Select Edit > Preferences > Appearance of Black (Windows) or InDesign > Preferences > Appearance of Black (macOS).
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Customize spot color appearance
Last updated on
Jun 2, 2026
Learn how to use Lab values and color conversion settings to control how spot colors display and print in Adobe InDesign.
You can manage how spot colors display and output in InDesign by selecting either Lab or CMYK values. This choice impacts on‑screen previews and output conversion, not the spot color definitions themselves. Spot colors print as dedicated plates, unlike process colors, which mix inks such as CMYK. Lab values provide the most consistent color across devices, while CMYK offers legacy compatibility. For output‑time spot‑to‑process conversion, rely on the Ink Manager.
Configure spot color display using Lab values
Select Display All Blacks Accurately from the Printing / Exporting drop-down menu.
To enable Lab-based display for predefined spot colors from PANTONE, TOYO, DIC, and HKS libraries, access the Ink Manager from Window > Output > Separations Preview, then choose Ink Manager from the panel menu.
In the Ink Manager dialog box, select Use Standard Lab Values For Spots. These Lab values provide device-independent color that produces more consistent results across monitors, printers, and commercial presses when color management profiles are properly configured.
Select OK to apply the settings and close the Ink Manager.
Note
Lab values automatically apply when Overprint Preview mode is selected (View > Overprint Preview) or when printing with Simulate Overprint selected in the Print dialog box.
For workflows requiring CMYK-based display and output
Select Window > Output > Separations Preview.
Select the panel menu icon then select Ink Manager.
Deselect Use Standard Lab Values For Spots. InDesign will now use the CMYK color equivalents defined in spot color libraries.
Select OK to apply the setting.
Preview spot color output
Select Window > Output > Separations Preview to view individual spot color plates.
Select the panel menu icon then select Ink Manager.
Select Use Standard Lab Values For Spots and then select OK.
Select View > Overprint Preview. The Overprint Preview mode displays colors using Lab values, giving you an accurate soft proof of how spot colors will reproduce in final output.
In the Separations Preview panel, select the eye icon next to specific spot colors to show or hide them in the preview. Use the Separations Preview panel to verify that spot colors separate correctly and to check for unwanted spot colors that may have been imported with placed graphics.
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