using the special colors registered in VersaWorks Dual in the illustration application, you will be able to print the closest matching color with the color defined as the output color.
However, VersaWorks Dual will only recognize special 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 special colors or how to create and save special colors.

Printing with special colors
Saving a special color library to a file
Editing special colors
Deleting a special color library
Registering a color by measuring with an instrument
Fine tuning the output color


Printing with special colors

In this section, the procedure to print the color (C: 0, M: 100, Y: 100, K: 0) specified in the illustration application as a special color will be used as an example.
Using the special color feature, you can replace this color (C: 0, M: 100, Y: 100, K: 0) to another color such as (C: 100, M: 0, Y: 0, K: 0) or to a color defined with Lab values.
If the output color is defined with the CMYK values, the color matching process is not applied. When printing this color through the regular workflow, a color conversion takes place and the ink used may not be exactly (C: 0, M: 100, Y: 100, K: 0). However, with special colors, output colors are excluded from color conversion and will be printed as defined.

Step 1: Configure a special color
Step 2: Start printing


Step 1: Configure a special color

Configure the following settings in VersaWorks Dual.
  1. Click [Edit] - [Special Color Settings].
    The [Special Color Settings] window appears.
  2. Click .
    The [Create New Special Color Library] window appears.
  3. Enter a name for the [Special Color Library Name], and then click [OK].
    A new special color library is created.
  4. Select the library you created, and then click .
    The input colors and output colors are displayed.
  5. Click under [Input Color] to select CMYK as the color space.
    Set the value to (C: 0, M: 100, Y: 100, K: 0) for example.
  6. Click under [Output Color] to select CMYK as the color space.
    Set the value to (C: 0, M: 100, Y: 100, K: 0) for example.
  7. Click [OK].
    The settings are saved.

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Tip

Step 2: Start printing

Check if special colors are properly recognized, and then start printing.
  1. Click [File] - [Add Job to Queue A (B)], and then select the data created on 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 Special Color].
    When special colors are properly recognized, the following information is displayed.
    Input Color A caution mark () is displayed for output 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 special color.
    Details Click this button to display the [Special Color List] window.
  4. Configure the necessary print settings such as the media settings, and then click [OK].
  5. Select the job from the job list, and then click .
    Rip'ing and printing are performed.

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Saving a special color library to a file

Follow the procedure below to save a special color library to a file.
  1. Click [Edit] - [Special Color Settings].
    The [Special 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 as a special color file.
You can load a saved special color file by clicking .

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Editing special colors

You can add special colors and change special color values in the [Special Color Settings] window.
  1. Click [Edit] - [Special Color Settings].
    The [Special Color Settings] window appears.
  2. Select the library that you want to edit.
  3. Perform the following as necessary:
    Copying a special color to create a new special color
    1. Select the special color that you want to copy from the library, and then click .
    2. Select the copy of the special color, and set its [Input Color] and [Output Color].
    Deleting a special color
    Select the special color that you want to delete, and then click .
  4. After you have finished editing the special colors, click [OK].

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Deleting a special color library

You can delete a special color library in the [Special Color Settings] window.
  1. Click [Edit] - [Special Color Settings].
    The [Special Color Settings] window appears.
  2. Select the special color that you want to delete, and then click .
  3. Click [OK].

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Registering a color by measuring with an instrument

If you have a color sample, a measurement instrument can be used to measure the Lab value of the color sample and use it as the output color for a special color.
To use a measurement instrument to measure the Lab value of a color sample, follow the procedure below. Please refer to the documentation of your measurement instrument to prepare it for measurement. Also, you need to configure the measurement instruments settings in the [Preferences] window.
Configure the preferences
  1. Click [Edit] - [Special Color Settings].
    The [Special Color Settings] window appears.
  2. Click .
    The [Create New Special Color Library] window appears.
  3. Enter a name for the [Special Color Library Name], and then click [OK].
    A new special color library is created.
  4. Select the library you created, and then click .
    The input colors and output colors are displayed.
  5. Under [Input Color], click (RGB) or (CMYK) to select the color space of the input color, and then enter the color values.
  6. Click .
  7. Click [Calibrate].
    The calibration of the measurement instrument is executed.
  8. Click [Measure].
    The [Start Measurement] window appears.
  9. Use the measurement instrument to measure the color sample.
    The Lab value is displayed when the measurement is completed.
  10. Click [OK].

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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 [Special Color Settings].
    The [Edit Special Color] window appears displaying the following information.
    Input Color RGB or CMYK values of special colors.
    Library Name Name of the library that the special color is registered in.
    Library Output Color values defined in the library
    (A caution mark () is displayed for output colors defined in the 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 output color of a special 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 output color of a special 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 when the output color of a special color is defined in the Lab color space. This cannot be set for other colors.
    To change the output value
    Adjust the color values in [Output Value].
    [Output Value] 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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