Photoshop and Pantone to Process

KT
Posted By
Kristie_Tatton
Dec 16, 2003
Views
482
Replies
10
Status
Closed
Hi all. I have had a search on the web, and on the knowledge base but cannot find what I am looking for so thought I would ask here.

I am currently in the middle of working out a colour scheme for work using a new pantone colour.

The colour chosen is 2726. But we need to also have the CMYK values of this pantone too. When I load the pantone in the custom colour window in photoshop and choose 2726 and then click on the ‘picker’ tab to get the CMYK values, it is showing C:80 M:72 Y:0 K:0. I went and checked whether this is correct at the pantone website (downloaded the solid to process colour build document) and Pantone says that it should be C:79 M:66 Y:0 K:0.

Why is Photoshop not displaying the correct Pantone values? Have I got something set up wrong? or is it just a problem in photoshop?

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John_Slate
Dec 16, 2003
Pantone changed it’s formulas not long ago, so if you have an older version of PS (before 7 I think) it will have the older breakdowns.

The correct breakdowns really depend on a lot of factors if you want to get technical, but I would simply pick one, and then use that CMYK build in all your other files in the project, without choosing a PMS color to achieve that build, but rather define it as a CMYK build to start.
KT
Kristie_Tatton
Dec 16, 2003
Hi John

According to pantone they changed their colours in may 2000. I am on PS 7 so I believe all should be up to date, hence my query

I realise that the correct breakdowns depend on a lot of factors. The problem is that we need both a CMYK version AND the pantone – the pantone being the correct corporate colour, and the CMYK being the closest possible match. I was just frustrated that Photoshop was not giving me the same values as pantone (when PS 7 is older than the changes).

Thankyou for your help though – as long as it is not something I have done wrong.

PS> why on earth am I getting email messages from someone saying they are not in the office and will return on the 17th of december in reply to this message?
CC
Chris_Cox
Dec 16, 2003
Also, are you using the Pantone Solid Coated book (which specifies spot colors, not CMYK percentages), or the Pantone Solid in Process book (which has Pantone’s CMYK percentages)?
KT
Kristie_Tatton
Dec 16, 2003
Hi Chris

I have a Pantone Solid Coated book that does not have the spot colours listed in the book.

I also have the Pantone Solid to Process Colour builds document downloaded from www.pantone.com which has the CMYK percentages of the specified Pantone colours.

K.
CC
Chris_Cox
Dec 16, 2003
Kristie – then you need to use the matching book(s) in Photoshop.
KT
Kristie_Tatton
Dec 16, 2003
The what…? *dumb moment*

I can easily specify the colour make up of the pantone and just make a new CMYK swatch to use – that is no problem.

I was just concerned that PS7 was not using the correct CMYK make ups as stated by Pantone… I thought it was possibly something I had done wrong…
CC
Chris_Cox
Dec 16, 2003
OK – if you want to use Pantone’s CMYK percentages, you need to use the Pantone Solid in Process book in Photoshop to get those percentages.

If you want to use a spot color, you need to use Pantone Solid Coated (or Uncoated) to get the correct colors — but the CMYK percentages are meaningless.

Photoshop 7 IS using the correct CMYK percentages (which are only good on Pantone’s press conditions) as specified by Pantone.

You just read values out of the wrong book!
KT
Kristie_Tatton
Dec 16, 2003
Oh Chris! you are a gem! thankyou so much! God I feel like a nutter now! I never even noticed that book there.

Thankyou! Thankyou! Thankyou!
CC
Chris_Cox
Dec 16, 2003
S’ok – a lot of people do that.
B
Brian
Dec 16, 2003
Kristie_Tatton wrote:

I was just concerned that PS7 was not using the correct CMYK make ups as stated by Pantone…

Pantone’s spot-to-process CMYK formulas are only recommendations, based on *their* press conditions… you may find a much better match by visualyl comparing the spot swatch with a Pantone Process book and selecting the closes color to fit your needs. e.g. 2726 has no exact process match, but perhaps you need it to print lighter than Pantone "recommends" for your particular output purposes…

Very few designers I know who specialize in logo/ID work select a spot color and then just use Pantone’s CMYK for the process specs – most often they will tweak those values, or choose a color from the Process library, to best fit their needs.

Brian

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