2 color separations PDF

[Artworx]

I need to produce a 2 color (black and a pms red) for commercial printing.
The file includes text, Xara drawing and imported grayscale photo (jpg). The imported grayscale photo show up in Xara as rgb. And prints in the pdf as cmyk. Two questions: 1. How do you convert in Xara an imported photo to grayscale, not rgb? And 2. How do I make the photo print on the black plate as grayscale in the pdf (along with some black text)? Thank you!

[gwpriester]

Welcome to TalkGraphics

We were hoping that this would be addressed in the new Designer Pro 6 but alas no.

Even if you create a contone image using two Pantone colors, it exports as a CMYK image.

As far as I know there is no work around in Designer Pro 6.

I tried importing an image converted to duotone in Photoshop but the color space was not recognized. I converted the image to grayscale in Photoshop, imported the image in PSD and TIFF file formats and both exported as CMYK.

[instinctive.de]

If you use a PDF printer (PrimoPDF, PDF995 etc.) and then use the normal "File -> Print" function, you will often (but not always) get correctly printed contone images (i.e., only on one plate). However, be sure to double check before sending it to the print shop...

[Artworx]

Thanks very much for your prompt response.

[Albacore]

If you really want to stay in Xara and I emphasize the word really you can use Live Effects and chose "Colour" then "Colour with Gradient". The resulting greyscale is a bit light but you can adjust the gradient colours. Don't worry about leaving the bitmap in RGB.

[instinctive.de]

And that exports as duotone PDF output?

[Albacore]

Sorry no! It was late on a Saturday and I wasn't thinking. My apologies.

[instinctive.de]

No problem, just didn't want the OP to be unnecessarily confused