Colour Deviation Tables of Spot Colours

Convert PANTONE colours optimally into CMYK. Practical aspects to the new old discussion.

September 18, 2019September 17, 2019 by Matthias Betz

A very frequent topic for us in the area of proofing is the optimal conversion of PANTONE colours in CMYK for classic, inexpensive four-colour printing. In the last few days, there has been a lively discussion on this topic in the Adobe Forum and in the colour management forum of hilfdirselbst.ch, which I would like to summarise briefly, as our customers often struggle with the same issues. PANTONE and the PANTONE CMYK values from Bridge: The Problem The central question is to which standard or colour profile a CMYK value …

How to match the production paper, proof standard and the proof precision of spot colours

May 8, 2020April 9, 2019 by Matthias Betz

Today a customer called who wanted to order a proof of several HKS N spot colours on an uncoated paper. “Which proof profile should I choose? And how exactly can you match my special colours in the proof? I probably have to proof several HKS N red tones in comparison. By the way, the printing is to be done on Fly Cream, a slightly yellowish paper.”

What is the paper white of the production paper?

First of all, I searched with the customer for the production paper in our paper white database. A quick look via full text search revealed that we have measured Fly Cream from Papier Union:

Fly Cream enthält gemäß unseren Messungen keine optischen Aufheller, also "keine OBA". Das LAB Papierweiss liegt bei allen drei Messungen bei rund LAB 95 / 0,7 / 9,2 — According to our measurements, Fly Cream does not contain any optical brighteners, i.e. “faint”. The LAB paper white in all three measurements is around LAB 95 / 0.7 / 9.2

With a B-value in LAB of 9.2, Fly Cream is really not just a little yellowish, as the customer said, but clearly yellowish, chamois, creamy … whatever you want to call it. So it was natural to check the proof profile “ISOUncoatedYellowish”, Fogra 30, to see to what extent the paper white could match.

What is the paper white of the possible proof standard?

Together with the customer we looked up our “paper white of proof profiles” table:

Das Papierweiss des Proofstandards Fogra30, ISOUncoatedYellowish — The paper white of the proof standard Fogra30, ISOUncoatedYellowish in LAB: 95.93 / -0.77 / 3.85

Contrary to the customer’s expectations, the paper white of ISOUncoatedYellowish is not even as yellowish as the paper white of the edition paper Fly cream, which is more yellowish by more than 5 steps on the B axis. So it was clear: PSOUncoated as a brighter-free uncoated paper proof standard is clearly too white, ISOUncoatedYellowish is much more suitable.

On what kind of proof paper will this proof standard be printed?

PANTONE and HKS colour deviations in proofing updated

May 8, 2020March 6, 2019 by Matthias Betz

Current proofing systems can reproduce spot colours such as HKS or Pantone very well. With the Fiery XF 6.5.2 proofing software and the Epson SureColor-P9000V Spectro proof printer, we have evaluated the colour deviation in Delta-E00 with which the various PANTONE and HKS colours can be proofed. On shop.proof.de, the tables are now available for all important PANTONE and HKS colour systems, sorted by colour fans. A distinction is made between the proofing substrates that we use, since the surface texture and the paper white also have an influence on …

Comparison of PANTONE U colours to Contract Proof

Colour deviations from PANTONE EXTENDED GAMUT Coated in the proof in Delta-E (∆E)

June 30, 2022November 9, 2016 by Matthias Betz

Current proofing systems can reproduce spot colours like HKS or Pantone very well. Using the Fiery XF 6.3 proofing software and the Epson SC-P9000V proof printer, we evaluated with which colour deviation in Delta-E the PANTONE Extended Gamut Coated colours can be proofed.

The colour deviations were calculated by the proofing software on the basis of the measured colour space of the proofing system of proof.de. Therefore in practice there may be deviations. However, it has been shown that almost all PANTONE colours can be simulated quite well in the large colour space of the proofing device.

The smaller the ∆E value, the smaller the colour distance from the PANTONE reference to the proofed PANTONE colour. Higher ∆E values indicate which PANTONE colours can be reproduced in the proof with greater difficulty.

