We do alot of two-color print work at my day job, so I've been trying to find ways to stay creative with it.
Duotones are fine and all... but a few months ago, I stumbled onto Multichannel files where you can manipulate each of the two channels individually and come up with some damned cool effects... all for the cost of two color printing.
The downside... no layers. Everything is on one layer, so if you have have to go back and make changes, you have to completely redo the image (mind you I'm still working with 5.5).
Also, the files save as EPS files, like Duotones, so there are some desktop printers that won't print them. PageMaker won't always convert them to PDF's either.
Has anyone else worked with multichannels at all? Got any tips to share?
Posted by HerbShrump (Member # 1230) on :
Once you save it as an EPS, you should be able to reopen it and convert it (resave) to any file type. Or you can run the EPS through Adobe Distiller and make a PDF (if that was the type you wanted).
You could create multiple channels, use those as "layers," then at the end reduce the channels back down to two. Of course, the image will look different on the screen during this process. You'll really need an understanding in mind of what you want the final version to look like.
Posted by Aban Rune (Member # 226) on :
Well, I'm working with two Pantone colors. I'm pretty sure the only way to save images using PMS colors is as an EPS.
*trying*
OK... when I open the EPS and "Save As", it does give me the option to save as a "Single Image PDF". I have no idea if the printer will be able to use that, but our laser printer at work might be able to. It would save me having to take low res screenshots of everything to print out mockups.
I haven't found a good way to use the channels as layers. When I convert the photo to a multichannel file (either by duotoning it first, then switching to multi, or by removing one of the RGB channels and then converting the channels to the PMS colors I want) there's always information on both channels. Moving one channel would screw up the photo.
But wait now... do you mean add a third channel for say, text or whatever, then pulling that channel out at the end? The info would have to go somewhere... hmmm... must try.
Posted by Sargon (Member # 1090) on :
I think I know what you're talking about, but I would have to see some examples to be certain. I have used what used to be called Channel Operations back in the Photoshop 3 days to create reflective chrome effects, 3D effects, and so on before there where layers and many of the controls we take for granted today.
Are you using the application modes (Normal, Multiply, Screen, etc.) on the channels to get your effect? If so, you have a problem.
The effect of differential distribution of halftoning in Doutones is a different animal from the effect you see on screen with Channel Made applications. Yes, you can proof these effects on your 3 or 4 (or 6) color desktop printer, but the effects won't work in 2 spot colors.
I will post images later if this is the problem you are having.
Posted by Aban Rune (Member # 226) on :
No, I'm not using the application modes on the channels. Basically, I get the photo down to two channels either by 1) pulling a channel out of the RGB channels and reassigning the remaining two channels to custom PMS colors, or 2) converting the photo to greyscale, converting it to a Duotone using the two PMS colors I want to use, then converting it to a multichannel file which then retains those two colors as its separate channels.
After I've got it into a two channel Multichannel file, I'll play with the levels and curves of each channel to get the mix that I want. That's about all I do. You can also play with the sharpness of each channel and apply various effects to each channel seperatly, but that makes the images look pretty weird and I work for a pretty conservative place.
Posted by Sargon (Member # 1090) on :
Okay. Then what you have here is still, effectively, a Duotone, just done in a different way. Indeed, save it as an EPS, specify the Pantone colors for each channel, and that will work fine.
Alternatively, you can do the assembly in Quark XPress or Adobe Indesign. Alter the image as before, making all adjustments and effects. Save out each channel as a seperate grayscale image, same size and resolution. Import both images into identically placed picture boxes, specify the correct Pantone color and halftone screen angle for each, and set the upper image to Overprint. Remember to test proof your color seperations.
Posted by Aban Rune (Member # 226) on :
Well... ok. Let me explain. I've been working with multichannels for a little while and am not having problems getting them to the printer in a workable form. I was just asking more along the lines of "Does anyone know any neat ways to do cool stuff with them?"
The coolest thing I've discovered is that if you yank one of the color channels, then reassign the remaining two the right pantone colors, you can get a darn-close-to-full-color image. It'll look basically like a washed out full color picture. It's pretty cool and will only cost you two colors.
Posted by Balaam Xumucane (Member # 419) on :
And if you really want to confuse things print on colored stock. Ikes!
