Open your PDF file in Acrobat Pro, then select File > Print and choose a printer.
Last updated on
Jun 7, 2026
Learn how to separate colors into individual plates for accurate commercial printing.
Use color separations for commercial printing workflows where artwork contains more than one color. Printers reproduce color by separating artwork into cyan, magenta, yellow, and black plates, which combine during printing to match the original output.
Before you begin
Calibrate your monitor, declare trapping information if known, preview separations and transparency flattening, and run preflight checks using the criteria you need.
About color separations in Acrobat Pro
Acrobat Pro supports two types of color separations:
- Host‑based separations, where Acrobat creates PostScript data for each plate and sends it to the output device
- In‑RIP separations, where the output device’s RIP performs the separation
In‑RIP separations processing typically runs faster but require a PostScript 3 output device and a PPD file that supports in‑RIP separations.
Note
If you use a print service provider, work closely with its experts before beginning and throughout the process.
Configure separation settings and print
Choose an option from the Comments and Forms dropdown menu, then set print range and page handling options.
Select Advanced to open the Advanced Print Setup dialog box.
Tip
From Settings, select a custom printer settings file with separation settings.
Select Output from the left pane, then choose an option from the Color menu.
- Separations: Choose this option if the PPD does not support in‑RIP separations.
- In‑RIP Separations: Choose this option if the PPD supports in‑RIP separations. When selected, trapping options become available.
Choose Adobe In-RIP or Off from the Trapping menu if you selected In-RIP Separations, select Trap Presets. If you choose Adobe In-RIP, then select a preset and select OK.
Specify halftone screen frequency and angle, then select a Transparency Flattener Preset if the document contains transparency.
Under Ink Manager, deselect any colors you don’t want to separate. Select the Ink Manager button to modify ink settings for color separations if needed.
Select Marks and Bleeds > All Marks and adjust PostScript Options from the left panel. Select OK, then select Print to print the separations.
The four process colors—cyan, magenta, yellow, and black—appear first in the plate list, followed by spot colors in alphabetical order.
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