Seperating a PDF into 3 CMYK Layers

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ottoatm
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Seperating a PDF into 3 CMYK Layers

Post by ottoatm »

Hi all -

This might be a little technical for some, but I was wondering if anyone knew how to seperate a PDF torso image (like the ones posted on the customs area of this website) into 3 layers of CMYK color.

The reason I want to do this is so that I can submit a request to MCN for decals. Of course I've posted there as well to ask, but I didn't think it could hurt to go to both communities for a chance at extra information.

Thanks ~
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Post by Lord Mikal »

:? Um, yeah. It's a lot of work, though.

Basically, I opened the whole image, painted everything I wanted white black, deleted everything else, and did a save-as "*image*-white.*ext*"

Then I did the same thing for the metal layer.

The most important thing to do is this: Past the metal layer over the white layer, and delete all of the metal color to blank. Kaminoan makes it quite clear that metal should not be underprinted with white. Do the same thing over the color layer (unless you want the color metallic).

That's it. I managed to do it all in MSPaint, too. :roll:
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Post by Drucifer »

In the GIMP (and other image editors like Photoshop) you can decompose an image into the individual color channels. Here are the steps for how to do it in the GIMP.

1). Open image
2). Select Image->Mode->Decompose from the menu at the top of the image
3). Check the channels you'd like to extract (CMY or CMYK, I'm not sure which, as you say 3 channels and CMYK, which is 4 channels)
4). Uncheck the box that says "Decompose to layers" this will create a new image for each channel. If you leave it checked the channels will be added as layers to a single new image.
5). Save each new channel image.

GIMP will read PDF files (are you sure you didn't mean PSD as that's what Anthony's files are, and GIMP should read those as well), but you'll need to have GhostScript installed as well for that to work.

Also note, the channel images created this way are grayscale. So where the channel image is white in say the magenta image, the printer would print magenta, where it's black the printer would print nothing. CMYK assumes a white background for printing.
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Post by Formendacil »

Interesting topic, and for those with the programs, highly informative.

However, it is the wrong forum- a problem soon to be fixed by your Friendly Neighbourhood Moderator.

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