How do I edit the Ink Weight of a Photoshop Image to meet the publisher's requirement?

Step 1

Launch Photoshop

Step 2

Open the image

Step 3

Make sure your ink weight settings are appropriate for the required destination. It is different in the various version of Photoshop but basically you need to go to Colour Setup > CMYK Setup.

Step 4

In the CMYK pull down menu choose Custom CMYK. See below.

Step 5

Edit the ink weight as appropriate. (Eg 310% for most magazines, 230% for most newspapers – the QuickPrint warning will tell you what the required ink weight is according to each publisher) The example below shows newsprint settings.

Step 6

After doing this, using the menu bar go to image > mode > RGB (eg change the image from its current mode to another eg CMYK to RGB) then Save a copy as... making sure you rename the file slightly. Open the renamed file.

Step 7

After this mode change has been effected, go to the menu bar, image > mode > CMYK (eg change it back to the required mode from RGB to CMYK). This process ensures that the ink weight specified in Photoshop is applied to the file.

Step 8

Close the file, making sure that you save it. It will then need to be re imported into your document.

NOTE: Ink weight checks will ONLY be performed on CMYK Binary Photoshop EPS files brought into a source application like QuarkXPress or InDesign. If it is flagging on an Illustrator or FreeHand file it is actually flagging on the colour that has been brought into the source application. You will still need to edit that colour in the original Illustrator or FreeHand file.