Pantone color naming workflow

[Kenneth34037076fn9k]

I still have some clients who use Pantone colors in their print artwork. Now that Pantone libraries don't seem to be available in InDesign, please can I get feedback on my proposed workaround: I'll create a spot CMYK swatch, name it with the name of the Pantone color, enter CMYK values that are roughly close to the color so it looks sort of OK on screen. Then when the print company create the plates from my InDesign exported PDF, they should see a spot color, and by the name of the spot color know which ink to add as a spot. And so ignore my CMYK equivalents for the spot. Or is there a better way I should be handling these Pantone spots?

[Mike Witherell]

https://trainingonsite.com/190-pantone-withdrawn-from-adobe-software.html

[Kenneth34037076fn9k]

That's useful, thanks Mike.

[rob day]

Hi @Kenneth34037076fn9k , You can still manually install Pantone .acb libraries, the change with 2023 is Adobe no longer does it for you. See this thread for options:

https://community.adobe.com/t5/indesign-discussions/pantone-alert-in-indesign/td-p/13565184

I'll create a spot CMYK swatch, name it with the name of the Pantone color, enter CMYK values that are roughly close to the color so it looks sort of OK on screen. Then when the print company create the plates from my InDesign exported PDF, they should see a spot color, and by the name of the spot color know which ink to add as a spot.

That would work if the output is to an extra plate running a Pantone ink, but probably doesn’t work if your clients are expecting CMYK process simulations of the Pantone color.