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Participant
February 27, 2019
Question

PMS 116 Book color vs LAB color

  • February 27, 2019
  • 4 replies
  • 2462 views

Why would the representation of Yellow PMS 116 in the Pantone Plus Coated libraries (versions 2 and 3) use an 8 percent cyan in its color build?  This is clearly an inaccurate build for this color.  It was much more accurate when based off LAB color (version 1) and it seems many colors are incorrectly built using the newer Book Color method.  causing me headaches....

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    4 replies

    Participant
    March 1, 2019

    We don't have a 4 color press, so sometimes we convert Cmyk jobs to spot color jobs if the design can be achieved in spot color instead.  Sometimes its a lot easier to print a paint job (heavy coverage)using spots rather than CMYK.  Many designers don't have a full grasp on production so they end up designing what can easily be printed as a 2 color spot job can process colors instead. So for our application on a 2 color press, we end up (sometimes, if applicable) converting cmyk jobs to 2, 3, or 4 color spot jobs so that the print quality looks better and its easier for the pressman to hold color across the sheet (and other benefits on press).   So when adobe and pantone get together and redefine how the colors are built every year, it makes a prepress technician's job a lot harder than it need so be.

    @Ton -the photoshop 5 i was referring to is in the "edit color settings" under illustrator edit menu... not the swatch options on swatches palette.

    We do a lot of color converting here since we print on magnetic, plastic, cardboard, white board, so many substrates... and so much of the art we receive is RGB mixed with a little cmyk, sometimes with some spot colors all in one design.  Sometimes I'd like to teach a production class to all people that submit art to a printer, lol

    cheers

    Monika Gause
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    March 2, 2019

    https://forums.adobe.com/people/color+king  schrieb

    So when adobe and pantone get together and redefine how the colors are built every year,

    They don't "get together". Pantone changes them at will. Those are their colors.

    Ton Frederiks
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    February 28, 2019

    Which version of Illustrator are you using?

    How is your Color Manegement set up?

    Participant
    February 28, 2019

    using newest version, 23.0.2.   Swatch options set to "use LAB values of book manufacturer".

    Color settings set to use US Web Coated Swop V2.  Here is what the newer pantone plus solid coated library builds the PMS 116:

    If I open a new doc and select the same spot color from the older pantone plus library, without all the new colors pantone has released in 2016...,  see the spot colors are built on LAB, instead of Book Color. 

    Color was more accurate with original version.  This converts to process as the following build:

    Much more accurate color builds in 2015 than we have today.  Any thoughts?

    Participant
    February 28, 2019

    seems as though if i switch my color settings to use Photoshop 5 default for my CMYK working colorspace as opposed to the US Web coated Swop, ... spot colors appear much more accurately.  I don't know, its all so confusing anymore.

    Inspiring
    February 27, 2019

    You give 8%C, what is the entire build?

    Monika Gause
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    February 27, 2019

    These libraries are provided by Pantone, so you should ask them about the change.

    What is set up in the "Spot color" setting in the swatches panel menu?