Pantone Colours in Vectorworks and InDesign

[quandong]

I have been collaborating on a project where the graphic designer is using InDesign (CYMK environment). Some of my diagrams were placed in InDesign. Despite using the same PMS number our colours did not match. The result was a fair bit of 'tooing an frowing' with the Printer. All this costs.

I'm looking to avoid this problem in future. I'd like to clarify:

1 Are Vectorworks PDFs in RGB? (there doesn't seem to be any way to choose either CYMK or RGB when exporting to PDF)

2. Which Pantone lists does Vectorworks use? The Printer tells me that Pantone changed their lists a few years ago. For example, we wanted to use Pantone 5757C.

Pantone 5757C in InDesign CS5 is C=27%, Y= 0%, M=95%, K=55%

In Vectorworks equivalent values for Pantone 5757C are given as 0.024,0.00,0.278,0.561. The Printer tells me these convert to percentages viz: C=2.4%, Y=0%, M=27.8%, K=56.1%. Definitely not the same colour even allowing for different paper!

I use a PC.

Am I doing something wrong? Is there a way to work around this please? If the PDFs from Vectorworks are RGB wouldn't this have implications for printing generally and being able to show the client reasonably accurate colours?

[Olivia]

Did you find a solution for this? I have the same problem with Adobe Illustrator - the CMYK values give different colours in Vectorworks than in Illustrator and I can't think of a way round it at the moment, other than guesswork!

Edited September 7, 2011 by Olivia

[Miguel Barrera]

I checked Pantone 5757C from two sources and the RGB values are

R = 106

G = 112

B = 41

and these values are the same given in Vectorworks.

And the equivalent calculated CMYK color is

C = 5.35%

M = 0.00% (I believe you have M & Y switched)

Y = 63.39%

K = 56.08%

which I verified with a color converter at

CMYK - RYB color converter

[Kizza]

What you need is a solid to process colour guide (Colour Bridge).

This will show the Pantone colour on one side of the column and the process colour (CMYK) on the other side of the column. In some instances the colour differences can be quite vast because of the limitation of the CMYK colour gamut.

I also would be interested to know what colour space (CMYK or RGB)VW operates in. Most designers would work in the CMYK colour space for print - provide them with your diagrams from VW and it could result in colour shift if the VW colour space is not correctly interpreted by the designers's software.

http://au.pantone.com/pages/products/product.aspx?pid=1000&ca=1

[megan walker]

I'm still interested in understanding more about colour profiles in VW... is it exporting PDFs in RGB or CYMK? Is there a way to set profiles?