Hi, I need some advise. Can someone advise me please. I'm currently working on a 3-C (pantone) job. I used multi-channel to work on. Q.1- Why is that so when I change my work from MC to either CMYK or RGB, the colour changed totally. Q.2- MC files saved in psd format ready for colour-separation??? Q.3 Since it's a psd file, can I import to freehand for text layout??

A.1 multichannel should be used only w cmyk if outputting seps. Start with a blank CMYK canvas and pile your PMS channels on top of that

A.2 NO, save as cmyk eps, dcs 2.0

A.3 see A.2

also, make sure to maintain consistency in your naming and using of color. Dont use Pantone Black in PS, then normal Black in Freeh. It sounds like you're using PS 5... is that the case or are you in 6? Not sure if multichannel works the way you want it to in PS5, but i could be wrong. Retrocity?
Good Luck!

Not really sure about working in Multichannel mode to start.

I use it only to convert between RGB and CMYK and bypass the color mapping that happens normally when you just "switch modes". This middle step lets you convert between modes without recalculating the channels.

as to the question 1 ...the colour changed totally
When you switch modes (RGB to CMYK) Photoshop automatically maps the colors to compensate. CMYK relies more on pigment than light so it bumps up the contrast and adds a black channel to help with the shadows.

When you choose Multichannel, Photoshop changes your image so they no longer mix to create a full-color image but exist independently in the confines a single image. This transfers the exact contents of the RED channel to the CYAN channel, the contents of the GREEN channel to the MAGENTA channel and so on...

As I stated before, Im not so sure about starting in Multichannel as opposed to using it as an intermediary step between modes.

Eartho makes a good point about naming and color between apps. It's a VERY good habit to form.

sorry i don't think i was much help...

retrocity

Q1: answered by retrocity Q2: Most probably not, you have to save as DCS 2.0 format, which creates an .eps file. Imported in something like Quark Xpress or InDesign the pantone names you used should be imported along, dunno about how that works in Freehand. You could ask the people who have to make or use the actual seperations. Q3: If you have enough disc space, I should opt for the DCS. Funny stuff with DCS 2: if you print them on a postscript printer they disappear. Same happens if you have a mixed cmyk and extra channels file and you do a 'save as' eps. You could also add your text in PS. From version 6 the extra colors might be easier too (if you save as the Photoshop pdf format that preserves vectors), but I have no experience with that, right now. Hope this helps, Hoof