Color

The color defaults for Quark XPress are fairly basic. You can see them (and apply them to elements) by opening the "colors" window from the Window menu (F12)

To add colors to your document that are either CMYK (process color) or colors from a flat color system, like Pantone, you must create them by choosing "Colors..." from the Edit menu. Once you have created, named and saved a new color, it is added to the colors window list.

To create a new color, choose "colors" from the Edit menu. The first dialog box you see will allow you to edit an existing color, or to create a new one. When you choose either edit or new, the next dialog box is a lot like the Macintosh color picker, with a wheel of color, a pop up menu to select the color system you want to use, and (if you're using the CMYK system) sliders for each color, so you can manufacture it from a recipe, rather than trying to find it on the color wheel.

If you want to use Pantone, or another flat color system, you can choose it from the pop up menu next to "model."

Once you have something you like, click "OK" or return or enter. Clicking "cancel" will void any decisions you may have made. Once you are returned to the initial colors dialog box, you must click "save" for the color to become registered in your colors window.

The options in the colors window affect the color of the frame of your box, the color of the type within the selected box, or the background color of the box itself.

First select the item you want to change—either the frame, box or the text, then, click on the icon that represents that area.

Finally, click on the name of the color you wish it to be. Once it is a color, and not "white" or "none," you have the option to change the percentage of the color from 100% down to 0%, either by choosing it from the pop up list, or typing in a number. This tint is opaque: you will not be able to see anything underneath.

You have to create a border before you can apply a color to it. Use Item-> Frame (command B) to choose a style, thickness, and color.

In the case of the interior color of a box, you also have blended fills as options. Choose one from the pop up list immediately below the icons. If you wish to use two colors, you must select color #1, make your choice, then click on color #2, and make your second choice. You can change the angle of the blend by typing in a degree of rotation, to the right of the #1 and #2 buttons.

Likewise, you can choose a percentage of color for each color in the blend.