photoshop - restrict to 3 pantone colours

[Simplesimon101]

I guess the questions in the title really...

but I'm makin something that will be printed in a way can only be printed in 3 pantone colours. so I will make three layers with the three colours.

how can I make sure photoshop only uses those colours?

 

[jdl8422]

I had a similar problem before. I created a piece using 4 color and needed to use part of it for a two color pantone. Luckily the part I was using was two colors, but still set up as CMYK. I converted it to a duotone and picked my two pantone colors, but it merged the two colors rather than seperating them and using color one is some spots and color two and others.

OP: Sorry I didnt answer your question, I was going to tell you to use the duotone or tritone, but remembered my previous experience with it.

If possible I would try and do it in Illustrator, seems easier that way.

Thanks

 

[PixelFactory]

Here is an article on how to do it.

MultiChannel Tutorial

 

[Kwill]

BIG CAVEAT: Photoshop and other applications and imagesetters automatically create appropriate screen angles for CMYK. Photoshop can even do it for duotones. However, when building multi-channel art, you must specify the angles or have your printer do so to prevents moires.

The link above talks about duotones. You can also make tritones if your images are photographs. Perhaps your art is comprised of solid colors.

With Photoshop channels, you can also make spot colors. Just add a channel, double click the channel square, choose the "Spot Color" option, single click the color swatch, and select a pantone color. It is a little awkward for most people because instead of working with layers, you work with channels.

Another way it can be done is to work in CMYK and specifically tell the printer which Pantone color is to replace which CMYK plate. Though this provides a way for automatic screen angle calculation, you are not really seeing the art in its true colors while working in Photoshop.