Digital to Physical Pantone Conversion

Hello everyone, I am so glad I found you!

I have a budding business I am helping out and I need some advice. I created a style guide for them and to be honest, I am 100% digital and don't know a thing about printing aside from the fact that accurately communicating the color from digital to print is an art that I have not mastered.

So my question is in regards to Pantone conversion from Hex/RGB/HSB/CMYK. Below are the 3 colors I am trying to match. Can anyone confirm to me the proper Pantone codes for the graphic below? I know the lighting difference will look off, but the difference is so striking I have to ask.

 

Well the blue is out of gamut. Meaning it can’t be matched with four color process.

as for the other two I would recommend supplying the CMYK color conversions (or keep them as a spot colo) and inform your printer that you’re trying to match those particular pantones.

you can also ask if the printer has the capability to run Pantone inks (if they have offset presses) . In which case, if they can run the actual ink, you can print almost whatever Pantone you like, at an additional cost of course.

 

I'm confused by the blue. If it has a CMYK, why can't I match it? Maybe a link to further reading on the whys and hows? And if it is just never going to happen, what is the closest I can get to that shade and can you suggest a color close to a match? We have not released our product (which is digital but we are printing up swag for the team) so this is as good a time as any to make those changes.

But the beige is showing nearly no match at a 48 distance...

The printer is asking specifically for Pantone inks and will not accept CMYK, which seems odd to me but I am just the artist the problem was handed to lol.

Can you confirm the pantone colors that will match? This is where I am confused about which to pick....

 

Basically, if I can find colors as close to these three as possible to maintain the aesthetic.

Thanks for the time to respond too, this is a helpful learning experience

 

All pantones will present the closest possible CMYK match. Even if the “match” isn’t really that close at all.

take Reflex Blue for example. It’s an extremely popular blue, but when printed CMYK it looks purple. The same will likely be the case with your blue.

the closest color you can achieve will be somewhere around C: 100 M: 62-64 Y: 0-5 K:20-35

You'll notice some values have a range. Every machine is a little different, some values may need tweaking.

the printer most likely asked for the Pantone color swatches to be included so he can isolate those swatches and manage them independently from the other artwork.

 

This is great, thank you!

But what about the beige? I can't find anything close it seems. What CMYK or Pantone would you suggest in that instance?

 

What software are you using? Place the swatch in Abode CC (InDesign) and color pick it.

 

Great idea! But which Pantone swatch style would I select for printing on cloth?

And when I run them through a swatch on inDesign, I don't see any color code no matter what type of Pantone I choose...

 

First step, visit Pantone website

Fashion, Home and Interiors section is where you will find guides for textiles. There are specific ones for cotton, polyester, nylons and more.

Top of the page. FIND A PANTONE COLOR.
Convert according and choose appropriate Color Library. Input values. You will get a Best Match, as well as alternatives.
Then purchase guide or guides needed.

 

Printing on cloth?? Good grief.

let me first say that the substrate being printed on can have a huge impact on the color’s final appearance. For this reason Pantone has developed swatch books for different media types.

It’s a long shot, but perhaps your printer might be able to run some proofs for you on the actual cloth. It may be the only means of seeing what the output will be. And it’s likely to come at a cost.

 

The real issue underlying most problems with print-based rendering
of Pantone colors is whether the color you choose fits within the
printable gamut of the media/ink/printing system configuration you use
for output.

The best way to know this is to have a current ICC profile for
the media/ink/printing system configuration and the L*a*b*
number for the Pantone color you are trying to print. You then
need to see if the L*a*b* number is within the 3D gamut space
that the ICC profile covers.