Importing 2-color Illustrator files into Quark

[John_orozco@adobeforums.com]

I am trying to create a two color illustrator art file (black and PMS 285) and import it into Quark 6 or 4. My problem is that when I print separations in quark I get CMYK plates for a 2 color piece of art.

What am I doing wrong?

[John_Kallios@adobeforums.com]

Make sure the pms spot color name matches exactly the displayed name in Xpress. Also, your elements need to be spot color in the first place.

Are you outputting as separations or are you using deviceN output in Xpress 6?

[Dee Holmes]

What version of Illustrator are you working with and how are you saving the file. I always change the spot color in Illustrator 10.03 to read CVC and save as an .eps file. Then bring it into Quark 4, which munches the file to CV, but it will still print spot colors.

Are you saving as a .pdf by chance?

[John_orozco@adobeforums.com]

I am using Illustrator 10.0.3. I have named the spot colors the same in Ilustrator and Quark. But I get the same result when I print out separations in Quark, 1page yellow, 1 page magenta, 1 page cyan, 1 page black, and 1 page PMS 285, the later two pages have images on them. I cannot get rid of the YMC pages. It only occurs on the pages that contain Illustrator files.

Is there some I am suppose to do in Illustrator. They have been saved as eps files and I have checked all elements to be either black, pms 285, or white.

[Richard_Schletty@adobeforums.com]

Make sure the custom colors in Illustrator are defined as spot colors. Are these spot colors used in gradients? That could cause them to go CMYK. Check this Forum for tips on use of spots in gradients.

Try saving as EPS with Illustrator 8 compatibility. Same results?

I hate to ask this, but you're not exporting as Photoshop EPS, are you? You don't want to do that.

In QuarkXPress Colors dialog, besides EXACTLY matching the color names, make sure aeach of those colors has the "Spot Color" box checked.

[Scott_Weichert@adobeforums.com]

if you are using transparency or blending modesin Illustrator it could also cause the image to be CMYK.

[John_Kallios@adobeforums.com]

Are you getting blank cmyk plates plus your 2 colors or are the 2 colors converting to cmyk?

Can you print the separations accurately from Illustrator?

[John_orozco@adobeforums.com]

When I print them out in Quark the cmy are blank, the k prints along with the second color.

I can print the separations correctly in IL.10. I have had a problem having the white plate print separately sometimes.

[John_orozco@adobeforums.com]

When I print them out in Quark the cmy are blank, the k prints along with the second color.
I can print the separations correctly in IL.10. I have had a problem having the white plate print separately sometimes.

[adopey@adobeforums.com]

Ive got a feeling it may be a 'nuance' of Quark. Ive come across this many a time while trying to output clients jobs and im afraid we just ended up turning off the unwanted colours in the print dialog box in Quark. before printing.

I know its a workaround but once you are aware of the problem you can do it as a standard procedure when working your way through Quarks 'print/page setup' options.

[Rene_Garneau@adobeforums.com]

I think "adopey" is right; it's a Quark thing. Like he says, click CMY off in the "Output" tab of the Print Dialog.

[Dee Holmes]

Do you have register marks? Anything using Registration will make all colors in the print dialogue box to print.

[rpilato@adobeforums.com]

They have been saved as eps files and I have checked all elements to be
either black, pms 285, or white.<




Is the White color defined as a spot color?

[Mark_Morse@adobeforums.com]

I have the same problems with ILUS CS and Quark 4. I've tried IN-Design and bringing in an ILUS file with black as a color causes IN Design to treat it as an enriched black. It prints the black plate and adds cmy plates even though the swatch just says black without any cmy percentages.

mark