Define and modify colors and tints

You create or modify colors and tints by adjusting the color components in the color model or by choosing a predefined ink from a color library. New colors and tints appear in all Color drop-down lists and scroll lists.

You can also use the New Color button in the Add Condition Tag and Edit Condition Tag dialog boxes to select unique colors for condition tags. Unique colors let you distinguish one tag from another.

Tip: You can’t change the 16 standard colors, except for their Print As and Overprint properties. However, you can define your own colors using lowercase versions of these names (black, blue, and so on). The Crayon library has its own versions of these colors, which you can use or redefine under another name.

All procedures to define a color require the appropriate document window or book window to be active and View > Color > Definitions selected.

Do one of the following:
- To define a new color, enter a new name in the Name box.
- To modify an existing color (or base color), choose its name from the drop-down list to the right of the Name box. You can also type its name until the color definition appears.
Specify how to print the color by choosing one of these options from the Print As drop-down list:

Tint

A tint is always displayed and printed in the same manner and on the same plate as its base color. The base color also determines the color components.

Spot

Defines a spot color.

Process

Defines a color printed with CMYK inks.

Don’t Print

Defines a color that is not printed.
To change the color model, choose from the Model drop-down list. Base color determines the color model of the tint.
Adjust the color components by dragging the sliders or entering values. If you’re defining a tint, choose a color from the Base Color drop-down list and set the percentage. To reset any changes you’ve made, click the Current color box.
To make this color print on top of other colors when printing separations, select Overprint from the Overprint drop-down list.
To create a color, click Add (or click New color).

To modify the current color, click Change.
Define or modify additional colors as needed. Click Done.

Define a color from a color library

Choose a library from the Color Libraries drop-down list.
Choose a color from the library of predefined colors. If you know the name, you can quickly scroll to it by starting to type its name.
Click Done.

The color you choose appears as the Ink Name in the Color Definitions dialog.

Note: Colors from color libraries often have a preferred color model and type. When you choose a color, the color model or type sometimes changes automatically. Ordinarily, do not change these settings or the color definitions of a library color. If you do, the Ink Name disappears and the color no longer matches the formula defined by the vendor. To restore the original definition, choose the color again from the library and click Change.
To make this color print on top of other colors when printing separations, choose Overprint from the Overprint drop-down list and click Add.
Define additional colors as needed, and then click Done.

Tip: If you want to use the operating system color picker to define a color, choose Common Color Picker. You use these color pickers just as you do in other applications.

Delete a color or tint

Choose a color or tint from the Name drop-down list. You can’t delete the 16 basic colors.
Click Delete. If the color is in use, an alert message asks whether you want to change items that use this color to black. If you delete the base color of a tint, the tint becomes a percentage of black.
Repeat the process to delete more colors.

When you’re finished, click Done.