Separation Options Dialog Box

An object's specification sheet lets you control exactly how the colors in an object will be knocked out or assigned to plates during separation. The button 'Sep Options', which appears in all specifications sheets, displays a Separation Options dialog of the appropriate type for the object:
Knockout lets you control whether the object should overlap or overprint any underlying objects on the page. The selected option overrides any setting made for the document as a whole in the Knockouts dialog box (via Printer Setup). Before printing separations you should check that all knockout options are exactly as you require.

  • Use Default RSG follows the setting in the Knockout Options dialog box.

  • Knockout On RSG knocks this object out of any underlying blocks on the page, if necessary overriding any Knockout options set for the whole document in the Knockout Options dialog box.

  • Knockout Off RSG overprints this object on everything it overlaps, if necessary overriding any Knockout options set for the whole document in the Knockout Options dialog box.

  • Use EPSF Info EPSF files only If the EPSF file holds information on knockouts, chokes and spreads, RSG uses these details to determine how knockouts and overprinting are handled in the separations. 'Unknown' in the Contains line at the top of the dialog box means that the EPSF file has no valid color information.

  • Separation lets you control how picture block contents should be separated: process-separated (the default), assigned to a particular spot printing plate or, for EPSF files, separated according to information contained within the file itself.

  • Assign to Process Black This option lets you assign an image to the black separation: use it for monochrome TIFF images.

  • Process Separate RSG process separates the picture according to conventions used for the particular file type. PICT files must have 'Print 72 dpi PICT2' checked in their specification sheets to be process separated. This option is not available for monochrome pictures.

  • Assign To Spot Plate This option lets you print the picture as a spot color, using the spot color plate indicated to the right of the Select Color button. Color pictures (TIFF, RIFF, PICT) will appear as shades of grey on the selected plate, and will print on the press as shades of that spot color. You can assign the picture to a plate other than the default of 'black' by pressing Select Color and choosing from the Plate Selector dialog box.

  • Use EPSF Info EPSF files only If the EPSF file holds information on process or spot color separation, RSG uses these details to determine how the separations are made. Using this option, pictures which hold both spot and process colors can be separated properly: spot colors will appear in the Color Plate Selector dialog box. 'Unknown' in the Contains line towards the top of the dialog box means that the EPSF file has no valid color information.