Create a color trap for commercial printing

Last updated on Oct 10, 2026

Learn how to overlap adjacent solid colors to prevent gaps caused by printing plate misregistration in Adobe Photoshop on desktop.

Color traps compensate for slight misalignment during printing by intentionally overlapping adjacent solid colors.

Trapping is primarily used for solid color areas. Consult your print service provider to determine whether trapping is required and to obtain the appropriate trap width.

  • Photoshop applies standard trapping rules automatically. Black overprints other colors, lighter colors spread under darker colors, and yellow spreads under cyan, magenta, and black.
  • Excessive trapping can create visible outlines that may not appear on-screen. Use the trap width recommended by your print service provider.

Select Edit > Convert to Profile.

Select a Profile under Destination Space that matches your printing specifications, and then select OK.

Select Image > Trap.

Enter the trap width value in the Width box.

Select the unit of measurement and then select OK.

Save the file in the format specified by your print service provider.

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