Color Seperations

[lizzy3195]

Does PSE6 print color seperations? Or is there some add-on or tool that will help to do this? I need color seperations to send to my professional printshop.

[frank abramonte]

Your professional printshop should be able to convert your files easily. The conversion is simple, each photo has to be opened covert the mode to CMYK and saved.
Each color used has to be converted to CMYK.
The the entire file has to re-saved.

If the spot colors are not converted they will generat additional pieces of film. One each for the CMYKs and one for each spot color which wasn't converted to CMYK.
Basically it's that an RGB color will have to be converted so it can be achieved using a combination of CMYK.
An orange color RGB would be R=243 G=124 B=18
In CMK it would be Cyan=1 Magenta=63 Yellow=100 Black=0

If the printer does your conversions I recommend that you get some sort of proof from him to approve. It will be well worth the money.

There are some online printers which regularly convert RGB documents to CMYK without charge, Viovio is one of them.
http://www.viovio.com/wiki/Photo+Books


Elements can't print separations nor can it convert RGB spot colors to CMYK, you need the full Photoshop to print CMYK.
Whether there is an add-on I don't know, perhaps some contributor will come along with the answer.

The only benefit in you doing your own conversion is that you would be able to view the slight change in the photos when converting from RGB to CMYK. The change is caused by the creation of a lone black rather than the black being made up of the other colors. You will get a slightly sharper image but a little less bright.
If the printer gave you a CMYK printout you would be able to see the difference.
Ask your local printer or perhaps a place like Kinko's or Staples has the facilities where you can covert your own documents. Ask the printer what the cost of converting is and compare it to what it would cost you to do it on your own.
Post back if you need additional info.

[lizzy3195]

thank you for that explanation; it helped a lot!