Desktop Color Separations (DCS), developed by Quark, is a version of the standard EPS format. The DCS 2.0 format supports multichannel CMYK files with multiple spot channels. (These spot channels appear as spot colors in the Swatches panel in InDesign.) The DCS 1.0 format supports CMYK files without spot channels. InDesign recognizes clipping paths in Photoshop-created DCS 1.0 and DCS 2.0 files.

DCS files are intended to be used in a preseparated, host-based workflow. In most cases, color separations files associated with a DCS image are excluded when you export or print a composite to a PDF, EPS, or PostScript file. (The sole exception is made for 8‑bit DCS files that were created in Photoshop and that do not contain vector graphics.)

InDesign can rebuild a composite image from DCS 2.0 or 1.0 separations files, if the files were created in Photoshop. For best results, do not include DCS 1.0 files or DCS 2.0 files created in programs other than Photoshop when you are creating high-resolution color composite proofs or separating a document in‑RIP or from a composite file.