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Okay, I have done a design for a volleyball team and sent it to first edition. They need me to chanage the CMYK colors to pantone colors. How do I match them up?
you dont say which program you are using...but if you are using corel draw...go to 'window' click and on the drop down click on 'color palettes' and then chose the palette you want...there are several pantone palates there
Sorry, I made it in illustrator. I know how to get up the pantone color library, but there are a few. how do I know which to use and then it is hard to match up the colors as they are very small. s there any way to look at the colors I have and then have a program or something tell me which pantone matches it?
Use Pantone coated colors on the job. That is what they use to print with from what I have gathered from emailing them back and forth on designs. I wouldn't worry to much about matching your design just get close to what you have used for those colors. As long as you let your transfer company know on your email cover sheet what colors to print that is what they will go by. They have it in writing on the cover sheet what colors to print for your order.
Be careful with using the Pantone Colors in Illustrator or any program, they are just a representation of the ACTUAL color, which can be found in the pantone book. You'll need to make sure that you get the exact percentages of CMYK for each color you're trying to match, print them out and then match them in the book. Matching with the color swatches doesn't always look the same as the actual color...does any of that make sense? Do you have a pantone book?
Be careful with using the Pantone Colors in Illustrator or any program, they are just a representation of the ACTUAL color, which can be found in the pantone book. You'll need to make sure that you get the exact percentages of CMYK for each color you're trying to match, print them out and then match them in the book. Matching with the color swatches doesn't always look the same as the actual color...does any of that make sense? Do you have a pantone book?
I don't have a pantone book. Where do you suggest I get one and do you suggest I get one? I just looked up pantone colors on the internet and matched the colors as best as I could. Changed them and then had the customer approve it again.
I suggest you get one if you are printing any art or designs with the screenprint process. Pantone or "Spot" colors are meant for the screenprinting and some other type industries. The Pantone Match system is a means to see the colors universally, so that when someone says I use Pantone (or PMS) 130, we all know exactly the formula that color is, and therefore it looks the same EVERY time.
You can pick up a Pantone book at some art supply stores, litho stores, and screen print suppliers. (Try this: Amazon.com: Pantone formula Guides Coat/un: Software)
Hope this helps...
It does greatly. I do not do screenprinting, but I have a heat transfer. i send things to first edition or other companies to get transfers made. Do you think I should still have one?
This is my first post so apologies for me not introducing myself elsewhere.
Right to answer your question around colour matching, there is not always a match for process to spot colours (sometimes theres not even colours that look similar). Orange is a particularly bad colour to match as is blue.
Matching on screen also opens up a can of worms as monitors display RGB so CMYK (4 colour) will look different as will spots, printing out wont help either as every printer will be different (depending on different factors such as quality of print, amount of toner left etc).
You could do with getting a set of pantone books which include the "Bridge", this shows the difference between the spot and 4 colour versions of certain pantones. Then in future when designing you can select only colours you know can be reproduced acuratley in both spot and cmyk.
Do you have to buy a pantone book to find the correct colour? I am a total newbie to illustrator and need to convert my colours to pantone for the screenprinters, is there anyhting on illustrtor which can help?
Do you have to buy a pantone book to find the correct colour? I am a total newbie to illustrator and need to convert my colours to pantone for the screenprinters, is there anyhting on illustrtor which can help?
No. What you see on your monitor will not accurately represent the final printed color. You really need a Pantone book in order to know what you're gonna get. The downside is they aren't cheap. If you're low on funds, try finding a friendly off-set printer or screenprinter who will let you take a look at theirs.
Hi!
Understand that you are using Illustrator CS3. It has a wonderful tool call LIVE COLOR. First select objects that you need to change the colors. Then please go to Windows menu and click COLOR GUIDE. When the panel comes up, there is a symbol (menu) at the bottom of this panel call EDIT COLORS. Please click on that. Another window will come up. Now there are two buttons that you need to click. I have it here as PDF screenshot.
Pantone Colors 
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