Mapping spot colors

[JoePixel]

I previously used the Scitex Spot Color pallete to map several PMS colors into one common spot color, but it has not been upgraded to work with Quark 6.

I tried the Badia extension, but wasn't super pleased with it so I didn't buy it.

Is there any other extensions out there that act in a similar way to the way the Scitex Spot color extension worked?

That Scitex extension was excellent, I don't know why they wouldn't upgrade it.

I wouldn't go back to working in Mac classic unless I had to, but I sure miss that spot color extension not being upgraded and I also miss the user friendly Adobe Type Manager.

Oh well, no use crying over software that won't be upgraded.

[DCurry]

Use the DeviceN space to output your postscripts, then merge the swatches at your RIP.

Creo originally said that they weren't going to upgrade the SpotXt for 6 because Quark included DeviceN, but I think I remember reading somewhere that they changed their minds and it is now in beta.

[JoePixel]

That works fine, but doesn't make the document 100% accurate across a network.

For example: I have a 50 page document with 4 color and 2 PMS colors. I print and rip all the PMS colors to the ones that say "CV" at the end.

Then a day later, I rip 2 pages with corrections and mistakenly rip to the PMS colors that say "CVC" or something like that.

Now I have 2 pages with different PMS colors.

I know that I can be smart enough to map to the correct colors, when ripping the 2 new pages, but making the document accurate so that other people can make corrections on another computer is what I'm after.

What I have been doing is taking off all the PMS codes at the end of my file so that I just have "PANTONE 186" or something similar on all my files. Then I delete any PANTONE 186 C in the Quark colors and replace with the PANTONE 186.

If I have several Quark documents with a bunch of different PMS colors and support, then it can be a hassle.

Technology is supposed to be getting better and not taking a step backwards.

[zox]

Creo has updated extension but it is still in Beta and available only to developers and Creo Beta testers.
I imagine it should be out soon for everybody.