Pantone Swatch Libraries for current pantone CMYK builds

Submitted by NIX on Wed, 2007-09-05 20:25.

Member's Forum

Had an interesting problem:
My default pantone swatch libraries in CS3 (PS, ID, & Ill.)
all give me cmyk formulations based on old pantone swatch books (one book back from present set).
My press tech is demanding that I match the current formulations.

Where can I get a Pantone swatch library for the CS3 suite programs
with all the current values plugged in?

If I try to build them myself, the colors look hideous on screen,
and I cannot begin to speculate what they will look like in print.

Do I have to use Pantone process inks?
Is there a colorsynch profile easily obtained for Pantone process inks?

That and many more interesting questions

next on the quest of NIX

Use Pantones if you want a

Submitted by natobasso on Wed, 2007-09-05 20:30.

Use Pantones if you want a Pantone color. Don't try to approximate using CMYKs because you're going to kill yourself in the process. Is your client being too cheap to pay for the Pantone color? :)

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Powerpoint is not a design application

"Don't go there" is not an option.

Submitted by NIX on Thu, 2007-09-06 12:46.

Some companies need their trademark colors printed
spot & process with a fairly good match because
they do not have the time or money to
pay for a more expensive print process.
Or. it is a damned big job and spot colors
would send the cost out of budget

The are, just exactly as you say, "too cheap":

and

Not every press company has a 5th or 6th print station on their speedmaster.
The most popular ones are 2 and 4 station presses.
That means two color, two sided jobs are ideal for spots
While full color jobs would double production time if spot colors are added.
Besides, if you can dead-on match a pantone with CMYK builds, why not?

Every manufacturer has to play to their equipment.
So the design & prepress department has to set it all up
to run on what they have.

So, the question remains:
Where do you get a pantone swatch library with cmyk formulations
that run true with the current swatch books?

somebody was talking about pantone swatch libraries
on another discussion forum - architectural/textile pallets were
referenced...

I apologize for not

Submitted by natobasso on Thu, 2007-09-06 14:59.

I apologize for not answering your question, just wanted to let you know (you already know this) that matching Pantones to CMYKs is risky business. Get a sign off from your client(s) saying they understand color shift is not only possible but probable between the two color spaces.

As far as dead on matching Pantones and CMYKs, I'll assert again that this is a major headache and very difficult to do. You have to not only get the CMYKs mixed exactly right, the paper must absorb just enough ink, the temperature must be right, the pressmen must be in a good mood...you see what I mean: Lots of variables.

You can get pantone swatch books at any good art/graphic/print supply store or order one online. Here's just one source of many:

http://www.pantone.com/pages/pantone/pantone.aspx?ca=1

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Powerpoint is not a design application

Process color effects over pantones:

Submitted by NIX on Fri, 2007-09-07 13:14.

DUDE, thanks for the Info!

The site is unclear on the question though: lots o' swatch books
and color (Photospectrometer) gadgets
and few mentions of built pantone swatch libs for PS,ID,ILL.
I will pose it to their tech department directly.

I have also not been able to get spot print overlapping CMYK effects*.
You wind up with a KO in the spot anyway:
to avoid trap issues, it is easier to build that PMS spot in CMYK

- we are getting good match with hand specified PMS swatch formulations
(at least non graphics folks don't see the difference)
- Our press manager was right to call foul on the formulations!
- the auto conversions to CMYK from PMS in ID and ILL are giving us garbage!

*transparency or drop shadows
- trite they may be but subtle use gives good design