Spot Color Workflow in Printing: LAB vs CMYK Explained

Input Color Space: LAB vs. CMYK

If you’re doing your own product design in-house, the first fork in the road is how you want to define your spot color values.

This choice will impact several things downstream – and in the future.    

While it may seem logical to design with CMYK spot colors, we would recommend using a LAB color system for your spot color library.    

It will provide more flexibility over time and prove easier to manage changes in your shop.  

You’ve probably heard of Pantone, as it is a common color system that’s widely utilized throughout the digital print world.  

Pantone is a color system that’s defined in LAB. It serves as a reference model for designers and print shops alike.  Ultimately, it is a system for standardizing expectations and results.

A graphic designer can create a file using those colors and send it to any print shop with a high level of confidence that the printed result will reflect the design intent.

But this is the secret to any LAB color library:  a system that allows graphic design know what to expect and allows print shops to reproduce that color in the real world.

If you’re running a print shop with multiple printers or multiple product types,  this is an important consideration.  

A single reference point on the input side (color in LAB) can be translated into a system-specific result on the output side (color in CMYK).

In short,  LAB color is the way to go!   As a brief aside, Ergosoft also offers a color system – Ergosoft Color Guide --  which is serves the same purpose with greater flexibility.

Ergosoft Color Guide is fully customizable,  which means that you can apply your own color names,  change the input values, add/remove colors, and – most importantly --  share the library freely.    

You can even re-name the whole library to include your business name instead of Ergosoft. It is entirely open source and not restricted by any license protection.

More on this later….    

Ultimately, the reason for a LAB library is simple.

There is a single reference point for each spot color.  

This means your art file - now and in the future – only needs to reference that color name or LAB value; and it will be valid for any combination of variables downstream.

If you can avoid time-consuming changes to your design colors and art files, you will be able to operate more efficiently and flexibly.  

OK… so now we understand that a LAB color library will let us streamline the input side,  how do we manage things on the output side?  

In short, Ergosoft is designed to manage each printing system’s color-impacting variables independently, using a ‘Print Environment’.

Getting from LAB to CMYK

Whether you’re using spot colors or not, Ergosoft uses a Print Environment to capture all your print variables as a quick reference.  

This is where your linearization, ICC profile,  pass count,  resolution,  ink configuration,  and other settings are stored.  

The Print Environment is where the translation from a LAB spot color into a CMYK value is stored.  More specifically, its stored in the Named Color Library.  

This is where the magic happens, because this initial translation will take all of the other color-impacting variables into account.  

Perhaps you have several different fabric types, with varying white points or different surface textures.  

You can have a unique Print Environment to account for these color-impacting variables.  

Each Print Environment will have a slightly different CMYK output recipe for the same LAB input.  

In Ergosoft, your ‘master’ color library (LAB) resides in the Swatchbooks module,  and the CMYK equivalent resides in ‘Named Colors.’    

Once you have this initial translation created in your Named Colors Library, you can make adjustments as needed.  

Yes, it will require some degree of effort to map everything out initially.  

But once you have everything set up, it no longer requires time and attention.  

You will be able to manage one color library in your design software and one source file for your art work. The precise CMYK value that Ergosoft applies to the input color will be determined by the Named Color Library associated with the Print Environment selected for that job.    

Even if you’re only using a single make/model printer now,  you will probably encounter the need to translate your spot colors into a different output space in the future.    

So having a universal reference for your art work will make life easier over time.  

Finally,  the biggest time-saver of all…   Automatic Spot Color Replacement

Automatic Spot Color Replacement

Once you have a Named Color Library established,  you will be able to realize the full potential of this workflow.  

Any time you import a design file with the LAB value or color name, Ergosoft will automatically apply the approved CMYK recipe.   It is a touch-free process.

Process Summary

If you’re looking at the process for the first time, it can certainly seem daunting.  However, Ergosoft offers a wide range of tools to make each step of the process more efficient and accurate.  

Create a Print Environment:  This will define and capture all the variables of your printing system,  and point to a specific printer in your shop.  

It will be easily selectable as an item in a drop-down menu, allowing you to quickly toggle between different options for flexible production.  

Initial Calibration: A density linearization will establish a smooth transition from 0 to 100% of each ink channel.  

It will also establish a new limit for 100%, which will allow you to save ink and not sacrifice color.  

In ES-2025, we’ve introduced a Light Scattering algorithm as an optional row in the linearization chart.  

This helps Ergosoft to characterize the behavior of mixed inks on the substrate, which is especially helpful for fabric.    

Profile Creation:   An ICC profile is required to map out the initial color translations from LAB to CMYK (or CMYK+)  

Ergosoft has an “Easy Profiling” option,  which dramatically reduces the time and complexity of making a profile.    

Note:  You can save a significant amount of time and reduce process complexity with Light Scattering and Easy Profiling. These options allow you to efficiently create a solid profile for the purpose of initial spot color translation.  

Choose your Swatchbook:  Select one of the available LAB color libraries that are available in Ergosoft.  If you select Ergosoft Color Guide, you can customize the color names to reflect your brand.

Import your Swatchbook into Named Colors: This is where Ergosoft will perform the initial translation of the LAB colors into CMYK.  

If you’re using an expanded ink set, then you’ve already profiled those colors and Ergosoft will use the additional channels in the initial translation.    

Fine Tune and Adjust: Using the Print Similar Colors tool,  you can print out a color map of variations with the corresponding ink formula under each color swatch.  

If you need to adjust,  simply type in the new ink formula and it will be automatically saved.    

Start Printing:  Once your Named Colors Library has been created, Ergosoft will automatically apply the correct recipe for that color.  It will be detected in the design file without any user intervention.    

Maintain Calibration Over Time:  We recommend that you periodically re-linearize or re-calibrate your printing system over time, in order to ensure that your color values do not drift out of tolerance.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is LAB color in printing?

LAB is a device-independent color space that defines colors based on human vision. It allows designers to use a single reference point for spot colors, which can then be translated into the correct CMYK output for each printer and substrate.

Why is LAB better than CMYK for spot colors?

LAB provides a universal reference, while CMYK values vary by printer, ink set, and substrate. Using LAB ensures long-term consistency and flexibility when designs need to be reproduced across different systems.

What is a Print Environment in Ergosoft?

A Print Environment stores all the variables of a specific printer setup — such as linearization, ICC profile, resolution, and ink configuration. It’s also where the translation from LAB spot colors to CMYK recipes is managed.

How does Automatic Spot Color Replacement work?

Once you’ve created a Named Color Library, Ergosoft automatically detects LAB spot colors in your design file and applies the approved CMYK recipe. No manual intervention is needed, ensuring consistent and efficient results.