PANTONE EXTENDED GAMUT Coated	Delta-E Colour Deviation Proof	PANTONE EXTENDED GAMUT Coated	Delta E Colour Deviation Proof
PANTONE 100 XGC	0.24 ∆E	PANTONE 355 XGC	0.84 ∆E
PANTONE 101 XGC	0.24 ∆E	PANTONE 356 XGC	0.00 ∆E
PANTONE 102 XGC	0.49 ∆E	PANTONE 357 XGC	0.64 ∆E
PANTONE 103 XGC	0.64 ∆E	PANTONE 358 XGC	0.27 ∆E
PANTONE 104 XGC	0.93 ∆E	PANTONE 359 XGC	0.27 ∆E
PANTONE 105 XGC	0.77 ∆E	PANTONE 360 XGC	0.59 ∆E
PANTONE 106 XGC	0.24 ∆E	PANTONE 361 XGC	0.65 ∆E
PANTONE 107 XGC	0.50 ∆E	PANTONE 362 XGC	0.35 ∆E
PANTONE 108 XGC	0.25 ∆E	PANTONE 363 XGC	0.38 ∆E
PANTONE 109 XGC	0.26 ∆E	PANTONE 364 XGC	0.88 ∆E
PANTONE 110 XGC	0.57 ∆E	PANTONE 365 XGC	0.26 ∆E
PANTONE 111 XGC	0.98 ∆E	PANTONE 366 XGC	0.27 ∆E
PANTONE 112 XGC	0.36 ∆E	PANTONE 367 XGC	0.55 ∆E
PANTONE 113 XGC	0.25 ∆E	PANTONE 368 XGC	0.61 ∆E
PANTONE 114 XGC	0.50 ∆E	PANTONE 369 XGC	1.04 ∆E
PANTONE 115 XGC	0.50 ∆E	PANTONE 370 XGC	0.00 ∆E Read more

How accurate can PANTONE colours be reproduced in proofing?

May 8, 2020January 9, 2015 by Matthias Betz

Pantone colours can be simulated very well today. T be able in advance to see how well your Pantone colour can be reproduced, we have published tables of all Pantone inks where the colour differences of the Pantone colours can be looked up already before proofing.

Colour variations of Pantone colours in Delta-E

Colour variations of Pantone metallic colours in Delta-E

We have now even photographed some pictures that visually show how appropriate proofs on the latest Pantone subjects.

Colour deviation of Pantone metallics and Pantone Premium Metallics colours in proofing in Delta-E (∆E)

May 8, 2020May 15, 2014 by Matthias Betz

Current proofing systems can print spot colours like Pantone or HKS very accurate. With Fiery XF 5.2 Proof software and the Epson 7900/9900 proof printers we evaluated, with which colour deviation PANTONE Metallics Coated and PANTONE Premium Metallics Coated colours can be reproduced in proofing.

The colour deviations were calculated based on the measured colour space of the proof system of Proof GmbH by the proofing software. Deviations should therefore be quite similar in practice. Almost all PANTONE colours can be simulated quite well in the wide colour gamut of the proofer.

The smaller the Delta-E value, the lower is the colour distance of the PANTONE reference to the proofed PANTONE colour. Higher Delta-E values show, which PANTONE colours can’t be simulated accurately in the proof.

Please note: Since the proof devices does not have colours with metallic pigments, the metallic shine in the proof can not be reproduced. Only through the satin finish of our proofing paper a somewhat shiny effect is produced, which replaces partly the metallic luster of true PANTONE colours. Although the colour is well rendered, the metallic effect in the proof does not exist. The proof can therefore always be used only as a guide, but not as binding simulation of the final result.

PANTONE Metallics Coated	Delta-E Deviation Proof	PANTONE Premium Metallics Coated	Delta E Deviation Proof
PANTONE 871 C	0,71 ∆E	PANTONE 10101 C	1,49 ∆E
PANTONE 872 C	0,72 ∆E	PANTONE 10102 C	1,77 ∆E
PANTONE 873 C	1,03 ∆E	PANTONE 10103 C	1,00 ∆E
PANTONE 874 C	1,26 ∆E	PANTONE 10104 C	1,42 ∆E
PANTONE 875 C	0,97 ∆E	PANTONE 10105 C	1,42 ∆E
PANTONE 876 C	0,86 ∆E	PANTONE Silver C	1,65 ∆E
PANTONE 877 C	1,37 ∆E	PANTONE 10106 C	1,09 ∆E
PANTONE 8001 C	1,52 ∆E	PANTONE 10107 C	0,97 ∆E Read more

Colour differences of Pantone Solid Coated and Pantone Solid Uncoated colours in proofing in Delta-E (∆E)

May 8, 2020January 20, 2014 by Matthias Betz

Current proofing systems can print spot colours like Pantone or HKS very accurate. With Fiery XF 5.2 Proof software and the Epson 7900/9900 proof printers we evaluated, with which colour deviation PANTONE Solid Coated and PANTONE Solid Uncoated colours can be reproduced in proofing.

Pantone Colour Solid Coated	Delta-E Deviation Proof	Pantone Colour Solid Uncoated	Delta-E Deviation Proof
PANTONE 100 C	0.89 ∆E	PANTONE 100 U	1.69 ∆E
PANTONE 101 C	0.60 ∆E	PANTONE 101 U	1.62 ∆E
PANTONE 102 C	1.23 ∆E	PANTONE 102 U	1.40 ∆E
PANTONE 103 C	0.72 ∆E	PANTONE 103 U	0.49 ∆E
PANTONE 104 C	0.48 ∆E	PANTONE 104 U	0.92 ∆E
PANTONE 105 C	0.80 ∆E	PANTONE 105 U	1.07 ∆E Read more