Pantone License On Adobe - What You Need To Know

[@jamskof]

You make a good point.. this actually should be passed over to the client. Makes total sense. Give them the choice.

[@robinlindblom3216]

FYI, the yearly rate is actually $89.99/yr, not $59.99.

[@PrettyFabulousDesigns]

Aha - thanks! Good to know!

[@RMSVideo]

Great video. Love your presentation. You are "Pretty Fabulous"! I come from a printers perspective on this. And yes definitely we all do not necessarily need the Pantone spot colors. Spot colors and the Pantone Matching System were invented when printing was analog. Using special mixed inks to achieve specific and consistent colors. Yes CMYK analog printing has been used along side with spot colors. But special mixed colors enabled print presses with one or two color capability to print a wide array of specific industry standard colors. Today with almost all commercial printers using digital presses. The ability of digital printers to print using CMYK or spot colors are both irrelevant and much more complicated simultaniasly (as if color consistency wasn't already difficult enough). My experiences with digital printing go as far as Xerox (toner), HP Inidigo (hybrid digital ink) and now Canon (inkjet). Each interpreting CMYK and spot colors differently both from each other as well as each press manufacturer using different interpretation methods. What is consistent with each of the digital processes is that spot color interpretation and CMYK interpretation are done differently. So when replacing a spot color with a CMYK or L.A.B. value swatch in the design application of choice. The end printed result will in almost all cases not match. As in the printing industry, matching spot or custom colors to a Pantone color swatch book or a customer supplied swatch. The physical swatches are measured with a Spectrophotometer and compared within a specified range that is deemed acceptable for most customers (∆E 5 or less). Also the printer/press operator having a file with all CMYK or L.A.B. will not be able to isolate a particular color in the file to make changes without bringing the file into another application. So yes indeed. Going forward with CMYK or L.A.B. is a good way to go a slong as color match expectations when sending to print are taken into account. I opened a file I previously created in Indesign with a spot color. The spot color swatch still exists (yet not on the list when opening the swatch) and when exported, the spot color was in the PDF. So in theory, If one created a custom swatch in Indesign and correctly named it after the particular Pantone spot color (ie. PANTONE 266 C) the digital press would interpret that spot color correctly. For most all Pantone spot colors are in the presses reference database. I haven't tested that theory yet but I will soon and I would suggest to everyone to get a printed proof from your printer.

[@PrettyFabulousDesigns]

Hi RMSVideo: First, thanks for your nice words and second thanks for your super technical comment. You're far more qualified to talk about colors than I will ever be! I mean, anyone who is using a spectrophotometer to compare and contrast how accurate print colors come out is light years ahead of all of us. And yes, always a great idea to get a printed proof before okaying a job. XO Lisa

[@RMSVideo]

@@PrettyFabulousDesigns you’re welcome. Keep up the great work. Online resources like you are invaluable to all the self taught designers in the world.

[@RMSVideo]

@@PrettyFabulousDesigns also. I did a test file with designated spot colors made from swatches. And it worked just fine. One just needs to make sure the correct CMYK formula is used for that spot color just incase the printing press doesn’t have that spot color in its data base. The formula actually does make its way into the PDF so a press without the spot color can reference it. It may not match as well but it will be somewhat close.

[@jimst3r1]

Nope i don't agree with what you're saying on Pantones not being an issue. CMYK is not always a good subsititue for pantones. I have worked in packaging design for 10 years plus and pantones are EXTREMELY important for anyone wanting to print physical media such as packaging, leaflets, branding etc. CMYK can be matched by a printer and placed in the artwork if they have a licence which they should. The trouble is now you need to get Pantone connect which only seems to be available for MAC and not windows at this time so its TERRIBLY supported. Pantones are indeed important in conveying what you see on screen to your printer who can match it and indeed the client, as they will ultimately be signing off the colour. Also Pantones are important depending on which substrate (material) you print on to as some substrates are more pourous and need adjustments. A designer should be able to take their CMYK designs, Match a pantone to what they see on screen > Convert the CMYK colours to Pantone (spot colours) and then supply the artwork to the printer who will then match the pantones given to the benchmark spot colours in their colour books. If a designer is not able to convey that colour to a client or a printer, or know exactly what their output is... it could be catastrophic.

[@MasterKombatBro]

Especially now that they just replace unpaid for tones with BLACK

[@dreamsfloatjoe]

Thanks Lisa! I had a dream that I had invented a new shade of color unknown to man. Pretty sure it was a pigment of my imagination. 😀

[@LasstUnsSpielen]

Wow, so your answer is: Just print with RGB. lol I dont know what kind of clients you have but they dont seem to care about how consistent their printing products look at all.

[@jimst3r1]

Agreed, that was a terrible bit of advice. RGB is screen, CMYK for print without accuracy and Pantones for absolute benchmarking.

[@studiosphoto]

I guess I don't understand Pantone - Do they copyright colors? Off to go research Pantone. I thought it was just a group that picked a color each year anticipating the future design trend.

[@spockske]

When one designs for metal works, CMYK nor RGB are alternatives. The factories need PMS definitions as they don't PRINT, but use industrial paints on metal. Never heard about medals, pins, tags ... ?

[@PrettyFabulousDesigns]

Hi there: Good question - I've never printed on those so I have no insight into that format. XO Lisa

[@0strovni]

The Pantone Connect is incredibly slow, it takes ages to display a single color! It is a pure s**t. Check the reviews of the plugin, it is a disaster. Unless you backup your old libraries, the effective way of using Pantone is gone. I am one of those InDesign users working with Pantone colors on daily basis. (Luckily I am still using the incredibly fast and reliable CS6 so I can happily use all Pantone colors!!!)

[@mikeames8339]

***K Adobe.

[@spiritualcosmeticss]

😱

[@bobinvegas]

Your saying just find a cmyk or rgb or hex and it will be close. You kidding me. Pms 871 is gold. Pms 185 red can’t be done through cmyk reliably much less if your printer isn’t calibrated. Sorry but your solutions are sad to say the least