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PMS Color?
The marketing department has just dictated our new brand standard colors using PMS. However, since HTML, Java, etc. all work on RGB, I need a converter. I've sent a request to marketing, but sometimes they don't answer us tech guys. Figured I might have better luck here.
Anyone know of a PMS to RGB converter? Google wasn't helpful, though I have more understanding why they like PMS now.
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Here's a good quote: "RGB produces vivid colors that look fabulous on-screen, but are difficult to reproduce in other color models. When converted to CMYK, many RGB colors look muddy and dull, and many have no Pantone (PMS) equivalent at all." Also, "PMS colors can be 'screened,' printed as a lighter value of the color, in effect creating many colors from a single ink with no extra cost. " Finally, PMS has multiple (at least 4) different pallettes which correspond to different paper types and printing media.
In other words, there is not really a 1 to 1 correlation between PMS color indexes and RGB colors. This means that if you try to convert from PMS to RGB, do some editing, then convert back to PMS, there is a chance that the color scheme will not be exactly the same.
That said, there are a few methods to convert to RGB. One is to use PhotoShop - an expensive endeavor that definitely isn't automated.
Another option could be to download http://www.runrev.com/revolution/dow...eToRGB.rev.zip and install Revolution http://www.runrev.com/Revolution1/downloads.html to view it. Apparrently, the file has conversion data in it. I looked at the pantonetorgb.rev file with a regular text editor and it seems to have some conversion data, but I couldn't make it out for sure.
Probably the best alternative would be to view http://www.gigablast.com/get?q=%2Bur...d=123875950720
which has the color chart. However, using this chart in commercial software is probably not legal due to the fact that Pantone is a proprietary color format that requires a license to use. If you already have this license, you have nothing to worry about.
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i was a little hesitant to open this thread.
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Yes, it is a horribly chosen acronym. I worked with a company once that used the same acronym, and references to it invoked the same undesirable attitude.
But, perhaps it is a good thing, as it might keep a few people from using the PMS color scheme and its proprietary format.
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Thanks Racer^. That last link will work perfectly.
This PMS stuff looks great when you're doing printing, but if I just want to make the text the right color and font in my GUI, it doesn't do me any good. That huge list of hex values is great.