3
3-4
Working with Color in Applications
PostScript applications
Most applications used for illustration, pixel editing, and page layout can create the
PostScript information they send to PostScript printers or save in PostScript files.
Illustrator, Photoshop, PageMaker, QuarkXPress, and FreeHand are all PostScript
applications.
PostScript applications work with color in many different ways. Most allow you to
choose process colors (by entering a percentage for cyan, magenta, yellow, and black),
as well as named colors from a custom color system such as PANTONE. When you
print composites, these applications send process-color equivalents for named spot
colors to color print devices. In some applications, you can also choose colors using
the RGB, HSB, HSL, or other color models.
Generally, PostScript applications send color information to the DocuColor 40 CP in
CMYK. An exception to this is RGB images placed in the document which are sent
directly to the DocuColor 40 CP (unless you specify special color management
settings in your application). In addition, some PostScript applications that allow you
to define colors in RGB or other color models can also send the data in those color
spaces.
Color controls in PostScript applications are typically designed for printing on an
offset press, and some adjustments are required for printing to the DocuColor 40 CP.
Displayed versions of colors you choose in these applications may not match
DocuColor 40 CP output exactly, and named colors may not print accurately on the
DocuColor 40 CP, since these colors typically require custom inks.
Choosing colors in PostScript applications
With PostScript applications, you can create colors using any of the color models
supported by the application. All PostScript applications support the CMYK model;
some also support the RGB model and other color models based on monitor display
values. PostScript applications also allow you to choose named colors using one or
more color libraries, such as PANTONE (see page 3-6).
The important thing to remember when creating or choosing colors is that the
displayed versions of those colors may not match DocuColor 40 CP output or the
output of identically defined colors from other color print devices. For this reason, you
