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Ace Tips: Pantones & Color Matching
Color plays a huge role in how your brand is seen, but it is not always as simple as picking a shade on your screen and expecting it to look the same in print. Computer monitors use light to display color, while printers use ink, which means the same design can look different once it is produced.
That is why understanding Pantones and color matching is so important. With the right tools, you can take the guesswork out of printing and feel confident that your brand colors will show up the way you want them to.
Understanding Color
Color can be a subjective and challenging topic, both in the digital and physical world. There are many factors that affect the way the eye perceives color, and not every person will perceive a color as exactly the same.
Meeting Expectations
When it comes to printing, there are numerous challenges in meeting client expectations.
For one, the design is being created on a computer, being viewed on a backlit RGB screen; while the print is reflective CMYK, made using a distinct combination of ink and media.
This is one of many important factors that impact the perceived color difference between the computer screen and a physical print.
Color in Printing: The Arrow vs. The Target
Printing color should be viewed as an arrow, not a target. The same color values will yield different outcomes when printed with different printers, inks, and medias.
Creating a design file with a specific color in mind is like providing the arrows, but leaving the target up to the outcome of the combination of printer, ink and media. If an exact target is not specified, then we cannot control the outcome in a defined way.
The Role of Pantone Color Matching
This is where Pantones come in. If your graphic print needs to be a specific target color, the only way for us to control the outcome is to add a Pantone Color Match to your order.
The Pantone color serves as the target color, giving us a specific color to "aim" at. If a Pantone Color Match is not added to your order, you are leaving the printed color up to the output of the printer, inks and media.
The Pantone Matching System (PMS)
The Pantone Matching System (PMS) is a solid color communications system that allows specific target colors to be easily understood and communicated across locations, devices and printing methods.
By specifying a Pantone target color, you can be confident that the printed output will match your expectations (as closely as possible).
Pantone Reference Book: Your Color Library
Pantone makes a series of reference books with thousands of precisely printed target colors. These books can be purchased to use as a physical reference.
We recommend using the Pantone "Bridge" book - it if the most useful, since it shows the Pantone target color side-by-side with the closest CMYK version of that same color.
This allows you to choose a target color while seeing a realistic example of how this color will be reproduced with CMYK printing.
Getting color right in print is all about control. Without a clear target, your design is left up to the natural variations of printers, inks, and materials. By choosing Pantones and using tools like the Pantone Bridge book, you set a clear standard that helps your final product match your expectations. While no system is perfect, Pantone matching is the most reliable way to keep your brand colors consistent and professional every time you print.
As always, if you have any questions, we're here to help.
Contact our displays experts if you have any questions!
About Ace Displays
In 2006, Ace Displays was founded in Southern California with the desire to provide quality products at competitive prices with the fastest delivery times in the industry. We believe purchasing an event display and its accessories should be an easy and exciting experience. Leveraging our short lead times to differentiate ourselves, we exist to connect people by providing event solutions that create conversations and lasting impressions.
Our Mission
Our mission is to provide the best event & trade show displays at budget-friendly prices with unparalleled service to ensure we exceed our clients expectations and to foster an environment our employees are proud to work in.
The Ace Method
We are excited to work with you - from meeting your budget to meeting your deadlines - we will help you create a display that looks great and asserts your presence. To aid in what can be a rather laborious process, Ace has developed a 6-step method to get you a display quickly and easily so you can focus your time on other areas of your business and upcoming events.