Provided is a method for enabling accurate and consistent imaging of selected colors within a document for various printing device configurations utilizing an automated spot color editor. The method includes determining appropriate target values for a selected color within a print job. The automated spot color editor modifies or adjusts the selected color by selecting a quality level, in the form of a color difference metric, and a maximum number of iterations, which is the maximum number of times the automated spot color editor is operated to calculate a CMYK color formula. Sample patch(es) are printed and analyzed for the selected target value and a CMYK color formula based on the color composition of the sample patch is calculated. The CMYK color formula is inserted into a spot color editing table. Through a graphical user interface, an operator may review the color formula for acceptance.