Posted by Aban Rune (Member # 226) on :
Mmmmmm.... colored stock. I keep promising myself I'm going to find a way to have a job printed on colored paper. Thick, textured, colored paper.
I love printing.
Posted by jesus X (Member # 1201) on :
I think the preferred term now is "African American paper".
Posted by Aban Rune (Member # 226) on :
Ok Jesse.
Posted by Nim the Fanciful (Member # 205) on :
There must be some mistake. I see the word "Photoshop" in the thread title, along with "phun", but I see no piccies. Posted by Aban Rune (Member # 226) on :
It's a technical thread
Hold on... I'll see if I can find put some examples up.
Posted by Aban Rune (Member # 226) on :
A 16 x 8 wraparound cover using two colors:
A postcard using the same two colors:
And another postcard minus text:
All 3 images were made using the same two pantone colors by adjusting the levels of the channels in various ways.
Posted by Nim the Fanciful (Member # 205) on :
Piccies! Very nice. There is something about that young Borderline-woman that strikes me as very attractive, I can't put my finger on it. Yes, I gathered this was a technical thread, it is just so rare to see an entirely abstract Photoshop-discussion, I had to comment on it.
So if the middle image is "Borderline", the first is "ADHD" and last is "depression"?
Posted by Aban Rune (Member # 226) on :
The last one was seperation issues, like when a child goes through a divorce or when they're put in foster care. And the first one is the cover of our annual report.
You discern correctly that the model for that photo is attractive. And when I say "attractive" I mean divinely beautiful. Sadly, she's only 17. And I looked like a complete jackass during the photoshoot, standing on a chair trying to get the right angle and giving expert instruction like, "Pretend like you're having an arguement with your mom!" We were in an empty office at my work, though, so I couldn't actually tell her to scream. It would've caused problems.
Posted by Nim the Fanciful (Member # 205) on :
She has a shine to her, reminds me of Maria Bello. Girls with fire are attractive, as long as they don't burn others with it. Which, I just noticed now, takes us directly into "Borderline"-territory, lol.
She's scary, you can't tell if it's a smile or a grimace, it really catches the core of being borderline, entirely whimsical.
Oh I hope she wasn't borderline herself, or if so, that your place gave her what she needed. It's a deserving cause you work for.
I really like the yellow-and-sepia you used in the middle photo, reminds me of a stunning poster I saw a year back, for a festival.
Posted by Aban Rune (Member # 226) on :
No, she's a completely normal girl. We just used her to model for the piece. She's, like, the daughter of a friend of someone who works here. We've used her fpr other pieces too.
The colors used for all three pieces are Pantone 130 (a yellow) and Pantone 660 (a blue). The sepia effect I got on the second piece came from stripping one of the RGB channels out of the photo, then reassigning the remaining to channels to the PMS colors. It keeps much more of the photographic subtlety then you get when you convert to greyscale, then duotone, then multichannel. It really works well and you get a very realistic looking image.
Posted by Nim the Fanciful (Member # 205) on :
That you got. Say, do you have a larger version of the poster in question, I might want to show it to a friend of mine, she's into photos.
Aban: "...then reassigning the remaining channels to the PMS colors."
I was wondering where that 'shine' of hers came from. *blows brains out at pantshittingly awful yet subtle joke* Posted by Aban Rune (Member # 226) on :
Poster? You mean the annual report cover (with the running kids on it)? I could make you a larger version of it if you like, but if I get too big, i won't be able to upload it.
*chorgle* PMS colors as pre-menstral syndrome jokes... I've never ever heard that before... (not)
Posted by Nim the Fanciful (Member # 205) on :
Aban Rune: "You mean the annual report cover (with the running kids on it)?"
No the Borderline one. And you can either email, MSN or ICQ it, .png or whatever.
Posted by Aban Rune (Member # 226) on :
Oh. OK. I'll try to fire you something off here in a bit. But it's just a postcard, not a full sized poster.
PM me with your email addie.
Posted by Aban Rune (Member # 226) on :
Recent phun:
It's the front side of a "Save the Date" postcard for an event we're about to hold. The back side is similarly photographic with all the information being displayed on a piece of paper.
The image was created by scanning several different elements, putting them together in Photoshop, then converting to a 2-color multichannel file to give it a nice antiquey look.
Posted by jesus X (Member # 1201) on :
Wow. That's really nice. It really comes out full color.
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