Does Anyone Use Pantone Connect in their Zazzle Design Workflow?

[TAngelone]

I know that this is a long shot but... Does anyone use Pantone Connect (a plug in for Adobe Illustrator/Photoshop to access all past and present Pantone Color Books) in their Zazzle design workflow? Yes I am aware of the fact that Zazzle has stated that they have existing colour charts. I have used said colour charts to create CYMK colour palettes in Illustrator for my Zazzle designs. What I am confused about is how to use Pantone Connect within Illustrator to create CYMK colour palettes that can be uploaded to Zazzle and used on Zazzle products. What colour books with in Pantone Connect should one use to create palettes for Zazzle products. Finally I am also aware of the fact that Zazzle strictly forbids the usage of the Pantone name which is trademarked and is the intellectual property of Pantone in any product titles and descriptions. The reason I ask is because I pay almost $100.00 annually for the Pantone Connect extension and I am NOT even sure if I can even use it in my workflow. Sorry if this seems like a trite question. I have searched exhaustively on this topic and have nothing to go on. Thanks in advance for any input or suggestions. 

ATTN: PenguinPower - I saw a post where you mentioned using Pantone Uncoated books in your design workflow. Do you still use Pantone colors in your designs? Just curious. 

[PenguinPower]

Nope - they were only a guide for me really... to colors that would be mostly printable in CMYK. I wasn't truly using Pantones.. because Zazzle doesn't use spot color, just using that palette to narrow the choices in the first place. I've switched to one of the color books that is still available without subscription in Illustrator. 

[TAngelone]

Thanks for your response. If you don't mind me asking, what Pantone colour book do you use for reference? The coated or uncoated CYMK? Are you matching the Pantone CYMK codes with the Zazzle CYMK codes? Colour consistency and accuracy is vital as I am designing for apparel and accessories. As everyone knows Zazzle requires designers to upload their designs and solid colours in CYMK as opposed to RGB. How do we as artists and designers (I am both an artist and designer) ensure colour accuracy and consistency when using CYMK? Is that even possible? The whole premise behind using Pantone colour codes is to achieve colour consistency and accuracy across all textiles and textures. Meaning both soft and hard surfaces. It's frustrating to invest money in a tool like Pantone Connect only to find out that I can't use it in my design workflow. What is the point of having access to Pantone swatches one cannot even use? That stated, do we have to stick to the Zazzle colour charts? Meaning only use the CYMK codes provided by Zazzle? Again how are you using Pantone books for reference? Do you yourself use the Zazzle colour charts? Are the Zazzle colour charts the only way to achieve colour accuracy and consistency? Thanks again for any feedback or suggestions you can give. Sorry for the long winded questions. I will try to be more succinct going forward. 

[PenguinPower · Accepted solution]

Pantone colors are spot colors - the inks are custom mixed and each color is used exclusively in the printing process, when they are used - no mixing or screen patterns in print. If you are truly using the Pantone system you get a book of color chips so that you can see the output… The printer uses the corresponding ink that Pantone provides. The printing you will find here does not use spot colors, so using Pantones would only offer a way of narrowing your initial selections. The Pantone palette is still larger than traditional CMYK printing, so it’s possible to pick out of gamut colors from it. 

The Trumatch palette, that is included in Illustrator for free, does appear to be limited to in gamut CMYK colors.. I’d suggest you drop the Pantone subscription and use it instead. You can also simply check all of your color choices in the color picker. If you’ve picked something that will not print, an out of gamut warning will appear (a triangle with an exclamation point in it) and clicking on it will correct you choice to the nearest printable color. Be aware that you still are not guaranteed to get *exactly* what you see on your screen, as that would require it to be well calibrated to the printer being used.. but it will be close enough. 

[TAngelone]

Thanks for your response. I really appreciate it. I will drop the Pantone Connect extension and do what you suggested. Thanks again. I hope this will help others who are facing the same issues in their design workflow. 

[TAngelone]

And yes you are right when you say that one should have a physical tangible Pantone fan deck of swatches on hand. Unfortunately Pantone fan decks are very expensive and cost prohibitive. Again I thank you PenguinPower for your thorough and immediate response to my questions regarding the Pantone Connect extension and the usage of Pantone swatches. Again I will do what you suggested. And just in case anyone is wondering. Trumatch colors can be found under color books in Adobe Illustrator CC. 

[TAngelone]

I was lead to believe that one could upload and use Pantone swatches via the Pantone Connect extension for Illustrator and Photoshop in their Zazzle designs. That is not the case. I am posting this to help others make an informed choice about purchasing and using the Pantone Connect extension in Illustrator and Photoshop. It is $100.00 when paid upfront annually for access to all Pantone swatches. Contrary to what I was lead to believe one cannot just upload solid Pantone swatches or use Pantone colors in their designs and achieve colour accuracy and consistency. The way it was put to me is that Pantone colors are widely used and universal by most if not all POD companies. Zazzle does NOT have printers that recognise Pantone color codes. I was lead to believe that Zazzle as well as other POD companies do have printers that recognise Pantone color codes and will print accordingly. I was misinformed. I invite anyone with any experience with the Pantone Connect extension to add to this thread. Finally is anyone using the colour charts that Zazzle provides?