PMS Color

[Meg24]

I have always been lucky in being able to choose my own colors for my creative, but now I have to design a menu using the client's 354 pms color which I don't have a lot of experience with. I turned my menu into grayscale, then I did the duotone and applied the 354 pms color. I have two questions . . . first of all, when I selected the 354 solid coated, the little exclamation point came up which means that color isn't available(is that what that means?) So then I went to Pantone Solid to Process Coated and selected the 354 color from there. Did I do this right?

Also, their original menu seems much greener and brighter than my image, so I feel like I am doing something wrong. I added some filters to the text (bevel and inner shadow I think) is that okay or will that change the pms green? My biggest fear is that this will go to the printer and it won't just be their one color, and then they will get charged more . . .

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated!

 

[dmacster]

Well, are you actually doing a monotone (select duotone - then the dropdown can switch) for one color? Use the curve to change the ratios of output.

Or create the areas you want and make spot channels.

Oops just finished reading again and definitely make sure you have set to monotone in the duotone dropdown. A little confusing to be sure, but if not you'll end up with two or more colors output.

Donna

 

[jmgalvin]

354 has a LARGE color shift when going from spot to process. I'm looking at it in the Pantone solid to process guide as I type.

354 PC will look darker/washed out compared to 354C (if for coated). You'e probably best off going with the solid - 354C - and making sure that you designate it as a spot, rather than process.

354C is available in the the Pantone Solid Library that came with PS.

One thing to watch out for. A pantone solid in PS may not mach tch the same color in Illustrator or Indesign. When imported into either the color difference can be visible and the cmyk & rgb values will not match. That's due to the way they intrpret color. The PS Pantone solid to process matches the Pantone solid in ILL and ID. Just to make life more fun.

If this is more than just a logo or something, and something like text is going to be added in ILL or ID, things might not come out too well.

 

[Meg24]

Thanks to both of you for this information. JM Galvin, I am kind of confused though because I know you said that PS has the 354C color in the Pantone Solid Library. But when I go to the Pantone Solid Coated and type in 354, the color comes up, but there is a little triangle with an exclamation mark that pops up. I thought that meant I couldn't get that exact color, and PS would automatically find the closest match for me. And also, when you say "make sure that you designate it as a spot, rather than process" I'm not exactly sure what the means- I don't know how to make a spot channel . . . I'm taking a PS class but haven't gotten into color yet. Thank you for your feedback.

 

[jmgalvin]

The triangle just means that it's not within the web spectrum - irelevant in print.

Spot channels: Open the pantone library and go to the right number so it's handy (list view is easier). Select the pantone as your fill color. Open Channel window and click on triangle at top - new spot channel.. It should come up with the pantone in the little box, If not click that little color box, to get color window. go to Swatch palette and select the pantone. Hit OK in color window. Back in the spot channel window it's usually best to name the channel Pantone Whatever with the C or PC in the name. make sure 100% is selected for solidity - same as opacity in most other PS palettes, then hit OK.

t.