Spec a PANTONE color

[DougKatz]

It's been some time since I worked with spot colors. Can you remind me how to do it when I don't have the swatch in the file?

1. Fill/stroke the artwork with a single, arbitrary color (e.g., either C or M or Y or K only)

2. In the Swatches panel, rename the arbitrary color with the desired PANTONE spec (e.g., PANTONE 119 C).

3. Send PDF file to the offset printer with a note about this color spec.

Is that it? With the caveat that the "arbitrary color" should NOT be a CMYK build, just one of these components, and it should NOT be some other available PANTONE color in the Swatches panel that is renamed as the desired one? 

Thanks.

[Monika Gause]

The swatch needs to be a spot color and I would at least somehow make it match the actual color.

I would also delete all other swatches from the file that are called Pantone xyz.

And then get in contact with them and discuss the matter with them. I wouldn't rely on a note that goes with the file.

[DougKatz]

Thank you both.

I had forgotten, or never knew, that the "stand-in" swatch in the Swatches panel had to ITSELF be a PANTONE color! Is that what you're saying, Monika? In other words, using a C-only (or M-, Y-, or K-only) swatch, and then renaming it as the desired PANTONE color, won't work for the print house?

[Ton Frederiks]

The name only for a spot should be sufficient. When you create separations, the result will be a separate plate (that is not in color) that will have to be printed with the spot ink mix. Some printers can proof or print Pantone inks and will use the name to calculate the best simulation. The preview in Illustrator does not matter (it could be totally different), but it is nice to see something that looks more or less like the end result. The exception is when you do not want to print with a spot and convert it to process inks, than the defenition in the color mode is used.

[DougKatz]

Great. Thank you, Ton. I should have mentioned that I'll follow your instructions to acquire the up-to-date PANTONE books… clearly the easiest way to see something spot-approximate on screen and to reduce confusion for the print house. 

[Ton Frederiks]

Good to hear that helped (the Pantone books will not be up-to-date (they have not been for years) but you have at least something to work with).

[Ton Frederiks]

The only thing that matters when you create a spot color is the name (when using spots from a manufacturer like Pantone) and a printer that knows how to mix that ink. 

But you may want to install the Pantone color books from a previous version.

It is easy to just install the 2022 version (while it is still available).  You don't even have to open it to copy the color books. After that you can deinstall that version.

In the Creative Cloud app select Apps > All Apps > Illustrator > click the 3 dots …  next to the Open button >  click Other Versions and select 26.5.2

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.