Update: After this post, PANTONE has made a new installer, addressing the issues. This post talks about the situation before the update in July. You can get the install files to Creative Suite at http://www.pantone.com/pages/Pantone/Pantone.aspx?pg=20721&ca=1 and to QuarkXPress at http://www.pantone.com/pages/Pantone/Pantone.aspx?pg=20727&ca=1 In addition to that you can read the PDF “PANTONE PLUS for Design and Production” for a guide on how to use the isntalled color libraries. Thanks to Doug, for the update.

PANTONE colors, where art thou? I was asked a question in the forums about the lack of a specific color (PANTONE color 7692 U) in the forums. I started to look in InDesign, where the question was posted, but no avail. Same result in the other programs in Adobe Creative Suite. A quick look at PANTONE color finder proved that the color was there alright. But then, why do newer versions of Adobe InDesign and other not have the current colors in their color book.

After trawling for info in forums, I found that there where a update called PANTONE® PLUS Digital Libraries for Adobe which should update the Creative Suite software to contain the newest swatches. I tried to update via the installers, but it didn’t make any of the files show up in the programs – It looks like it stopped somewhere around CS3. As a result, I ended up extracting all the files manually, organizing them into folders, and them copied the to the respective preset-folders. Can anyone enlighten me: Why isn’t these files part of the standard updates? PANTONE colors is relative important as a reference color library for many offline designers and print providers.

I collected all the files in a all the files so you can do the update manually. Instructions on where to put them as well as the original tech-note is also included.

I hope that this will close the gap until an official release is given from PANTONE or Adobe. Please, comment any feedback on errors so the files can be updated if needed.

Link to zip-archive (Updated to v1.1.1 date: 11/10/11)

UPDATE v1.1: I have updated the files, so they also contains colors for QuarkXpress – taken from http://www.pantone.com/pages/Pantone/Pantone.aspx?pg=20727. I do not have Quark myself, but believe that they should be placed in a folder called Color inside the app-folder

UPDATE v1.1.1: I have placed all nine aco-files in the Adobe Photoshop folder, and removed the acb-files.

Enjoy!