ONYX Color Reference Library
The ONYX Color Reference Library represents a sampling of colors based on the ONYX Color
Naming System. We have provided a set of spot colors that can easily be used in graphics
applications like Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Photoshop by importing the ASE color library, or Corel
Draw by importing the XML color library. The included chart and booklet can be printed to create a
selection of consistent and repeatable colors for you and your clients to choose from.
Quick Start Guide
The ONYX Color Reference Library files are in the ONYX Samples folder included with your software
installation. There is an ASE file for integration with Adobe products and a printable chart and booklet
file.
Installing the ASE
• We have created an ASE color pallet for you to
use the ONYX colors in your everyday Adobe
design workflow.
• To install in Adobe Illustrator, go to the
Swatches panel and select Open Swatch Library
> Other Library.
• Navigate to the Samples Folder to open the ASE
file.
• The ONYX color swatches will now be available
in your Swatch Library.
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Installing the XML
• We have created an XML color pallet for you to use the ONYX colors in your everyday Corel design
workflow.
• To install in Corel Draw copy the “ONYX Color Reference [Link]” to the Color\Palettes\Spot
folder.
• The ONYX color swatches will then be a selectable color palette for use in Corel Draw.
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Using the Chart and Booklet
• The included ONYX Color Reference Library chart and booklet are available for you to print in-house
as tools to help with color management. Select your printer, media type, profile, and print your
swatches. This will provide color swatches that can be reliably reproduced every time.
• The chart can be printed and mounted to your shop and lobby wall to allow easy client color
matching and selection.
• The booklet is printable as either a whole sheet with registration marks and cut lines to cut
down into a portable color chart or printed as separate pages. A section for notes and print
specifications is located on the first page after the front cover.
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The ONYX Color Naming System
• The intuitive ONYX Color Naming System defines colors as triplets of Hue, Shade, and Chroma,
with grays represented only by Shade.
• These color designations are primarily invariant to differences in illuminant and observer.
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Specifying Hue
• There are 12 primary hues,
each having a 2-letter designation.
• Secondary hues between primary hues are
named with the combination of the primary
hue names.
• Intermediate hues represent steps (out of
10) from primary hue (specified first)
towards secondary hue (specified second).
Specifying Shade and Chroma
• The color gets darker as shade increases
o The Shade of 0 is white
o The Shade of 100 is black
• The color gets more colorful as chroma increases
o Chroma of 0 is achromatic
• Note: Generally, both shade and chroma increase as color saturation increases
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Understanding the ONYX Color Naming System key
• The top provides a key for color naming.
• Hues on left:
o The first row has primary and secondary hues.
o The second row has intermediate hues.
• Shade and Chroma on right:
o The first row demonstrates increasing shade
values for Mg hue.
o The second row demonstrates increasing
chroma values for the Mg hue.
• The patches are ordered by primary/secondary hues.
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• Swatch patches for a single hue.
o Most saturated colors, from
white to black, are placed first.
o Then followed by colors with
increasing shade and
decreasing chroma.
• The most saturated colors for intermediate hues follow the colors for primary and secondary
hues.
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• Grayscale and process colors
o The bottom colors provide grayscale and CMYK process colors.
Chart and Booklet Validation
• A print of the ONYX Color Reference Library chart and booklet provides a physical example of
how ONYX colors will be reproduced for a specific printer, media type, and profile. The
appearance of these colors may change when printed on other printers, medias, or different
profiles (print conditions) depending on the gamut of colors available.
• ONYX Color validation of a printed ONYX Color Reference Library chart or booklet is enabled
when both Spot Color Replacement is enabled and the ValidateOnyxSpots rip option is enabled.
Note: The ValidSpotAccuThresh (green label threshold) and ValidSpotSimThresh (blue label threshold)
rip configuration settings allow for the color difference thresholds for spot label validation to be
adjusted.
• Chart and booklet validation involves dynamically highlighting the labels under the color
patches with color codes that indicate how well each printed color matches the target
CIELAB measurements associated with its ONYX color designation. Instructional and
informational text in the documents also changes.
• Validation instruction, Rendering Intent used for validation, and Patch Validation status as
the label background color also show in in the ONYX Color Reference Library.
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Validation States
• Green labels are accurately reproduced.
• Blue labels are “close” simulations.
• Clear labels represent simulations of how the ONYX color is printed for the specific printer,
media type, and profile.
Comparing validation labeling between different printing conditions
• Label validation highlighting provides insights into how printed ONYX colors are likely to
compare visually when they are printed with different printers, media types, or profiles
(known as print conditions).
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Print Condition 1 Print Condition 2
• The following table provides guidance on the largest expected visual color difference of a
color with the same ONYX color designation printed using two separate print conditions
based on the label highlighting.
Green Label 1 Blue Label 1 Clear Label 1
Green
Colors match Slight color difference Colors are different
Label 2
Blue Slight to moderate
Slight color difference Colors are different
Label 2 color difference
Clear
Colors are different Colors are different Colors are different
Label 2
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