IDCS2 Duotone .PSD files with transparency

[Andrew_Mannone@adobeforums.com]

Hi all.
I work at a magazine where we use duotones extensively. We create cut-outs of product shots etc., and have recently started using the fluid mask photoshop plugin to make transparent cut-outs as opposed to the traditional clipping path method. When I bring the .psd duotone into indesign I run into an interesting problem. The areas of shadow (semi trasparent) are displayed (and print) poorly. It looks as if it's not displaying the information in the file; it's rough and choppy.

I have found a work-around, but was wondering if anybody had encountered the same issue, had resloved the issue, or could point me in the right direction.

The work-around is as follows. Take the photoshop duotone and add a blank, layer with a solid fill. Turn that layer off in InDesign. The duotone displays and prints correctly.

Thanks for all the help.
-Andrew

[Bob Levine]

Do you have high quality previews enabled?

Bob

[Andrew_Mannone@adobeforums.com]

Bob, yes. They also print poorly. (color laser, and two different postscript RIPs)

Andrew

[Buko@adobeforums.com]

you can also save duotones as PDF

[Gerald_Singelmann@adobeforums.com]

Buko, have you tried this?
Photoshop PDFs do not support spot channels and transparency at the same time as far as I know.

Andrew: your workaround is ingenious. CS2 generally has problems when you mix spot channels and transparency in Photoshop.
The opacity mask for the spot channel (using PSD) is different from the mask for the CMYK part (the latter being wrong).
Your workaround fixes this.

Thanks
Gerald