1. Duplicate PMS Names

On spot color jobs, multiple Pantone names used for the same color can result in the output of extra plates and additional charges to you. Example: PMS 300 C and PMS 300 U used in the same file generates two plates. Use one or the other, not both. Try printing separations from your file to check for duplicates.

2. Spot Color Names

For spot color jobs, use PANTONE PMS colors only. Avoid spot color names like "Red" or "Color 1" and "Color 2." Using Pantone colors helps us identify the ink color you wish to use. PANTONE 485 C tells us you want to use Pantone's PMS 485 ink on coated paper.

3. Duotone PMS Color Names ≠ File PMS Color Names

An example of this is placing a duotone created in Photoshop with a Pantone name containing "C," such as PANTONE 5425 C, into an InDesign or QuarkXPress file that already contains PANTONE 5425 U. It's easy to use both colors from such a palette without noticing it, and then end up with extra charges for added plates.

4. CMYK and/or RGB Colors or Images used in Spot Color Jobs

You cannot use CMYK or RGB images, or elements, in spot color jobs. They separate into multiple colors that have nothing to do with the PMS inks intended for your printout. Clear your palette of anything but Black and your chosen Pantone colors, and use only monotones, duotones or tritones with PMS colors. Hover here to see a visual example if PMS vs CMYK color.

5. Spot Colors used with Adobe Effects

Some special effects do not work in combination with spot colors. If your job is printing in full color anyway, you can convert any spot colors to CMYK to avoid problems such as missing drop shadows, etc. The "Warning" you sometimes get regarding spot colors when saving files applies here.

6. Overprint Issues

The most common problem we encounter with overprinting is white type set to overprint on color backgrounds. It basically disappears. The same effect can be seen by applying the Multiply effect to white type over a color background. Check your Attributes window in most programs to see if the Fill or Stroke is set to overprint. Some programs like InDesign and Illustrator let you preview overprinting. When in doubt, check it out.

7. Gradient Issues

Gradients covering large areas with minimal % changes can result in banding. Color-to-Black gradients work better if you add the same color values to process black on the other end. Spot-to-Spot blends work best if you create 2 different Spot-to-White gradients and position one to overprint on top of the other.