Reply To: Pantone Colours

The CMYK and RGB numbers from Pantone are without respect to color management and output intent–they are dumb (raw) numbers. If this color is going to be output as a spot color, it doesn’t matter what the color values are with the exception of on-screen representation because if you also designate this as a spot color, the Pantone spot plate will be properly included in the PDF.

But if this color will not be output as a spot color, I would use the LAB numbers (well, I would use them anyway), which are L=48.235, A=54, B=31. This way whether the job will be output as a screen PDF for viewing, PDF output for print using different output conditions, or output conditions that may change (print to digital, print to offset, print to offset in the USA and perhaps in Europe, etc.), then the LAB numbers will translate better to different conditions.