Using Output Preview to Check Spot Colors

Using Output Preview to Check Spot Colors

This is one of our most used tools for more technical projects. Using output preview helps us quickly determine if a file is set up correctly for spot color processes.

Requirements: Adobe Acrobat and a PDF file.

  1. Open adobe acrobat and select tools on the top left corner (Acrobat CC).
  2. Open Print Production
  3. On the right side, select "Output Preview"
  4. The window on the right should open. This window tells you the CMYK and spot color makeup of the file. You can hover over the  art to determine the color makeup. In this example, when the cursor is hoovered over any part of the image, we have the following color makeup. 
  5. With this artwork, the client wants a metallic rose gold effect (not foil). For this process we use a layer of silver ink and then apply color on top of the silver. In the example above, the color assignment is incorrect. The Silver value should be at 100%. If we print this file, the silver ink would not be applied.

    • Related Articles

    • How to set up Silver, Raised Spot UV, and Digital Foil Files using Spot Colors

      Read This First Do I always have to set up spot colors in order to print a specialty element? Nope! If you're only printing a specialty element with no other print on the document, then you can just send us a file in black and white. Whatever is ...

    • How to use Output Preview to kind-of predict RGB to CMYK limitations

      This is definintely not a bullet proof method but it will save you time and money by skipping printing a physical proof. You will need Adobe Acrobat PRO to do this. It's included in creative cloud. Open Adobe Acrobat Pro Click on the search icon, ...

    • How to set up your file for Raised Spot UV in InDesign and Illustrator

      Quick answer for Design Professionals In InDesign or Illustrator, set up a spot color and name it "Varnish". Go to attributes and make sure to select the objects as "Overprint Fill" or "Overprint Stroke". You can download our official color swatches ...

    • White Ink File Setup in Photoshop

      Photoshop Training video https://drive.google.com/file/d/1lVe-vIePaZjrYm00uyd6izNSOhzr1r7D/view?usp=sharing You can use photoshop when we do not have vector artwork for assets. The main difference between InDesign/illustrator vs. photoshop: it’s all ...

    • How to set up a file to print Silver Ink only in Photoshop

      Note: This is for printing with silver ink only. It's a great way to print on darker papers as the silver is opaque enough to show well. This works when the file is set up so that the items that you want in silver are in black like the example below. ...