Spot Colors?

[robotrenegade]

What the best way to find the spot color you want? Book, web...etc? I'm trying to find a good reference.

 

[djbahdow01]

I would have to say definately look into the Pantone Color books. An online color is going to look different when you print as either your moniter might not be properly calibrated and even when it is it still might not be right.

 

[DavidFDM]

Pantone specifier book- http://pantone.com

Be prepared to drop a few bucks. They are not cheap but they are well worth it.

- David

 

[New Guy]

Also remember that if you simulate a spot color using 4-color process (CMYK) it will look different than the actual spot color. So, if you are spending the money anyway, you may want to get a spot-to-process book. This book will show you the spot color in the left column and its 4-color process simulation in the right.

 

[7on]

Here's some stuff

http://www.dickblick.com/vendors/pantone/

 

[Sparky's]

What the best way to find the spot color you want? Book, web...etc? I'm trying to find a good reference.

If you are using these colors for commercial offset printing then use the Pantone Matching System (PMS) colors as they are the most widely used and universally accepted (in the US anyway) by printers anywhere. If you are looking for colors for the web you should stick to the accepted "Indexed" colors which limits you to 256 colors (in .gif format) but to be viewed by almost any monitor around the world they can be held pretty close to the same everywhere. RGB colors have a much bigger gamut (color range) but can loose a great deal when translated to a color that can be printed. If you need to establish a specific color say for a logo or trademark or corporate symbol, it would be better to stick with PMS colors, as they can be translated to the web much easier.
I would start here: http://www.pantone.com/pantone_v1.asp

 

[robotrenegade]

Thanks for all the help.