By Noel Jeffrey

By now, most creatives have heard that Pantone, recently acquired by X-Rite, debuted its new Goe System at the Graph Expo trade show last fall. The Goe System offers users 2,058 new colors in addition to the current 1,114 available in the established Pantone Matching System.

Even though it includes some of the Matching System colors, the new system is not a replacement system. The company calls Goe "the first completely new color inspiration and specification system for the graphic arts industry since the introduction of the Pantone Matching System 45 years ago."

The new colors in the Pantone Goe System are arranged in an intuitive, chromatic order for easy, precise, cross-media color selection and specification. The system includes the Pantone GoeGuide and GoeSticks, a two-volume set of adhesive-backed chips, along with intelligent software for creating color palettes that can be imported into applications and archived.

Getting Pieces In Place
There's no question that this is an exciting development. The new colors are stunning and sophisticated, and creatives will no doubt want to take advantage of this bonanza sooner rather than later.

What's important to remember is that technologies, even color specification systems, do not exist in a vacuum. They need to be compatible with other workflow tools, and this compatibility rarely exists when the new technology is introduced. 

Pantone certainly understands this. The company has been working with industry partners across the workflow to provide support for the new system - from software applications, RIPs, proofing systems and digital color output devices to a wide range of ink manufacturers.

Digital Press manufacturers Hewlett-Packard, NexPress Solutions LLC (Kodak), Punch Graphix International N.V. (Xeikon) and Xerox have already announced support. The list of RIP vendors is extensive and includes EFI.

In the page layout software space, Quark has announced that it will support the Goe colors in QuarkXPress 7. By now, a free download should be available on the Quark Web site. At this writing, Adobe does not have plans to add the Pantone Goe System to Creative Suite 3 applications; however, there is a free third-party download of a palette for coated gloss paper on the Adobe Web site. Goe color data can also be accessed from within Adobe Creative Suite through the Pantone 'MyPalette' software.

Pantone continues to add new industry partners to a growing list of supporters. For updates to the Pantone Goe System Partners list, visit www.pantone.com/goepartners.

Most important, if the output is print, be sure to check with your printers as to whether they have the bases to mix these new colors and whether their workflow components are ready to support Goe colors.

Avoid Disappointments
Understanding exactly what the Goe System is will also help designers get the colors they want. Goe is a spot color specifier, and all values are provided in the sRGB colorspace. That's important to remember because:

• Adobe RGB and sRGB are not the same.
• As yet, there is no process match system for the new colors. Pantone has said it may develop one if there is demand. Printers can help you achieve a process match but you'll have to test this with them.
• In cases where spot colors are used, proofing devices generally must simulate those colors using the capabilities of inkjet or toner-based printing systems that have color gamuts that differ from traditional printing presses.
• The final output may be a toner or inkjet digital printing device.

To address these needs which require color managed workflows, Pantone Goe uses industry standard L*a*b* color data. The company has also published an invaluable White Paper covering the Goe System. It's available as a free download from the www.pantone.com Web site.  It's a must read for anyone interested in the new system.

When making the Goe announcement, Richard Herbert, president of Pantone, Inc. said, "The original Pantone Matching system was designed to meet the needs of an industry that was functioning without a precise and reliable way to communicate color. The Pantone Goe System works in concert with the Pantone Matching system to empower everyone in the creative and production process with a simpler, more complete, user-friendly workflow from the moment of inspiration to the realization of a finished project. Just as the original system enabled the industry to step into its future, Pantone Goe will impel designers and printers to stay competitive and versatile in today's challenging and evolving marketplace."

The entire Goe system is available for $499.95 at www.pantone.com. System components are also available separately.

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This article is reprinted with permission from Blueline, the quarterly print buyers publication of the Printing Industries of Northern California (PINC).

4/2/08