Convert CMYK to Duotone

[tony_thatcher@adobeforums.com]

Hello! I have a series of Illustrator 10 drawings. They are currently CMYK, but unfortunately the decision has just been made to publish in Duotone. The drawings are maps and have a variety of elements: Greyscale images showing topography, linework in browns and blacks, black text, filled polygons in shades of brown and grey. Is there any way to convert these to Duotone?

Thanks!

[Karen_C@adobeforums.com]

Having had similar jobs like this I would put it to your boss/client that it will cost just as much to convert the drawings as to have published in full colour. It will take you hours for each one.
Duotones are a pain to convert from CMYK as you have to choose 2 colours and convert everything on the page to either of those 2 colours. Remember to save a copy of the original files first!
Alternatively if you don't care about what is what, you can open the file in Photoshop, create a duotone there which will look nice but you won't be able to select individual items to change the colours.

My advice is to convince them to print in full colour as the maps were originally full colour.