Pantone / HKS Proof

• HKS: HKS K, HKS N, HKS Z
• PANTONE: PANTONE C, PANTONE U, PANTONE M, PANTONE TCX (Textile), PANTONE TPX, PANTONE DS, PANTONE Extended Gamut
• Toyo
• DIC

With the EPSON SureColor P9000V Spectro, we have the proofing system with the most precise color reproduction on the entire printer market.¹
According to Fogra, this proof printer is capable of reproducing over 99% of all Pantone colors in the Pantone Matching System.

Instead of the previously achievable 98% of all Pantone colors, the new proof printer can reproduce 99.94% of all Pantone colors. 
Andreas Kraushaar from Fogra demonstrated:

• Of measured 1729 color fields from ISOCoatedV2 and Pantone+ have
• 1700 a Delta-E 00 of less than ∆E1
• 1728 have a Delta-E 00 of less than ∆E 2.5 (PSD Level A)
• 1729, meaning all have a Delta-E 00 of less than < ∆E 3.5 (PSD Level B)
• Conclusion: 99.94 % coverage

 

Color deviations when proofing spot colors

Current proofing systems can reproduce spot colors such as HKS or Pantone very well. With Fiery XF 6.5.2 proofing software and the Epson SureColor-P9000V Spectro proof printer, we have evaluated the color deviation in Delta-E00 with which the various PANTONE and HKS colors can be proofed. A distinction is made between the proofing papers we use, as the surface texture and paper whiteness also influence the reproducibility of the colors.

 

Proof Hardware: The SureColor SC-P9000V is the printer with the most accurate color reproduction on the entire printer market¹

• Epson TFP PrecisionCore print head and pigment inks with orange, green and violet as additional colors
• We print with 11 different pigment inks
• With the aid of violet, UltraChrome HDX ink can produce a large palette of vibrant colors as well as deep, rich black tones and dense shadow areas
• The new Photo Black ink has up to 1.5 times higher pigment concentration compared to previous inks, which provides deeper black tones.
• UltraChrome HDX inks developed for long-term durability. The weaknesses of the earlier HDR inks have been eliminated, particularly in the yellow range.

Proof Software: Spot colors such as Pantone and HKS are stored in our proof server in a three-dimensional color space.

We do not use CMYK alternatives for Pantone or HKS, but rather use precise 3D mapped color values that are stored directly in the proof server and utilize the full color space of our 11-color proof system. This allows us to reproduce HKS and Pantone spot colors very precisely.

Luminous HKS 43 K, fresh Pantone 801 C? Excellently simulated.

Of course, there are limits with neon colors and silver or gold. Currently, no proof printer can do that. But our Pantone and HKS proofs often come close to the original. And so many of our customers check whether a Pantone print is worthwhile in terms of color, or whether a similar result can be achieved with
Euroscale colors.

Pantone Coated or Uncoated, HKS K or N: A big difference.

We proof on four papers. For ISOCoated V2 proofs, which simulate printing on art paper, we use a Fogra certified 245gsm gravure proof paper, which impresses with its high-quality feel and is designed for the highest color spaces.
For ISOUncoated proofs, which simulate printing on natural paper, we use a matte 120gsm proof paper, which with its natural paper texture comes very close to uncoated papers in appearance and feel.
In our proof server, different colors are defined for Pantone C and U or HKS K and N respectively.
You can thus excellently show your customer how their 5-color brochure with CMYK and HKS 43 would look on natural paper or art paper in terms of feel and color, because they are not only holding different colors in their hands, but also visibly and tangibly different papers.

For you as a designer, the following is important:
For art paper proofs, please apply the correct Pantone C ("Pantone 201 C") or HKS K ("HKS 43 K") color in your layout program, or for natural paper proofs with PANTONE, the corresponding Pantone U ("Pantone 201 U") or HKS N ("HKS 43 N") color swatch. This is the only way to achieve the best proofing result.

Proofing HKS and Pantone screen tints
In our proofing software as of 2011, screen tints of HKS and PANTONE are now significantly easier to display than before.

Nevertheless, the following applies: Screen tints, gradients, or a grayscale image tinted in a PANTONE color may differ from the actual result.

What about PANTONE Plus and HKS 3000+?
Our proof server also has color tones stored for all modern HKS 3000+ and most PANTONE Plus colors from the current color fans, and the new PANTONE Extended Gamut colors from 2016 can also be proofed. Therefore, you can gladly send us proof data with the new HKS 3000 Plus and Pantone Plus colors.
 

Further information and numerous image examples can be found on our Blog Proof.de:

• Can you proof HKS colors?
• Can you proof PANTONE colors?

 

¹ The SC-P9000V covers over 99 % of the Pantone palette. As of June 2015, it is the most accurate printer in the industry compared to other large-format inkjet printers and proofing systems with 10 or fewer colors.

The PANTONE® trademark is the property of Pantone LLC. Coverage of the PANTONE FORMULA GUIDE Solid Coated palette of 99 %, based on printing on Epson Proofing Paper White Semimatte, printed with an Epson printer driver at 2880 x 1440 dpi. PANTONE coverage may vary when using RIPs such as Fiery, etc.