Changes to Pantone Color Books

[Srishti Bali]

Some of the Pantone Color Books that are pre-loaded in Adobe Illustrator, InDesign, and Photoshop will be phased-out from future software updates starting in August 2022. To access the complete set of Pantone Color Books, Pantone requires customers to purchase a premium license through Pantone Connect and install a plug-in using Adobe Exchange.  

For more information, please refer to the following FAQ pages:

HelpX: Pantone FAQ (Illustrator) 

HelpX: Pantone FAQ (InDesign) 

HelpX: Pantone FAQ (Photoshop) 

[Met1]

From the FAQ : Why is access to pantone color books changing?
Pantone’s licensing with Adobe was adjusted...

I think that means, the profit margin was adjusted...

[Ton Frederiks]

It started in Illustrator 88 and now after 34 years... 😞

[Kurt Gold]

I'm afraid that Met is just right about the reason for the adjustments.

No corny epitaph required.

[Jeff Witchel, ACI]

I think Pantone has forgotten that before its Libraries were included in Adobe software, it was just a tiny printing ink company from Carlstadt, New Jersey. 

[superfly05]

Yeah, this is how you stop being the standard.

[Jeff Witchel, ACI]

You may want to save your favorite Libraries before they "go away."

1. Open a new Illustrator file.
2. Open the Color Library of your choice. (Window > Swatch Libraries > Color Books).
3. Under the Options of the Swatch Library, choose Select All Unused and then the Trash at the bottom of the panel,
4. Select all of the Swatches in the Library by clicking on the first Swatch and Shift-clicking on the last.
5. Under the Options menu of this Library panel, choose Add to Swatches.
6. Delete any repeated Swatches (the first and last that you clicked on earlier to select all).
7. Export the Swatches as an ASE or AI under the Options menu of the Swatches panel. 

The ASE can be imported into Illustrator, InDesign or Photoshop.

[Fer.areta]

oh god! too late for me!! is there other way? I've seen a lot of complains about the Pantone Connect Platform

[Monika Gause]

You can still install an older version and get the libraries from it. Also if you just search on the web, you can find them to download.

[Ton Frederiks]

Install (or go to if still installed) an older version of Illustrator like 2022 (CC app > Apps > All Apps > Illustrator > click the 3 dots … > Other Versions)

Go the Illustrator 2022 Application folder > Presets > (your language folder) > Swatches > Color Books > and make a copy of PANTONE+ Solid Coated.acb and PANTONE+ Solid Uncoated.acb 

Keep them in a safe place and copy them to the same location in the Illustrator 2023 application folder. Or search for the .acb files online.

[22303626326768963mwno]

Thank you for that! That worked a charm 🙂

[IUHoosiers34]

I can't find that.  I'm not given the option to download other versions.

[Ton Frederiks]

Are you looking in the Creative Cloud application?

[Gail260796627ezr]

Are there pagage deals for busineses. or does every employee have to buy a plug in. 

[Ton Frederiks]

You probably need to ask Pantone.

[Gail260796627ezr]

Wow that was great

[Creamer Training]

Unfortunately, that is a correct response. Nobody is happy about Pantone's new decision.

[Alex24237082bzyq]

I have a workflow in which I use many software from adobe and corel and gmg and esko and studiorip .. 

The fact that adobe eliminated the pantone solid coated color libraries and the fact that they changed the way the pantone + solid coated libraries are made .. affects my work and I cannot rely any longer on adobe updated software because all my other programs I work with no longer interpret correctly the PSD files made with the updated soft from adobe.

I have international clients I work for that need changes and updates to their old / existing files and products . I cannot work with adobe updated versions because the software language for the color libraries / books / swatches has been changed for certain pantone libraries and elinimated for other pantone libraries.  My PSD files that contain pantone spot colors, made before august '22 are no longer editable with the new updated software regarding the Pantone spot colors... these colors are no longer supported in the updated sofwere from adobe.

My other programs (not from adobe) that I use no longer import correctly the files I made with photoshop 23.5.1 or 23.5 that contain spot colors from Pantone .. This greatly affects my work and my workflow and this is not normal. I had to reinstall a older version of photoshop so I could work again and have consistency through my workflow.

Adobe should not change or eliminate pantone color libraries and not take into account that designers use also other programs that use the same pantone colors.. designers need consistency and reliable software. The fact that pantone colors from adobe progreams no longer work in other programs is not acceptable and this affects workflows and this has and will have huge implications. The customer / end user should not suffer or pay more due to disputes over licensing fees between Adobe and Pantone.

Please restore the old color libraries / books so we can have consistency and reliable workflows again

[Creamer Training]

Did you try copying the old Pantone Swatch libraries into the new Illustrator preset folders? It won't include newer colors since the libraries were last updated, but one could make their own spot colors.

[Dave22384896ez5w]

Most vital usage in adobe, just taken away from all your loyal customers!
just for more and more profit.

And all this without any shame??.... any?... 
I knew Adobe became worse and worse over the years , especially with less stable crappie apps>
But this takes the biscuit.
realy looking out now for alternatives.
Adobe had its days long due.

[Gallucci Art]

well that bites the big one. I used to use it all the time way back in the later 90s. It was so easy to activate the pantone colors, all of them I believe. So Adobe can't afford to help us out by including that?? This billion billion $$$$ company won't offer that...  Adobe does what they want, any negative feedback is printed and mounted as an everlasting supply of  "dartboard background" game boards. No offense Adobe, but that's the lasting impression many of us have regarding your customer care.  

I'm still angry that, if and when I stop subscribing, I have nothing. Not even an older version. The updates come too often, I wish they would slow it down.

After all that, I still love Adobe. 

[Monika Gause]

You know that this Pantone thing has been going on for over a year, right? Some time ago it looked like it could be solved, but then Pantone pulled out their colors.Not everything can be solved by throwing money at the other party.

[superfly05]

You'd be surprised.

[ScottArthur4321]

I understand the need for a price "adjustment." Pantone might not be selling as many swatchbooks to individuals as it used because those individuals don't need as many swatches. So, maybe, they thought they needed the money. My small office used to buy a whole new set of Pantone books every few years or so. We don't do that anymore. The frustrating part of the adjustment is how clunky and unusable that adjustment is. We bought (and then cancelled) the "premium license" because we found the plug-in interface to be pretty unstable and anti-workflow. Online reviews suggest that most users -- or attempted users think the new system is a bust. What does this mean for the future? Who knows? Time moves on. We just completed a new identity and branding project for a customer and for the first time in my 25+ years in the business, the color guidelines don't include any Pantone information -- just cmyk, rgb, and html. And guess what? Everybody on the client side is very happy with the finshed product. Our office still does a ton of printing through commercial printers. We'll get by just fine using the Toyo ink swatch system, custom matches, and good old fashioned process color.

[Ton Frederiks]

And in case you need it, you can still copy the Pantone color books files (.acb) from an older version to the newer one.