In Publisher 2003 when you open a publication that contains Encapsulated PostScript (EPS) graphics with spot colors and then you print the publication as separations, the EPS graphics separate as Cyan-Magenta-Yellow-Black (CMYK), or separate to the black plate if the job is a spot color job.

This problem occurs because there are several different ways to define spot colors in an EPS file. The EPS graphic import filter that Publisher uses does not recognize all the different ways to define spot colors in an EPS file. Publisher can correctly separate spot colors in EPS files that are created in Adobe Illustrator or Macromedia FreeHand. EPS files created in other programs may or may not work correctly.

There are two methods to work around this problem.

Method 1: Print Publication As Composite CMYK

To work around this problem you can print the publication as composite CYMK and use another program or use your Raster Image Processor (RIP) to provide color separations. Publisher includes spot color names in its CMYK composite PostScript. To print the publication as composite CMYK, follow these steps:

1. Open the publication if it is not already open.
2. On the File menu, click Print.
3. Click Advanced Print Settings.
4. In the Advanced Print Settings dialog box on the Output list, click Composite CMYK.
5. Make any other required changes, and then click OK.
6. In the Print dialog box, make any required changes, and then click OK.
7. Use your trapping or page imposition software, or the in-RIP separation feature in your RIP to create color separations.

Method 2: Define Spot Colors by Their CMYK Values

Another work around is to define the spot colors by their CMYK values, not by their names. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Open the publication if it is not already open.
2. On the Tools menu, point to Commercial Printing Tools, and then click Color Printing.
3. Click the Colors tab.
4. Click Process Colors (CMYK).
   
   The spot colors in the EPS files are listed both by the name of the spot color (PANTONE 1375 C, for example) and the spot color’s CMYK equivalent (CMYK (0, 40, 90, 0), for example.)
5. Make a note of what the CMYK values are for each of the affected spot colors in the EPS files.
6. Click Cancel.
7. On the Tools menu , point to Commercial Printing Tools, and then click Color Printing.
8. On the Inks tab, right-click one of the affected spot colors, and then click Change.
9. On the Color Model list, click CMYK.
10. Type the appropriate values in the Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black fields.
11. Click OK.
12. Repeat steps 8 through 11 for each affected spot color.
13. Print the publication as separations.

The third-party products that this article discusses are manufactured by companies that are independent of Microsoft. Microsoft makes no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding the performance or reliability of these products.