12 Color Essentials

Chapter 12 Objectives Understand the difference between spot and process colors. Use the Swatches panel to define color, tint, gradient, and mixed ink swatches. Choose document print specifications.

Keyboard Shortcuts Review –Convert text to outlines –Compound paths –Drop shadow –Ellipsis –Type on a path tool –Gradient tool –Pencil tool –Pen tool

Power user tips 1. Place a grayscale Tiff 2. Click and drag a color swatch to the image. Create a fake duotone

Color Basics Color is created from either reflected light or transmitted light. Your monitor uses transmitted light to display color. Your printer uses reflected light to display color. The color you see on your computer screen isn’t necessarily the color you will see when your document is printed!

When color is critical, use a swatch book to select and define the color in InDesign.

Your job will be printed using process or spot colors. Process colors are created by tint overlays of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black. Spot colors are premixed inks that are placed on the press. Colors you create in InDesign must be correct for the printing process that will be used. When in doubt, ask someone for help. Don’t send out files that are incorrect!

Which panel should I use? The Color (F6) panel creates undefined colors. –If you choose a color from the Color palette, be sure to add it to the Swatches palette as a defined color. The Swatches panel (F5) should be your first choice. – Create swatches created in the Color palette or chosen from a huge selection of color swatches.

The Swatches Panel

Standard Swatch Libraries

Color bar Page information Registration mark Trim size Bleed size Plate color (enlarged view) Printer’s Marks

Summary The world of color is technical and complex, but essential to understand when producing publications. Don’t be shy about asking for someone else’s expertise in order to prepare your files properly.