How To Find a Specific Pantone Color in Adobe illustrator

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To find a specific Pantone Color in Illustrator:

  1. Go to Window>Swatch Libraries> Color Books.window>swatch libraries>color books> pantone”></li><li>Select the Pantone Color book you need. There are several options including CMYK Coated, Uncoated and Metallic Pantones. This depends on the type of paper you are using or a specific ink you want.</li><li>In the Pantone Swatch panel, search the specific number of the Pantone Color you want to add. e.g “92-1” will bring you “Pantone P 92-1 C”.<img decoding=
  2. If you don’t find your color, try the other swatch color books from step 1.

How To Find and Add Pantone Colors in Photoshop

To apply a Pantone color to an object in Illustrator:

  1. Select the shape using the selection tool (V)
  2. In the toolbar, activate the Fill or Stroke box depending on where you want to apply the color.
  3. Select the desired Pantone color from the swatches panel or color book. Your shape should now have the fill or outline in that color.Select the desired Pantone color from the swatches panel

To apply a Pantone Color as a gradient in Illustrator:

  1. Select the shape using the Selection tool (v).
  2. Open up the gradient panel by going to Window>Gradient.Window>Gradient”></li><li>Drag a swatch from your Pantone Swatch Panel (window>swatch libraries>color book) to the gradient slider bar in the Gradient Panel. <img loading=
  3. Drag a second swatch the same way. Delete unwanted swatches in the slider by selecting them and using the trash icon (Delete Stop) on the right.delete gradient stop
  4. You can save your gradient to your swatches by clicking the drop-down arrow in the top left next to the square gradient preview and clicking the “add to swatches” icon.save your gradient to your swatches

How to convert CMYK swatches to Pantone in Adobe Illustrator

To convert CMYK swatches to Pantone in Adobe Illustrator:

  1. Select the shape or object with the CMYK fill or stroke color you want to convert.
  2. Go to Window>Swatches to open up the color swatches panel.
  3. Now go to Edit>Edit colors> Recolor Artwork…recolor artwork
  4. Click the Color Reduction Options Icon.Color Reduction Options
  5. Select “Limit to Library”.
  6. In the drop-down, choose Color books and the Pantone Library you want.limit to pantone library
  7. Click Ok, and Ok again in the Recolor Artwork window.
  8. Your CMYK color is now converted to Pantone and the swatch should appear on the Swatches Panel.pantone color in swatches panel

How to convert RGB to Pantone color in Adobe Illustrator

Converting RGB to Pantone is similar to the CMYK to Pantone process above.

To convert RGB to Pantone color in Adobe Illustrator:

  1. Select the shape or object with the RGB fill or stroke color you want to convert.
  2. Go to Window>Swatches to open up the color swatches panel.
  3. Now go to Edit>Edit colors> Recolor Artwork…
  4. Click the Color Reduction Options Icon.
  5. Select “Limit to Library”.
  6. In the drop-down, choose Color books and the Pantone Library you want.
  7. Click Ok, and Ok again in the Recolor Artwork window.
  8. Your RGB color is now converted to Pantone and the swatch should appear on the Swatches Panel.

Where and how to download Pantone color books for Adobe Illustrator

Adobe Illustrator contains 10 Pantone color books from The Pantone Plus Series®. You can find them by going to Window>Swatch Libraries>Color Books.

If the Pantone Color Book or swatch you want is not available or hasn’t been updated yet, Here’s how to download and add Pantone Color Books to Adobe Illustrator:

  1. Go to the Adobe Exchange marketplace and install Pantone Connect. You may need to Sign In to your Adobe Account.
  2. After it’s done installing, restart Adobe Illustrator.
  3. Go to Window> Extensions> Pantone.
  4. The Pantone extension allows you to search and find all available Pantone Colors and automatically keeps the Library updated.

Note that Pantone gives you an intro period where you can access the Pantone connect Library for free. after this period a subscription fee may apply, find more details at the bottom of the Installation page in the Adobe Exchange Marketplace.

What is PMS in color design

PMS stands for Pantone Matching System. It is a standardized color identification system that allocates a number and name to certain unique colors. The system was invented by chemist Lawrence Herbert who founded Pantone Inc. PMS, or Pantone color guides, are used by printers, manufacturers and designers all over the world.

Unlike CMYK which uses only 4 colors, Pantone uses over a dozen inks that can be mixed in different ratios to create over 10,000 standardized colors. The colors are given a name and number, for example “Illuminating” whose number is “13-0647 TCX” can be identified all over the world as a specific type of yellow. PMS is therefore a universal color language that helps printers, graphic designers and illustrators achieve color consistency in their projects.

The Pantone Colors of the Year for 2021

Pantone, through the Pantone Color Institute, sets the year’s color trend across the design world by announcing the Color of the Year. 2021’s color of the Year was “Ultimate Gray” and “Illuminating”.

Pantone has made its color guides available both through Print and digitally on multiple software. The Adobe suite of programs features Pantone Color books that integrate seamlessly with the digital tools and allow designers to work with the colors right on screen. See the guide above on how to find and apply Pantone colors in Adobe Illustrator.

You may also like to learn: How to clear recent files in illustrator

Any questions or feedback on Pantone colors and their use in Adobe programs? Reach me via the contact form on my About page. Thanks for the read!

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