What is the difference between Pantone Formula Guide and Solid Book?

Report · Apr 29, 2019

Hi all,

I have a Pantone color that I'm trying to get printed in a professional print house. It's a Pantone Uncoated color (PANTONE 2194 U) that has been given to me by another company. However, now that I was trying to send it to print, the print house tells me that they don't have it and I should pick something in the 'Pantone Solid Uncoated book'.The color has worked before in another print house in PMS process, so I'm not sure what is the problem. When I search the Pantone website, I can find my color in the Formula Guide. Is that different than this 'Pantone Solid Uncoated book' that my print house is talking about? How could I find out what would be the equivalent of my color?

Many thanks!

Report · Apr 29, 2019

Is the output spot color—a solid ink output from and extra plate? Or, is the color being converted to CMYK process color?

2194 is a new Pantone color and is not included in the book libraries that ship with InDesign.

Report · Apr 30, 2019

It will be printed from an extra plate, so not converted to CMYK. How I've printed this 2194 U before at another print house is that I made a spot color with that name in my file and asked them to print that plate with my color. So not having it in my IDD library was not a problem earlier. Could it be that the selection of Pantone colors at this print house is outdated, and they can't offer this new color?

Report · Apr 30, 2019

I’m thinking that their book is out of date and they just can’t find it in that book. The reality is, as long as you make it a spot color, all they have to do is put the correct ink color on the press. Their ink supplier should be able to provide it to them. They should purchase an updated book though for matching purposes.

Report · Apr 30, 2019

all they have to do is put the correct ink color on the press. Their ink supplier should be able to provide it to them.

The ink mixing formulas are listed in the swatch books, so it may be they need the current book in order to get the recipe. Pantone publishes process color equivalents on their site, but I’m not seeing the ink formulas.

Report · Apr 30, 2019

Yeah, you need to purchase that book in order to see that.

Report · May 01, 2019

OK, so seems that they have not updated their color formulas since my color has been published. I don't think it would make sense for me to convert my color to something equivalent in the old books, like they are suggesting. I'll reach out to them and will ask if they can get a new Pantone book and thus access to the right formula.