Expert: Amy - 8/13/2007

Question
I am trying to print my logo I designed in Illustrator, but the color does not come out of the printer, as what I see on my monitor, not even close. My screen shows orange, but the print either comes out Gold, or a much different color orange.  And from a large print of colors it looks like it is printing spot color, I see designs in the printout.  I want a Pantone color, but not sure if that is the issue.  It prints the same color when I PDF it and print it.  I am lost..... HELP!!!!!!!

Answer
Hi Stacy,

Sorry this answer is so late.

When you are printing to a desktop printer of any kind (inkjet, laser printer) and if you are showing the proofs to the client who will freak out if the colors are off, you should probably be working with CMYK colors to print your proofs, not Pantone spot colors.  

If you must work with spot colors, you could switch your colors to the spots you want when you are done proofing and ready to send to the printer.

Try using the Pantone Solid to Process swatch libary (Swatches > Swatch Libraries > Color Books in vCS3) to choose your spot color and a CMYK mix will be used that is an approximation of the spot when mixed with CMYK inks. Mind you, the mix is for the printing press, but it will be much closer, even on an inkjet.

As usual, make sure that all the bells and whistles in your printer driver are turned off. No auto-contrast, no "photo mode" no "graphics mode" - those are trouble when printing proofs.

Need anymore help, let me know.
Amy