How to convert Pantone percentages to CMYK

[tiger-kai]

Hi,

Just having a little trouble...... Normally when I need to convert a Pantone to CMYK I just use the CMYK values in the Pantone Books. However.... is there anyway of converting 80% of a Pantone colour to CMYK (for printing).

Thanks for anyone who can help or advise
TK
:)

[pcbranding]

Presumably you have Illustrator or Quark or similar?
Just set 80% of your pantone and then switch to the CMYK colour mixer - this will display the CMYK values of the colour.

[tiger-kai]

Thanks..... but say when i have the pantone at 100% and then switch to CMYK these values do not match what Pantone provide as the best representation of that ink using CMYK.....so presumably this would be the same for a tint.

[tiger-kai]

Sorry.... yes I am using Illustrator CS5, thank you

[pcbranding]

Hello. I wouldn't worry what the Pantone swatch values are and would specify the Pantone in Illustrator and use it's CMYK breakdown. You are printing four colour process of the colour afterall which is open for looking different from the swatch anyway depending upon the printer, the material, light, varnishes etc.

:)

[squeezee]

Pantone colours are defined in Lab, the conversion to CMYK depends on your ICC profile, so the question has inherent problems. I don't think that there is a simple answer, you'll have to do it by eye?

[taklamakan]

You can apply the values manually. 80% meaning you can apply 80% transparency afterwards.

[tiger-kai]

hey thanks for the two solutions...... all sorted..... :)

[CTL Designs]

hey thanks for the two solutions...... all sorted..... :)

I have been doing a lot of work recently in a programme called SignLab. Not to sure if anybody has used this programme before? It has a really nifty bit where it can convert any colour to and from any format. very impressive, i often find myself using this instead of illustrator!

[HudsonDisplayServices]

squeezee has your answer above.

Both the Pantone Solid to Process and the default Adobe CS CMYK are giving you the SWOP CMYK values for the Pantone. That is the closest match to the pantone within the SWOP colour space. SWOP is a very small colour space reflecting the colours a web offset press achieves set to certain parameters on a certain paper. Unless that's your output route, you don't want those numbers! Not even 80% of them!

Your printer should be able to work with Postscript pantone colours. Leave your Postscript labels in the artwork, and let the printer do the conversion to their output CMYK. If your printer doesn't know how to handle postscript colour labels, find another printer!

This article explains how to use Postscript pantones in AdobeCS, and what the printer does with that. Using Spot Colours for Great Pantone Matches | Hudson

I hope that's of use.

regards
Craig