In print process, achieving the right color can be a daunting task that can cost you to lose not only money, but also your most valuable customer. However when used effectively, color is the communication tool which connects together all of the visual elements of a page. With its ability to direct attention and unconsciously persuade, color can be used to subliminally lead the user’s eye around the page, influencing consumer engagement and purchasing decisions.
Color defines our world. Impactful and influential, color elicits emotion and guides behavior, making the understanding of how to strategically apply color to a critical element of an integrated design process. In this COVER STORY, WHERE To Print examines some pertinent issues and some questions that PANTONE can help to solve in design and printing processes.
WHY CAN’T MY PRINTER MATCH MY PANTONE COLOR?
There are several issues to look at when these problems occur:
1. Age of the Pantone Guide being used. If the Formula Guide is old, it may have faded or the paper aged to the point that the Guide is no longer reliable. These changes are more noticeable in the lighter colors. Pantone recommends that the Guide be replaced one year from the date of first use to maintain accurate color communication. This recommendation is clearly stated on the outside back cover of current Guides.
2. Base inks being used. Printers should be purchasing inks from a PANTONE Licensed Printing Ink Manufacturer. Chances are, if the PANTONE Trademark appears on the ink can label, this condition is being met. Further, users should not substitute base colors. For example, if the formula calls for PANTONE Black and the printer uses PANTONE Process Black (one of the SWOP colors), there will likely be a color variation.
3. Relative strength of base color pigments. Oftentimes, this turns out to be the problem. Users should check with their ink supplier’s technical staff. For example, if one base ink is slightly strong, and the other is weaker, this can cause a color variation. In this case, adjustments to the formula may be necessary to match the color. Ink suppliers are often aware of these variables and can provide the appropriate guidance.
WHAT IS PANTONE® EXTENDED GAMUT COLOR PRINTING?
The basic premise of PANTONE EXTENDED GAMUT “XG” Printing is adding three additional base inks (Orange, Green and Violet) to the traditional CMYK ink set in order to “expand” the color gamut of typical process color printing. This enables printers to reproduce a wider range of colors. This fixed ink set can then be used to accurately simulate PANTONE Spot Colors.
Extended color gamut printing is not a new concept. It has been utilized by commercial printers and packaging converters for the past two decades. Widespread adoption has been limited until the last few years. With the alignment of industry associations, prepress technology partners, press manufacturers, and plate manufacturers, XG is now mainstream and accessible for the market segments that want to take advantage of it.
Understanding the design challenges around multiple spot color printing and also the needs of our industry, Pantone has created this seven-color printing guide as another universal language and reference of colors that brand owners, designers and printers can all speak and agree upon
HOW TO CROSS-REFERENCE CMYK/RGB/HTML/L*A*B* DATA TO PANTONE COLORS
I have CMYK/RGB/HTML/L*a*b* values: How can I find the closest PANTONE color?
Pantone does not provide a defined cross-reference between color data to solid PANTONE colors.
You can use Adobe Photoshop to enter values and cross-reference to the internal PANTONE libraries. Photoshop will default to the closest mathematical color. The steps to do this are as follows:
- From the main toolbar, click the foreground/background color square to launch the Adobe Color Picker
- Type the desired values into the text boxes provided. Note the change in color on the picker window.
- Click the Color Libraries button
- Select your desired PANTONE library from the droplist
- Photoshop will display a range of seven colors, with one color outlined with a black border. This is the default color which is closest to the values entered
It is important to note that the above results are mathematical, and are also dependent upon the color settings used in Photoshop. Results should always be compared to a current PANTONE guide or book to insure accurate colour
HOW DO I READ THE FORMULAS IN THE PANTONE FORMULA GUIDE?
The PANTONE formula guide expresses the ink formula in a percentage mixture. The percentage formula is a percentage-of-the-whole formula, which is why the numbers add up to 100. To use this formula, you must first determine the volume of ink that you are going to mix. As an example, assume that you wanted to mix one pound of ink to match PANTONE 185. Since 1 lb = 16 ounces, 16 is your whole. The formula would break down as follows:
PANTONE Warm Red – 16 x 50% = 8 oz
PANTONE Rubine Red – 16 x 50% = 8 oz
WHAT DOES THE PANTONE EXTENDED GAMUT PRINTING PROCESS MEAN TO THE BRAND OWNERS AND DESIGNERS?
The PANTONE EXTENDED GAMUT workflow removes many of the standard limitations and frees designers to focus on creativity. Designers can specify as many colors in their designs as they wish without being told they need to limit their color palette to CMYK and 2 spot colors. Graphic designers who design for the XG workflow are able to maintain highly impactful colors and, at the same time, create more dynamic designs than ever before.
If a critical color has been identified in your design, it is suggested that you compare the PANTONE EXTENDED GAMUT Coated Guide to a PANTONE PLUS SERIES FORMULA GUIDE, to ensure there is an acceptable match. If there is not an acceptable match, it is suggested that you retain the critical color as a PANTONE Spot Color.
After installing the PANTONE COLOR MANAGER Software, be sure to specify from the PANTONE EXTENDED GAMUT Color Palette so your printing partners will know your acceptable process colors and reproduce your artwork to your satisfaction.
PROBLEM MIXING INKS ACCORDING TO PANTONE FORMULA GUIDE OR PANTONE GOEGUIDE FORMULA
How does PANTONE COLOR BRIDGE differ from the PANTONE FORMULA GUIDE?
PANTONE COLOR BRIDGE displays a side-by-side match between the PANTONE solid color on the left, and the closest CMYK simulation on the right. sRGB and HTML data is printed beneath the solid color, and CMYK values beneath the simulation. The product serves as a ‘bridge’ between solid color printing, CMYK printing and Web design; hence the title PANTONE COLOR BRIDGE. Guides are available individually on coated or uncoated paper, or as a two-guide set.
PANTONE FORMULA GUIDE displays the 18 basic PANTONE mixing colors, and then displays a palette of formulated colors using the base inks in varying proportions. Each color is displayed with the PANTONE reference number, and precise ink mixing formulas displayed as percentages by volume.
Pantone uses the fines quality substrate materials, but all paper stocks will yellow over time, which can change the appearance of the color of the inks printed on them. Product color appearance will also change from handling. Pantone recommends replacing color tools annually to ensure accurate color matching. This recommendation is clearly stated on the outside back covers of current product.
HOW DO I ACTIVATE PANTONE COLOR MANAGER IN ‘TRIAL MODE’?
You can download PANTONE Color Manager in trial Mode for 30 days at no charge, by going to www.pantone.com > Customer Support > software downloads
Log into your myPANTONE account, or create one if you don’t already have one.
- Go to helpCENTER/software downloads and download the current installer for PANTONE Color Manager for Mac or Windows.
- Launch PANTONE Color Manager and verify that the ‘activation’ screen opens.
- On the activation screen, click the activate trial button. This will activate the software and begin the trial countdown.
- With each subsequent launch of PANTONE Color Manager you will see the activation screen with the days remaining in your trial. Simply click on continue trial to use the software in trial mode.
It should be noted that the trial version is fully functional in all respects. All PANTONE libraries or custom palettes saved or exported from the software during the trial period will remain viable after trial expiration. You may permanently activate PANTONE Color Manager with a serial number at any time during or after expiration of the trial period.
