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Cadmium Red
Joined: 14 May 2009
Posts: 4
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Posted: Thu May 14, 2009 10:35 am Post subject: Channels and Channel Mixer |
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Trying to figure out how this black and white image was colorized using channels or channel mixer (not monotone, duotone, etc.) I understand how to turn channels on and off and how to adjust color levels in channel mixer to get a similar effect, but what if you want to use a Pantone color? Is this possible via channel mixer or channel palette (and not making it a duotone)?
Thanks in advance for any ideas/advice.
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combiBob
Joined: 11 Mar 2008
Posts: 188
Location: Florida
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Posted: Thu May 14, 2009 11:29 am Post subject: |
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Sorry. 1st post didn't work.
I suppose it is possible to do it with channel mixer but why?
Channel mixer doesn't see a spot color.
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Cadmium Red
Joined: 14 May 2009
Posts: 4
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Posted: Thu May 14, 2009 1:03 pm Post subject: channels/pantone colors |
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Thanks for the reply! Since channel mixer doesn't see spot colors, how would you recommend getting this effect (while using spot color)?
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combiBob
Joined: 11 Mar 2008
Posts: 188
Location: Florida
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Posted: Fri May 15, 2009 7:17 am Post subject: Re: channels/pantone colors |
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Cadmium Red wrote: | Thanks for the reply! Since channel mixer doesn't see spot colors, how would you recommend getting this effect (while using spot color)? |
Sorry for the late reply. Here's 3 ways to do it.
1. Make a Duotone. You have the most control that way because everything is adjustable.
2. Next, you could make a "fake" using a solid CMYK Pantone build under a channel mixed grayscale. Then set the grayscale to "multiply".
3. Last, you could use a page makeup program (like InDesign). Solid Pantone box with a grayscale image placed in it, set to multiply.
Duotone is the easiest.
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Cadmium Red
Joined: 14 May 2009
Posts: 4
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Posted: Fri May 15, 2009 9:45 am Post subject: channel mixer |
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Thanks combiBob! Very helpful.
For option 1, I like duotones, but I wasn't getting the vibrant effect I was looking for this particular project, so options 2 and 3 were more appropriate.
For the option 2 you suggested, I did the following:
1. with a color photo in RGB mode, created a channel mixer adjustment layer.
2. In that layer, I set the the image to "monochrome" and adjusted the RGB sliders as needed.
3. While on that layer, on the layers palette, I selected the layers style options>color overlay, selected my chosen pantone color and set the blend mode to "multiply" and kept the opacity at 100% since I wanted a really vibrant effect.
4. On the same layer, I went back to the channel mixer controls and adjusted the RGB sliders again until the I got the desired color effect.
5. Convert to CMYK for print.
This may not be exactly what you were suggesting, but I think it's close? Figured I'd write out the steps for those new to PhotoShop who might be interested. I've used the 3rd option you suggested on other projects, but I like 2 since there's more control. Again, thanks for you help!
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combiBob
Joined: 11 Mar 2008
Posts: 188
Location: Florida
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Posted: Fri May 15, 2009 11:20 am Post subject: Re: channel mixer |
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Cadmium Red wrote: | 5. Convert to CMYK for print. |
Cool, but I thought you wanted a Pantone color?
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Cadmium Red
Joined: 14 May 2009
Posts: 4
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Posted: Fri May 15, 2009 8:31 pm Post subject: Pantone color |
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Good point I would not covert to CMYK if I just needed a spot color! What color mode would I save it in if I used this approach (option 2 from your list above) and wanted to keep the Pantone color a spot color (not convert it to CMYK)? I would eventually need to print this in offset. Can't save it as a duotone because I'd have to covert it to grayscale first, so I would lose color effect I just created. Any suggestions?
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combiBob
Joined: 11 Mar 2008
Posts: 188
Location: Florida
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Posted: Sat May 16, 2009 5:20 am Post subject: Re: channel mixer |
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Cadmium Red wrote: | 5. Convert to CMYK for print. |
If you NEED the Pantone, try to get the same results starting with CMYK and your spot color overlay layer. (No converting to anything) Also, realize we're now talking about printing a 5 color piece, not 2.
If the image looks the way you want it to as CMYK, I'd leave it alone. Pantone colors look best alone, or at least with a minimum of overprinting.
One rule of color I have learned is if you can make what you want with one color, do that. If it HAS to have two colors, do that. More? OK. But the more you add, the farther away from "clean" you get with any color.
Cheers,
bp
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