Convert PMS to RGB / Hex!
For our new website, I need a close web match to the PMS colors on our letterhead and other printed matter. Is there some kind of algoritm to convert one to the other, or a website matching PMS colors to RGB, Hex, HSB or CMYK?
(A previous Q, https://www.experts-exchange.com/questions/20234522/Converting-PMS-colors-to-web-color.html, answers this question using PhotoShop, but I don't actually have PhotoShop...)
(A previous Q, https://www.experts-exchange.com/questions/20234522/Converting-PMS-colors-to-web-color.html, answers this question using PhotoShop, but I don't actually have PhotoShop...)
weed
Not that I know of. Even Photoshop has to do a conversion through LaB when switching color modes. There might be a small 3rd party utility at versiontracker.com
FlorisMK
This may seem stupid, but why not just hold your letterhead up to the screen and pick a color that is a decent match.
After you do this, have a few people around you display the page on their monitor and compare what you see to your samples.
If you only have a couple of colors this may be the fastest way. One thing to remember that 99% of the people who will view your web page will see different colors because of the way they have the monitor set up.
Color matching on computers is a whole science in it self and virtually no one outside of graphic artists and print shops even know about it. Every one else just assumes that every monitor shows the "same" thing.
I think that weed would agree with that statement - but I don't want to put words in his mouth.
Let us know if you have found a solution or need more help.
John
This may seem stupid, but why not just hold your letterhead up to the screen and pick a color that is a decent match.
After you do this, have a few people around you display the page on their monitor and compare what you see to your samples.
If you only have a couple of colors this may be the fastest way. One thing to remember that 99% of the people who will view your web page will see different colors because of the way they have the monitor set up.
Color matching on computers is a whole science in it self and virtually no one outside of graphic artists and print shops even know about it. Every one else just assumes that every monitor shows the "same" thing.
I think that weed would agree with that statement - but I don't want to put words in his mouth.
Let us know if you have found a solution or need more help.
John
ASKER
Why not? Because I *do* know about color matching (-:
Seriously though: I have the PMS color numbers and was hoping for an easier way than holding my letterhead up to the screen...
Seriously though: I have the PMS color numbers and was hoping for an easier way than holding my letterhead up to the screen...
FlorisMK
Sorry about assuming that you were among the minority when it comes to color matching.
What programs are you using?
If you have about any Adobe graphics program you can see the RGB or CMYK value given to a Pantone color in the swatch library.
The only programs that I use that have Pantone colors are Adobe programs, but this method may work with other programs.
Create some item on the screen (like a box) and fill it with the Pantone color from the swatch list. Select that item and then go to the color menu and select the color system you want to see the values for.
In Adobe Illustrator you can pick a Pantone color and see the "equivalent" values for the following color system: ( Pantone solid coated 5425C values in parens )
RGB ( 124 150 161 )
HSB ( 197.8 22.98 63.14 )
CMYK ( 30 4 0 31 )
Web safe RGB (7c 96 a1
Grayscale ( 42.36% )
Be careful though as once you pick a new color system the color for that item will be changed to the values that are the best match in that system. This means that if you want to see the RGB values for Pantone 5425C you should not then switch to another system with out returning the color the item is filled with to the Pantone color from the palette. Don't make an item with 5425C fill then click RGB then HSB as the HSB will likely not be the same as if you went directly from 5425C to HSB.
Let me know if any of this helps or if it even makes sense.
John
Sorry about assuming that you were among the minority when it comes to color matching.
What programs are you using?
If you have about any Adobe graphics program you can see the RGB or CMYK value given to a Pantone color in the swatch library.
The only programs that I use that have Pantone colors are Adobe programs, but this method may work with other programs.
Create some item on the screen (like a box) and fill it with the Pantone color from the swatch list. Select that item and then go to the color menu and select the color system you want to see the values for.
