What is Combine Separations?
23/03/2006
Combine Separations‡ is an option available in the C9800 PostScript printer driver† for combining separations which have been created in a DTP Application. Diagram 1 (below) shows the graphic from the C9800 PostScript printer driver which is used for switching Combine Separations ON and OFF.
This graphic is available in the Colorwise settings of the C9800 PostScript printer driver.
Some DTP Applications can generate 4 separate greyscale images, each representing one colour in the CMYK colour space. For example, diagram 2 (below) shows an original image (containing CMYK data) and the separated greyscale images for each printing template in the CMYK colour space. The individual greyscale images for CMYK can be used to help visualise the printing templates for C, M, Y and K which may be used by a Printing Press.
Diagram 2 : DTP Application has separated the Original Image in to four Individual Greyscale Images (one each for C, M, Y & K)
Diagram 3 (below) shows another example of an
original image (containing CMYK data) which has been separated by a
DTP Application in to four individual greyscale images. Again, each
of the individual greyscale images in diagram 3 may represent the
respective printing templates for C, M, Y and K which could be used
by a Printing Press.
Diagram 3: DTP Application has separated the Original Image in to four Individual Greyscale Images (one each for C, M, Y & K)
Diagram 4 (below) shows the fours separated
greyscale images (as shown in the right-hand side of diagram 3)
which have been combined to create a hardcopy printout from the
C9800 printer. This process is achieved when setting Combine
Separations to ON in the C9800 PostScript printer driver.
Diagram 4 : Combine Separations in C9800 PostScript Driver has combined CMYK Separations (from DTP Application)
NOTE FOR SPOT COLOURS :
If a DTP Application has created separations for an image which contains CMYK data and some Spot Colours (as shown in diagram 5 below) then there will be greyscale images for each of the CMYK templates and one greyscale image for each of the individual Spot Colours. This can be seen from diagram 5 (below).
Diagram 5 : DTP Application has separated the Original Image in to six Individual Greyscale Images (one each for C, M, Y, K, Spot Colour 1 and Spot Colour 2)
Diagram 6 (below) shows the six separated greyscale images (as shown in the right-hand side of diagram 5) which have been combined to create a hardcopy CMYK printout and an individual greyscale printout for each of the respective Spot Colours. This process is achieved when setting Combine Separations to ON in the C9800 PostScript printer driver.
Diagram 6 : Combine Separations in C9800 PostScript Driver has combined CMYK and Spot Colour Separations (from DTP Application) in to a CMYK printout and a greyscale printout for each of the respective Spot Colours
Note that Spot Colour separations are not combined in to the printout as shown in right-hand of diagram 6 (above). When Spot Colours are combined via the Combine Separations setting in the C9800 PostScript printer driver the Spot Colour separations are not combined in to the CMYK printout. In fact, the Spot Colours are printed as individual greyscale images.
‡ The following knowledgebase article may prove helpful - "Is it possible to Create and Combine Separations?" This article is linked below.
† Combine Separations is not available in the C9800 PCL printer driver.
