Swatch Limitations?

[Tricia_Schneberger@adobeforums.com]

I have a HUGE information graphic that I am trying to print and I was getting the "Can't Print the Illustration" error. Found out through a knowledgebase search that it is because I have more that 28 colors in the illustration. I am working on wittling it down but wanted to know if the number of swatches equaled the number of colors illustrator counts? for example, if I am using say 534C but I also want to use 80% tint and 60% and I create swatches for those tints, does it count those as additional colors?

[L._Nichols@adobeforums.com]

Tricia,

The swatch limitation is based on the number of individual spot color plates that would be printed, not the number of swatches.

So multiple tints of a spot color do not count toward the 28 spot plate limit.

L.

[Tricia_Schneberger@adobeforums.com]

Thanks!

I'm guessing gradient swatches would not count either?

[L._Nichols@adobeforums.com]

Not if they use the same spot colors or tints of spot colors. The real issue is that Illustrator CS is limited to outputting no more than 32 separation plates: 4 process colors plus 28 others. As long as you stay within that limit, you are fine.

L.

[Tricia_Schneberger@adobeforums.com]

Great! Thanks for your help!