Submitted by Creative_NRG on Fri, 2007-08-10 12:33.
Pantone conversion to CMYK is a 'best guess' situation and rarely do PMS colors reproduce anything close to 'exact' results. [Certain PMS colors cannot be accurately reproduced in CMYK at all]
This shouldn't be a difficult color for a printer to 'get close' but I'll guarantee right now it WON'T match PMS 550c when you compare the finished piece. This type of conversion is best used when color accuracy isn't important and the audience receiving the piece are uneducated about printing and design. [They won't have a clue it's off when you'll know it isn't even close]
The onscreen appearance of color also depends heavily on your monitor calibration and will be influenced by press conditions such as water balance, humitity, paper and dot gain to make a few.
ie. Reflex Blue is an extremely difficult color to reproduce in CMYK because it converts to something like C-95, M-78. The problem is that dot gain on press pushes magenta up in value, which makesthe color look 'purple'. Many artists and clients have pulled their hair out trying to get this to look acceptable in CMYK. The way you have to approach a problem like this is to fiddle with the conversion to something like C-100, M-65 so when the magenta dots gain on press they end up in the 78% range.
TIP: Never print a PMS on one spread with a CMYK conversion on another. I've seen this in projects where the cover is CMYK and the inside is 2-color and it rarely matches and looks HORRIBLE.
If you are not familar with advanced printing knowledge it would be best to talk with the printer and tell them exactly what you are trying to accomplish. They may have insight to help you get the results you desire.
We recently had a print project where we were required to get a "reasonable match" to 550 in CMYK. Normally, we don't get really big surprises on color, but after several tries (and double-checking calibrations), we had to put a little "windage" on it.
I would strongly recommend running a cmyk swatch of this on your proofing device (or add it to a print job to be run on the same equipment) before you run the entire print job on this one.
Get the client to sign of on a statement saying they understand the colors most likely will not match, or you are asking for trouble. (And the client doesn't understand the difference between CMYK and Pantone colors!)
CMYK Breakdown
The color conversion for Pantone 550 Solid Coated comes back as follows:
C-38
M-4
Y-0
K-19
Confirmed in both Quark and Illustrator.
thanks a mill.
it's lighter on the screen comparing to pantone 550 is that normal?
Monitor Calibration
Pantone conversion to CMYK is a 'best guess' situation and rarely do PMS colors reproduce anything close to 'exact' results. [Certain PMS colors cannot be accurately reproduced in CMYK at all]
This shouldn't be a difficult color for a printer to 'get close' but I'll guarantee right now it WON'T match PMS 550c when you compare the finished piece. This type of conversion is best used when color accuracy isn't important and the audience receiving the piece are uneducated about printing and design. [They won't have a clue it's off when you'll know it isn't even close]
The onscreen appearance of color also depends heavily on your monitor calibration and will be influenced by press conditions such as water balance, humitity, paper and dot gain to make a few.
ie. Reflex Blue is an extremely difficult color to reproduce in CMYK because it converts to something like C-95, M-78. The problem is that dot gain on press pushes magenta up in value, which makesthe color look 'purple'. Many artists and clients have pulled their hair out trying to get this to look acceptable in CMYK. The way you have to approach a problem like this is to fiddle with the conversion to something like C-100, M-65 so when the magenta dots gain on press they end up in the 78% range.
TIP: Never print a PMS on one spread with a CMYK conversion on another. I've seen this in projects where the cover is CMYK and the inside is 2-color and it rarely matches and looks HORRIBLE.
If you are not familar with advanced printing knowledge it would be best to talk with the printer and tell them exactly what you are trying to accomplish. They may have insight to help you get the results you desire.
Not only that, the colors
Not only that, the colors will look different when you print them as well. Why are you comparing them?
----
Powerpoint is not a design application.
550 is a tough one
We recently had a print project where we were required to get a "reasonable match" to 550 in CMYK. Normally, we don't get really big surprises on color, but after several tries (and double-checking calibrations), we had to put a little "windage" on it.
I would strongly recommend running a cmyk swatch of this on your proofing device (or add it to a print job to be run on the same equipment) before you run the entire print job on this one.
Get the client to sign of on
Get the client to sign of on a statement saying they understand the colors most likely will not match, or you are asking for trouble. (And the client doesn't understand the difference between CMYK and Pantone colors!)
----
Powerpoint is not a design application.
According to the Pantone Color Bridge...
it should be -
C-43
M-5
Y-6
K-10
Gets fairly close in their guide - but being a lighter color, some variations in printing are likely. I