Creating spot channels

You can create a new spot channel or convert an existing alpha channel to a spot channel.

To create a new spot channel:

1. Choose Window > Channels to display the Channels palette.
2. To fill a selected area with a spot color, make or load a selection.
3. Do one of the following to create a channel:
• Ctrl-click (Windows) or Command-click (Mac OS) the New Channel button  in the Channels palette.
• Choose New Spot Channel from the Channels palette menu.

If you made a selection, that area is filled with the currently specified spot color.

4. Click the color box, and choose a color. (See Using the Adobe Color Picker.)

If you select a custom color, your print service provider can more easily provide the proper ink to reproduce the image. For more information, see Choosing custom colors (Photoshop).

5. For Solidity, enter a value between 0% and 100%.

This option lets you simulate on-screen the solidity of the printed spot color. A value of 100% simulates an ink that completely covers the inks beneath (such as a metallic ink); 0% simulates a transparent ink that completely reveals the inks beneath (such as a clear varnish). You can also use this option to see where an otherwise transparent spot color (such as a varnish) will appear.

Note: The Solidity and color choice options affect only the on-screen preview and the composite print. They have no effect on the printed separations.

6. To enter a name for the spot channel, choose a custom color in step 4, and the channel automatically takes the name of that color.

Be sure to name spot colors so they'll be recognized by other applications reading your file. Otherwise the file might not print.

To convert an alpha channel to a spot channel:

1. Do one of the following:
• Double-click the alpha channel thumbnail in the Channels palette.
• Select the alpha channel in the Channels palette, and choose Channel Options from the palette menu.
2. If needed, rename the channel.
3. Select Spot Color.
4. Click the color box, choose a color in the Color Picker dialog box, and click OK. (See Using the Adobe Color Picker.)
5. Click OK. The areas of the channel containing grayscale values are converted to spot color.
6. Choose Image > Adjustments > Invert to apply the color to the selected area of the channel.