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Participant
June 14, 2017
Question

Pantone colors and 4/c seperations different from Pantone breakout

  • June 14, 2017
  • 3 replies
  • 1221 views

version Illustrator CC 2017.1.0

Mac 10.10.5 - I have not upgraded to the Mac OS Sierra because the Fiery has compatible issues with Apple and Adobe. I called Adobe tech support and they said to upgrade to the most current Apple operating system and it will fix this issue. Tried in on Mac at home running most current software and I get the same color breakdown. Why the color breakdown such a difference between adobe and pantone.

If you select a Pantone color in Illustrator for instance PMS 222 and you double click on the color in swatches and select CMYK in color mode you get the breakout

C 44.17%

M 96.43%

Y 47.52%

B 34.42%

If you double click the color you get

C 44%

M 96%

Y 48%

B 34%

If you get the color breakout from the Pantone website

https://www.pantone.com/color-finder/222-C

it gives the color breakout as

C 20%

M 100%

Y 22%

B 21%

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    3 replies

    Participant
    June 14, 2017

    Well I got off the phone with tech support and I was told it seems to be an issue with Adobe and they will look into this.

    I was told to try using the Adobe color build of

    C 44%

    M 96%

    Y 48%

    B 34%

    and see if this for will work. I explained that the color difference is over 20% difference in some of the colors going form spot to CMYK.

    C 20%

    M 100%

    Y 22%

    B 21%

    Monika Gause
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    June 14, 2017

    Well I got off the phone with tech support and I was told it seems to be an issue with Adobe and they will look into this.

    Until they find something, read the page I linked above.

    And also: set up your color management, since it affects the conversion.

    And also: rethink your use of spot colors.

    Participant
    June 14, 2017

    Tech support said not to copy old color books into current version of Illustrator

    Have color management setup across all programs

    Sometimes in printing when you have logos or artwork created in spot colors and have to convert to 4/c or have the logo created and then have to convert to RGB for web colors shifts are different from logos that were created in older version of Illustrator with previous color breakouts.

    It's not like Pantone is some new process

    Jeff Witchel, ACI
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    June 14, 2017

    I believe Pantone is giving you the CMYK breakdown from the Color Bridge Library (CP), which more accurate produces a match to the Solid Coated Spot Color Library.

    In other words, if you intend to covert your Spot Color to CMYK, use the Color Bridge Library instead.

    See the screenshot below.

    Monika Gause
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    June 14, 2017

    Please read this about Pantone libraries

    Pantone Plus color libraries