CMYK into 2 Spot Colors

[gashe]

As you have done this logo in Illustrator, you should have more flexibility in making two colours. You may have to make some adjustments to make this work in two colour only. Depending on the artwork construction, you may have to change the colours in Illustrator to use say magenta and black only, where magenta would be substituted for the spot gold or bronze colour. Otherwise if you are sure of what you are doing, you can simply use black and a true spot colour.

I would use black and a spot colour, regular or metallic, whichever was in budget.

You will likely have to consult with the printer and make sure that the client understands that the final result may not look exactly like the four colour version.

I have attached a 2-spot colour version made in Photoshop as an example.

Regards,

Stephen Marsh

Thanks for the advice Marsh, finally someone to explain something without complaining, a real expert. Very appreciate. I did some small changes in the icon and i used kind a close PMS 732, and i think it will look close. Also i dont know weather to use PMS black or K ?

Thanks again
Regards
Gashe

[gashe]

You won't get exactly the same look, but since it's 2 color silver and gold you could spec out metallic PMS colors. Also, instead of creating gradients I've found that using the blend tool and blending shapes and colors together gives you better reproducibility (is that a word??), and gives you more control over your screen values.

Interesting idea, i will try that, but sometimes blends dont work if the object have sharp edges.

Thanks

[gashe]

BTW, I would be very cautious about using metallic PMS colors since they do not trap well and the metallic will be lost wherever the image is halftone screened.
best, gordon p

If i do it in metallic PMS i will not use gradients, but will have to change the icon a little bit more

Thanks

[gordo]

If i do it in metallic PMS i will not use gradients, but will have to change the icon a little bit more
Thanks

That is why I suggested that you should and will have to create a new graphic that shares elements of the original illustration (circles, stars, fleur-de-lis, etc.) but is crafted from the ground up to be reproduced in only one or only two colors (and preferably not requiring halftone screening).

If you don't fix the original problem now, I have a feeling that it will just come back in a different form later. Otherwise, fixing the logo each time for each application will, over time, likely just result in accumulation of bastardized versions and an unhappy designer and client.

best, gordon p

[michaelejahn]

Interesting idea, i will try that, but sometimes blends dont work if the object have sharp edges.

I have created far worse logos that were actually used. I will suggest that you contemplate how much work this is before you do something like this again.

If you invested in a Pantone book, you could better decide what the colors to specify, but since you have entered the world of duotone - you have absolutely no way to simulate how this might print. Even if you were able to fuss around with transparency settings, without any data points as to the opacity of the inks or ink sequence, you are like a feather in a tornado.

Hopefully, this client is a friend, as you will quickly be surprised press-side - but, you will learn something important (that is, besides the "i will never try that again" lesson)

Pantone actually used to see a duotone giude, where you could see how two pantone colors interacted. Of course they discontinued it, as printers could not duplicate the guide, and color management was useless when appling transfer curves to black and white data.

Best of luck, you will need it, and do come back with how things turned out !

[billyinlasvegas]

I'd say the easiest way to make this into two spots is to get rid of the gradients (that are simulating a metallic look) and replace them with a gold and silver metallic PMS and make sure they're at 100%. I'm assuming you used Illustrator so changing it should be easy.

I have to warn you printing metallic colors usually costs more and if your client wants a two color version of their "logo" is usually because they're trying to print it the cheapest way possible. Also you might want to show your client his/her "logo" on a white background so they can see how it will look on paper.

If you want a cheap way around buying a swatch book go to your nearest offset print shop and tell them you're looking to print a two color metallic job and you want to look at their swatch book.

I can't say this enough though, if you're a graphic artist buy a swatch book and replace it often.

[RickLee]

I know that the forum may chastise me too but I would recommend using a metal FX technique.

Use PMS877 silver and a golden or orange PMS overprinting to get the metallic feel to the entire piece. The inner circle should not be greater that say 50% of the silver so that us can use the three quarter silver tones to darken the golden colours to give more contrast.

It would require a little research to figure it out.

[pacart]

WOW!

A whole lot of bashing and mumbo jumbo, all the guy wants is help, not a lesson in how YOU would do it, and absolutely not a lesson in anal rentention. If he wants to call it a logo, who cares! ITS A LOGO IF HE CALLS IT A LOGO! He asked for a solution to his specific issue, if you guys attacked people like you did him every time they post, no one would want to post, GET IT!

Solutions:

1. Use metallic pms colors. We print metallic pms colors all the time that have gradients, a good pressman will make it look good, don't be afraid to do it. And if they don't think their press can hold the gradient screens, then go somewhere else.

2. Another option is to foil and emboss - probably more expensive - might look cool though

[visualkoncepts037]

K.I.S.S. - KEEP IT SIMPLE STUPID!!

Come on guys, this is not hard at all...There are different "variations" of logos everywhere. If the client is wanting a 2 color PMS logo, then just convert the existing logos to 2 colors. Take out the gradients and leave as solid fills of metallic 877 (silver) and 873 (gold). Done!

P.S. - This should take you about 2 minutes....

[visualkoncepts037]

Thanks for the advice Marsh, finally someone to explain something without complaining, a real expert. Very appreciate. I did some small changes in the icon and i used kind a close PMS 732, and i think it will look close. Also i dont know weather to use PMS black or K ?

Thanks again
Regards
Gashe

In regards to this question, it doesnt matter, as long as you use one or the other and not both. (I personally (refering back to my K.I.S.S. method) would just use K.)