Always thought spot color matching was overrated until last Friday

I had a client approve a bright orange logo on screen, then the print came out looking like a faded pumpkin patch. Turned out their file was RGB and my rip just guessed at the conversion without a Pantone reference. Has anyone else had a proof look perfect but the press run turn into a totally different shade?

2 comments

2 Comments

ben_shah934d ago

Is it really that big of a deal though? Like yeah colors shift sometimes, but a little fade on an orange isn't going to ruin anyone's life. The client probably wouldn't even notice if you didn't point it out. Most people just glance at a print and move on. I've seen bigger screw ups get praised because nobody actually compared the proof to the final.

noah_black4d ago

Faded pumpkin patch" is my new favorite description for a bad print. My first big screw up was a deep navy blue that came out looking like a bruised banana. I had the client sign off on a screen proof and everything. Turns out their monitor was set to some crazy high brightness and they said it looked fine. My press guy still brings it up every time I order Pantone swatches. Now I just hold the physical swatch book up to the monitor and say "this one or the one next to it?