Need Help With Pantone Inks For InDesign

I recently worked on something similar and ran into the same issue with a TCX code not being directly supported in InDesign’s Pantone+ libraries.

Just to clarify for others:

• 19-3750 TCX is a Pantone Fashion, Home + Interiors (FHI) code, not a Pantone Matching System (PMS) spot color you’d find in the coated/uncoated libraries used for print.

• The TCX system is fabric-based, so it doesn’t map 1:1 to PMS inks like 533 C or 669 C.

For converting TCX or FHI values into something usable in print, I found it helpful to convert to Lab first, then into CMYK using color-managed profiles in InDesign. Definitely avoid trusting online charts that skip color management altogether — they’re often way off.

I actually put together a free little online Lab-to-CMYK tool for these edge cases:

https://artdrivethru.com/ 
It’s useful for testing how a given Lab value performs in different CMYK profiles.

Hope that helps!

Hi @Chris Panny , Also, you can get the relatively up-to-date Pantone .acb libraries including the Pantone F+H cotton TCX library here

https://github.com/Autocrit/Pantone-color-libraries

The .acb files need to be installed here in order to show in the Swatches Color Mode drop down:

⁨Applications⁩ ▸ ⁨Adobe InDesign 202X⁩ ▸ ⁨Presets⁩ ▸ ⁨Swatch Libraries⁩

Note that only the Color Bridge libraries are defined as Process CMYK, and there is not a Bridge version for the TCX library, so your only option would be to set the Color Type of the color to Process and do a color managed conversion to CMYK in one of the Adobe color managed apps—as others have noted web based conversions are not accurate.

With the color set to process, InDesign’s Separation Preview will show the conversion numbers, which are dependant on your document’s assigned CMYK profile and the Rendering Intent— here’s US Web Coated SWOP, US Sheetfed Uncoated, and Coated GRACoL 2013 with the Pantone color set to Process:

Before Pantone decided to go all "pay us to even THINK about our colours" they used to have an app called Pantone X-Ref, which allowed you to cross-reference any of their colours from any guide into another. e.g. in this case, this Fabric Colour to Solid Coated inks or CMYK Color Bridge, or whatever. They long ago pulled that app (for the above reason), but I still have it on an old iPhone. 19-3750 TCX swatch has a Lab reading of 22 18 -27, which matches best to PMS 669 C (although it reads a bit darker), or P 98-15 C in the Pantone Process CMYK Coated guide (71 84 0 50).

You can do a CMYK conversion from the Lab value, but that will colormanage with some Yellow in the mix, which dulls the vibrancy of the purple a bit, hence why I mention the P 98-15 C which is purer on the purple.

In either case, you should mention to your client that the swatch they chose has no bearing on the print world, so the best you can do is find a close match. i.e.  they should never be using it for a standards manual unless they are specifically talking about a fabric dye match.

As already mentioned - Pantone colors are printed using special ink - whatever color you use/see on the monitor shouldn't matter too much - the lady from the marketing should use the sample from the book as a reference.

If she needs a real deal - then the best option would be to ask the place that will be printing final material to make you the "proof" - do not skip this step or you will be the scapegoat.

That appears to be a fabric color. How do you intend to use it?

Paid (or maybe free trial) subscriptions to Pantone Connect look as if they would give you L*a*b values you could use to create a custom ink swatch.

If the swatch is for spot color printing, what you spec in ID doesn't really matter. It will output a plate to be used with that color ink. Look up the CMYK equivalent and build the swatch with that, for design purposes. Name it carefully with the whole Pantone designation, so that the printer gets it right. 

If what you need is that color for internal or digital printing, the CMYK blend is pretty much as close as you can get. 

Note that some clients don't get what TSN said, and don't understand that you can't perfectly emulate all P colors. As a guide to *about* what color they want, it's good; if they expect a perfect print match, it's not.  Only the spot ink can do that. 

Most Pantone colours are not CMYK. They are not part of the CMYK swatches, and many of them are absolutely impossible to make with CMYK inks - too bright or special. If you want to make a swatch for the pantone spot colours you need to use spot inks - or other things. TCX colours are from the Home + Interiors Color System. I don't know if they are available as printing inks, you'd need to talk to your ink supplier (if you're a printer) or printer (if you are not). Here is info on the colour PANTONE® USA | PANTONE® 19-3750 TCX - Find a Pantone Color | Quick Online Color Tool. Scroll down for info on the swatch products - a full set of swatches will set you back $9,046.