In Adobe Illustrator you can pick a Pantone color and see the "equivalent" values for the following color system: ( Pantone solid coated 5425C values in parens )
RGB ( 124 150 161 )
HSB ( 197.8 22.98 63.14 )
CMYK ( 30 4 0 31 )
Web safe RGB (7c 96 a1
Grayscale ( 42.36% )
Be careful though as once you pick a new color system the color for that item will be changed to the values that are the best match in that system. This means that if you want to see the RGB values for Pantone 5425C you should not then switch to another system with out returning the color the item is filled with to the Pantone color from the palette. Don't make an item with 5425C fill then click RGB then HSB as the HSB will likely not be the same as if you went directly from 5425C to HSB.
Let me know if any of this helps or if it even makes sense.
John
ASKER
Makes a ton of sense, John, but unfortunately Adobe is a stranger to my system - CorelSuite is the graphics package I have. No PMS colors there, not that I can find anyway, so here's the deal: how about I give you the values I need and you tell me the parameters like you did for 5425? That will give you the points...
FlorisMK
That sounds great, and I was going to propose this exact idea in my last post, but though you might have some Adobe software.
Post a list - I am doing this from home, and I have some time every evening. I would rather not do 200 conversions, but 50 would not bother me a bit.
Glad I can help.
John
That sounds great, and I was going to propose this exact idea in my last post, but though you might have some Adobe software.
Post a list - I am doing this from home, and I have some time every evening. I would rather not do 200 conversions, but 50 would not bother me a bit.
Glad I can help.
John
Here is another option.
http://www.pantone.com/products/products.asp?idSubArea=0&idArea=3&idProduct=347&idArticleType_Products=0
Pantone has software that does exactly this - and it is only $40. The link above should take you there.
It can even give you a conversion for a less than full strength pantone color. Like 50% 5425C.
I will still do the conversions for you - I just found this program on the Pantone web and thought it would be of interest.
John
( they used to have 15 or 30 day trials in the past - you might look )
http://www.pantone.com/products/products.asp?idSubArea=0&idArea=3&idProduct=347&idArticleType_Products=0
Pantone has software that does exactly this - and it is only $40. The link above should take you there.
It can even give you a conversion for a less than full strength pantone color. Like 50% 5425C.
I will still do the conversions for you - I just found this program on the Pantone web and thought it would be of interest.
John
( they used to have 15 or 30 day trials in the past - you might look )
FlorisMK
Did you find a way to get your colors converted??
Just wondering since I have not seen any response to my offer to do the conversions for you.
John
Did you find a way to get your colors converted??
Just wondering since I have not seen any response to my offer to do the conversions for you.
John
ASKER
Been enjoying a bout of flu, but here I am...
The colors I need are (according to the guy who produces our letterhead) PMS295 (blue) en PMS431 (grey).
Thanks!
The colors I need are (according to the guy who produces our letterhead) PMS295 (blue) en PMS431 (grey).
Thanks!
Pantone Solid Uncoated 295 = R49, G59, B96
Pantone Solid Uncoated 431 = R81, G85, B95
Pantone Solid Uncoated 431 = R81, G85, B95
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
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I did my conversion in Photoshop.
ASKER
For being thorough and for being the one I negotiated the terms with (-:
But thanks anyway, weed, for your contribution!
But thanks anyway, weed, for your contribution!
FlorisMK
Thanks - glad I could help you out.
John
Thanks - glad I could help you out.
John
Conversion tool from hex to RGB and PMS:
http://www.warpgear.com/pantone/
Sorry, it doesn't seem to go the other way, which is what the OP asked for,
but this may still be useful to some readers.
Milo
http://www.warpgear.com/pantone/
Sorry, it doesn't seem to go the other way, which is what the OP asked for,
but this may still be useful to some readers.
Milo
Actually the page milo linked to above does provide reverse lookup of Pantone color to RGB and Hex. It is toward the bottom of the page in the black box.
warpgear has been stompt by Pantone. It's ridiculous that the PMS has become a standard ... that is, if it is a standard, then it ought to be in the public domain. If it's not, then, the design/printing/paint industries should either demand that it do so, or SWITCH to Lab.