Reply To: How to convert Pantone color swatches to CMYK to make print-ready PDF?

Annette: Yes, I believe that Adobe switched over a couple of versions ago to using all Lab, whether or not that checkbox is turned on. I don’t have the official word on that, but it seems to be the case. So that checkbox is kind of like an appendix that doesn’t really mean anything anymore.

I feel your pain, but I don’t think there is any better workflow. The lab conversion tables are supplied by Pantone to Adobe. Adobe doesn’t make them up! If your RIP does it differently, then perhaps they are not using the official Pantone conversion tables.

Another possibility is that the CMYK values are being changed between InDesign and the RIP… this would be rare, but for example, if you export a PDF from InDesign (or print) with the Convert to Destination setting (instead of “Convert to Destination (Preserve Numbers)” which is what people should normally use), then the CMYK values in ID will change to something else… called “cross-rendering the CMYK.” I doubt that you’re doing that, but I figured I should mention it.