PUB98: How to Output a Publication as a 4 Color Separation (195089)

SUMMARY

Publisher 98 is not capable of producing an output for 4 color separation. The most Publisher 98 can do is provide a spot color output. However, there is an alternative method to get a Publisher 98 files to output with 4 color separation. This alternative method is a capability of a particular pre-press machine and not of Publisher 98.

It is possible to take a RGB composite postscript dump of a Publisher 98 file to a Service Bureau that has a SCITEX Imagesetter with a PS/M (Postscript Manager) software RIP. The SCITEX PS/M software is capable of detecting if the job being ripped as a separated output. If the job is not interpreted as a color-separated output, it will automatically perform a 4 color separation of the job.

MORE INFORMATION

What is a Composite Postscript Dump?

A postscript output to file that has not been color separated. A job printed via a Postscript driver to a file (not a separation of the job). The option to print a composite postscript or a color separation is a function of the application using the installed postscript driver. If the application does not provide the ability to print a color separation of the job, then all postscript jobs printed to file will be a composite postscript output.

What is a SCITEX Imagesetter?

An Imagesetter is a machine that outputs film from information that has been ripped (RIP) from software like the SCITEX Postscript Manager (PS/M).

What is a SCITEX Full Auto Frame (FAF)?

The first electronic trapping solution for the SCITEX system. FAF is fully interactive, giving you the option of complete control over the selected trapping parameters. You can choose between modes where traps are performed automatically, or interactive mode where traps can be modified specifically for each object. FAF also provides Post-RIP Preview, which is one last look at the rasterized files before imagesetting.

What is the SCITEX Postscript Manager (PS/M)?

PS/M is a Digital Front End on a Macintosh computer. PS/M is an interpreter providing a complete PostScript ripping (RIP) solution. PS/M takes the rasterized files through trapping and all the way to exposing it to a Dolev Imagesetter. The PS/M RIP rasterizes PostScript files into SCITEX CT(Continuous-tone) and SCITEX LW or NLW(Line Work or New Line Work) file. The LW and NLW files can be edited by "Remake" which can allow the changes to the color in the line work files. The CT files can be retouched with Adobe PhotoShop.

For best results when printing a publication to a offset printer, it is suggested to provide 4 color separation of the job. The 4 colors separation are the CMYK colors (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black).