PMS and CMYK confused!!!

[TMo]

I have been given a list of 3 types of Corporat Red colours from a client. The first says "PMS Colour", the next says "Automated CMYK Breakdown" and the other says "Guidelines CMYK Breakdown". They are all slightly different reds.

If I am going to be printing in one colour, I presume that I need to chose the PMS colour as both the other REds have a mix of Magenta and Yellow. Am I correct in thinking this?

Thanks everyone

[PrintDriver]

Depends on what your output device is and to some extent what your media is.
I can't match CMYK values and I'm not set up to run a press gamut so if I plug in your CMYK values, it won't match what you're looking for. I can guarantee that. We'd want your PMS number even if you were using 4-color images.

Regular press printing you have a pretty good shot.

The reds may look different on your monitor but they may actually be balanced based on the printed stock used. If you print the PMS color out on a large vinyl banner, it may actually match the CMYK breakdown used on a glossy paper pamphlet.

[TMo]

I am still confused, and as I am a bit of a novice when it comes to print production and graphic design I am not 100% on top of the design terminology. Here is what happened.

I was asked to design and send to commercial printer a greetings card. I was asked to print in 2 colours. The client provided me with a sample sheet of paper with the 3 types of colours and small sample swatches of 3 different Reds and greys as mentioned earlier.

I used the PMS Red and the PMS Grey as I presumed that was what you used when you print in two colours.

The client has come back saying that the Red looks wrong, but I have cross checked with the colour page they sent me and it is identical to the PMS colour on the print out they originally gave me. Should I have used the "Guidelines Breakdown" instead, or would this mean the printing was done in 4 colour plates?

Thanks again

[PrintDriver]

If you are matching to PMS color, you match to a chip, not a printout, even if the client gave it to you. Most times what the client gives you is a standards description, not a match print.
Get a PMS book and check the red.
Did you get a proof from the printer who did the card?