You can modify an L*a*b* spot color’s appearance, print and compare the color reproduction of twenty neighboring colors that have slightly different hues and saturation/brightness levels, and choose one to use.

1. In Color Editor: Under My custom spot colors, select an L*a*b* custom spot color. On the Color Definition tab, select Variations.
2. In the Color Conversion dialog box, select the printer, an appropriate media, and a rendering intent. Then, click OK.

   This step converts the spot color to the printer's color space. The spot color and the generated variations are displayed on the Color Definition tab.

   Note:

   A spot color cannot consist of more than 100% of any one color. If the original spot color is composed of 100% yellow, the impression of a neighboring variation that is an even more saturated yellow is achieved by reducing the percentage of colors of the opponent hue.

3. On the Color Definition tab, select a tuning mode: Saturation or Brightness.

   The tuning mode allows you to make changes to a spot color based on brightness or saturation. Move the slide bar to increase or decrease the percentage of saturation or brightness.

4. Click Print.
5. Select one of the following pattern layouts:

   • Color search pattern—Prints three groups of color patches that are arranged similarly to the honeycomb pattern.

   • Color neighbor pattern—Prints color patches in a 3 x 7 grid. The middle patch of the top row shows the original spot color. Furthermore, the grid pattern provides details of each color patch's color values.

6. Click OK.

   You can print multiple color neighbor patterns, and then select which color patch to use from each chart by typing in the desired color values.

   Note:

   If you print the color search pattern, do not exit Color Editor until the chart has been printed and you have selected which color patch you want to use.

7. Identify the color patch with the best color reproduction. Then, on the Color Definition tab, do one of the following:

   • Click once on the corresponding patch.

     This step updates the spot color definition at 100%.

     Note:

     Be aware that the selected color patch becomes the new basis for further spot color variations. Therefore, if you inadvertently click a color patch more than once, further spot color variations are created, based on that color patch. Click Reset to return to the original spot color and its variations.

   • Type the color values of the corresponding patch.

     This step is only possible if you have printed the color neighbor pattern.