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 colour reproduction of the entire printer market.¹
According to Fogra, this proof printer is capable of reproducing over 99% of all PANTONE colours from the PANTONE Matching System.

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

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

 

Colour deviations when proofing spot colours

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

 

Proof hardware: The SureColour SC-P9000V is the printer with the most accurate colour reproduction of the entire printer market¹

• Epson TFP PrecisionCore print head and pigment inks with orange, green and violet as additional colours
• We print with 11 different pigment inks
• With the help of violet, UltraChrome HDX ink can produce a wide range of vivid colours as well as deep, rich blacks 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 blacks. 
• UltraChrome HDX inks developed for long durability. In particular, the weaknesses of the earlier HDR inks have been eliminated in the yellow range. 

Proof software: In our proof server, spot colours such as PANTONE and HKS are stored in a three-dimensional colour space.

We do not use CMYK alternatives for PANTONE or HKS; instead, we use precise 3D-mapped colour values that are stored directly in the proof server and utilise the full colour space of our 11-colour proof system. This allows us to reproduce HKS and PANTONE spot colours very precisely.

Brilliant HKS 43 K, fresh PANTONE 801 C? Excellently simulated.

Of course, there are limits when it comes to neon colours and silver or gold. No proof printer can currently do that. But our PANTONE and HKS proofs are often close to the original. And so many of our customers use them to check whether a PANTONE print is worth the investment, or whether a similar result can be achieved with Euroscale colours.

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

We proof on four papers. For ISOCoated V2 proofs, which simulate printing on coated art paper, we use a Fogra-certified 245 gsm gravure proof paper, which impresses with its high-quality feel and is designed for the highest colour spaces.
For ISOUncoated proofs, which simulate printing on natural paper, we use a matt 120 gsm proof paper that, with its natural paper texture, comes very close to uncoated papers in both appearance and feel.
In our proof server, different colours are defined for PANTONE C and U as well as HKS K and N.
You can therefore show your customer excellently how his 5-colour brochure with CMYK and HKS 43 would look on natural paper or coated art paper in both texture and colour, because he is holding not only different colours but also visibly and tangibly different papers in his hand.

For you as a designer, this is important:
For coated art paper proofs, please apply the correct PANTONE C ("PANTONE 201 C") or HKS K ("HKS 43 K") colour in your layout programme, or for natural paper proofs with PANTONE, the corresponding PANTONE U ("PANTONE 201 U") or HKS N ("HKS 43 N") colour field. Only this way will you achieve the best proof result.

Proofing HKS and PANTONE halftone areas
In our proofing software as of 2011, halftone areas of HKS and PANTONE are now significantly better reproducible than before.

Nevertheless, the following applies: Halftone areas, gradients or a greyscale image that has been tinted in a PANTONE colour may differ from the actual result.

What about PANTONE Plus and HKS 3000+?
Our proof server also has colour values stored for all modern HKS 3000+ and most PANTONE Plus colours from the current colour swatches; the new PANTONE Extended Gamut colours from 2016 can also be proofed. You are therefore welcome to send us proof data with the new HKS 3000 Plus and PANTONE Plus colours.
 

Further information and numerous image examples can be found on our proof.de blog:

• Can you proof HKS colours?
• Can you proof PANTONE colours?

 

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

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