OK, quick background story here and then as much input as possible would be great!! You know how you guys/gals design using RGB, HSB or CMYK colour profiles, and then send those off to the printer to pre-flight and RIP, and then plate and print. Well we get called all the time regarding the needs of supplying the spot colours as we are an ink maker and more times than not generally the proof produced along with the print when the press approval happens, well doesn't always match quite right. Why? 'cause it is designed in RBG/CMYK format and variables as whiteness of paper become a factor, lets face it, ever looked at 4 Pantone books, same colour number, same book format and noticed they all look different? It happens, so here is my actual question--->

Has anyone developed an accurate colour management system through design to press to print where proofs very accurately match print output (press), ink makers work in *L*a*b colour format where printers and designers work in RGB/CMYK so at times we talk a little different in the precise values of colour. Has anyone ever co-ordinated the RGB to L*a*b conversion for an ink maker or even vice a versa L*a*b to RGB? We use software to convert for the Printers when asked but I would like to develop a better system for matching designer needs to client acceptance which include Printer and ink maker.

Does design software provide *L*a*b colour spectrums or is it only RGB/HSB/CMYK? Curious to know how you all deal with it?