Desktop Color Separations (DCS) format is a version of the standard EPS format that lets you save color separations of CMYK images. You can use DCS 2.0 format to export images containing spot channels. To print DCS files, you must use a PostScript printer.

1. Open your logo or graphic in Photoshop and convert the image mode to CMYK.

2. Next go to Select – Color Range and make sure the below selections are set. Use the eye dropper tool provided in the Color range pallet, select the color you are going to change to a spot color then click ok. Copy your selection.

3. In your channels make a new channel and make sure ( Selected Areas ) is selected and click ok. Paste your selection here and rename the selection to red or to whatever you like.

4. Open this channel again and make sure the spot color radio button is selected. Change solidity to 100%. Click on the Color box to open the color pallet and choose color libraries to open the spot colors. Choose a spot color and click ok for both to close the windows.

5. Activate only the black and Pantone channels to view the end result

6. Go to file save as. Choose Photoshop DCS 2.0 and make sure the spot color box is selected.

Later on I will explain how to add trapping (also known as spreading and choking) and how to print from Quark, InDesign and Illustrator. These explanations will be in a later post to come. Please post a comment if you would like these new tutorials sooner than later.