Is color separation possible in Xara?

**Giannis** · 13 December 2007, 07:18 AM

I want to use a few vector images for printing on t-shirts and some other things. so I went down to my local print shop. What I learned there was that I need to separate the colors of the pictures from each other. Is this possible to do in Xara?

Thank you,

Giannis

**steve.ledger** · 13 December 2007, 07:25 AM

Yes

Go to XaraXtremePro help and type 'Separations Dialog' in the search box.

**gwpriester** · 13 December 2007, 01:57 PM

Is your screen printer going to print in CMYK or individual inks? It sounds like the printer is using individual inks.

I would recommend reworking the colors in the clip art first to reduce the number of colors.

Then, if possible, put each color on a separate layer.

You can export a PNG file one time with each color layer a different file.

You can also export a PDF with each color on a different page.

This is different from a 4-color separation because in essence these are spot colors and not process colors.

If you make your colors Pantone spot colors, Xtreme Pro will make them separate colors in the PDF file.

Gary

**gwpriester** · 13 December 2007, 03:13 PM

I just did a little experimenting and this is what I found out.

I think you can do this in Xtreme or in Xtreme Pro.

Create your colors on separate layers (one color on each layer).

Use Pantone Solid Matte colors (uncoated).

Export a PDF document in Acrobat 7 format.

In the Layers tabbed section, select Generate separate page for each layer.

Xara will export a PDF document with each Pantone color on a separate page.

Question for Sledger who does this kind of thing for a living - How would you suggest he handle the trapping and knockouts?

Gary

**gwpriester** · 14 December 2007, 01:28 AM

I'm going to cover the PDF layers solution in the next Workbook, which will be posted on Saturday.

Hary

wW · 14 December 2007, 04:20 PM

Giannis,

I work in a Textile print shop so I may be able to help you. There are several different methods for seperating artwork in Xara. None of them are automatic, all of them require a bit of work on your part. There are so many parts to the equation, each job tends to have pro's & con's for a particular sep technicque in Xara. I've posted many a post here regarding Seperations & Printing in Xara over the last several years. Good advice Ledger.

Before I can help I need to see a bitmap of the art. Then I can point you in the right direction. Will need to know if you have access to a printer & some vellum. Ours is 11X17 but we also have a large Epson Stylus printer for really large images.

gAry, I'm gonna look into the PDF thing. Not sure if it'll be a cure all, but it may be another tool that can added to the Xara Sep arsenal. This may be useful for a job when the person sep'n the art doesn't have access to a large printer. They can send the PDF & it can be printed by the print shop. Always something new to learn here. Thanks for the idea!

wW