Pantone Matte vs. Uncoated in illustrator?

[dclink]

I know what coated vs. uncoated pantone settings are but should I choose 'matte' or uncoated when I select my colors?

[PrintDriver]

Depends on how and on what you are getting something printed.

PrintDriver is a large format digital print dude. His advice/opinions may not apply to the 4color/offset/web world of printing

[DeleteYourself]

Any 'Pantone' color can be replicated as a process color (CMYK). I personally just use pantone colors as a guide when choosing colors. It costs more to have your printer actually use a Pantone ink in addition to the basic colors they would be using anyway.

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[PrintDriver]

All I'm gonna say on the matter is don't spec Matte or Uncoated when you mean Solid Coated. Can't tell you how many files I get where people either grab the wrong swatch library or just send me their Uncoated collateral file for large format when we ONLY use coated colors. Or the worst is the ones who use whatever palette 'looks good on their monitor'.

If you want me to convert to print CMYK from 'any pantone color' - youse gets what youse gets.
But then V see below V

PrintDriver is a large format digital print dude. His advice/opinions may not apply to the 4color/offset/web world of printing

[DeleteYourself]

I've had good results in the past using Pantone colors as a guide for 4c printing. I use the solid-to-process swatchbook. But then again, the materials I design are never photo-intense, usually just vector graphics, so that colors don't suffer from being slightly off.

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[Prepressured]

sorry people, just sending my first reply and wanted to see if my avatar uploaded.

Please forgive me.

[PrintDriver]

Guess not.

PrintDriver is a large format digital print dude. His advice/opinions may not apply to the 4color/offset/web world of printing

[dclink]

I was really tired when I posted my question last night- Thank you for the responses. To give a bit more detail, I designed on Illustrator CS. As a 'spot' color won't I get better color than if I do it as process? There is a bit of detail to the logo and of course you wouldn't want to halftone your type, right? I will attempt to show you the image, if I can figure out how to add it. I am on Safari...

[Keyare]

It depends on how you get it printed.

If you are on a press which is going spot colour - the actual coated/uncoated choice doesn't matter at all - except to visually make your screen match what your printed piece will be. Your separations will be output as black anyway. It's up to the pressman to mix the correct colour. And yes, your detail will be much better than halftoning cmyk.

If you're printing in CMYK, but designing in Spot - you will probably get a bigger colour shift than if you design in CMYK. The detail will be halftones to attempt to match your spot colour - so, your right there.

If you are doing proofs from illustrator on an inkjet or a laser - selecting coated or uncoated will make your output differ slightly on the screen, but not on the printer because the CMYK tables that the printers use to match the pantones are identical.

[PrintDriver]

Ah, Key, you have shed some light onto the reasons WHY I get the color palettes I do. Most new large format designers I meet up with come from the print world you speak of. If color doesn't matter so much there (in a manner of speaking), no wonder it is hell to get them to understand that color and color space DOES matter in grand format digital. We just whine and fix it, just like you guys. LOL!

I think if Pantone comes up with anymore ideas for swatch books, I'm gonna need more than one shelf for em all. Love it when I get a textile spec. What can they come up with next? Ultra enamel gloss paint swatches? Textured swatches?

PrintDriver is a large format digital print dude. His advice/opinions may not apply to the 4color/offset/web world of printing

[PrintDriver]

Sorry, that was a rather broad statement. And a little off topic
Dclink, use the Post Reply button instead of quick reply.
There is an option there to upload an image. It has to be under 400k and in RGB.

PrintDriver is a large format digital print dude. His advice/opinions may not apply to the 4color/offset/web world of printing

I need a course on color management and I realize that the I don't give a !@#$ attitidute probably should go.

[Magnus]

Key's right. It will also depend on how many colours the job is. Spot colours work well unless it's already a 4 colour job, then as Key said it'll me a mix of CMYK as opposed to a special mix of ink.

"The function of a warrior is to eliminate an exterior enemy presence. A warrior is an antitoxin, a protector. The warrior does combat where and when necessary and not otherwise. "


- Ambrose Hollingworth Redmoon