Have you ever purchased paint from a local hardware store? You may have noticed the vast selection of color swatches to choose from. Once you’ve decided on a color, you can simply provide the swatch to the salesperson who will then mix the paint for you. This system is both efficient and convenient for both buyers and sellers.
Pantone colors use a similar system. However, the difference is that their system is on a much bigger scale.
Pantone colors have become increasingly popular across various industries. From apparel companies to interior decorators, architects, industrial designers, printers, and graphic designers, the Pantone color system is widely utilized. Essentially, Pantone is a universal language of color.
In this post, I would like to discuss:
Let’s learn it together!
What are Pantone colors?
When discussing Pantone colors, the topic is usually centered around the Pantone Matching System. This system is widely used in various industries as a standard color system, enabling them to precisely specify and maintain consistent colors for their products and brand.
Did you know that Pantone has an interesting history? Back in the 1950s, it started off as a commercial printing company. The founder, Lawrence Herbert, was actually just a part-time employee at the time. However, he used his chemistry knowledge to create a streamlined color guide. This innovation helped the ink and printing division become more profitable, and eventually, he bought the company and renamed it “Pantone” in 1962. One year later, in 1963, the first Pantone Matching System was introduced.
What is the Pantone Matching System?
Have you seen a color book like this?
Here’s the Pantone Matching System book. It’s a substantial and weighty tome, containing thousands of hues. Each page features a range of shades for a specific color. Every swatch is labeled with a unique code, known as a PMS number, allowing you to precisely specify and reference colors.
The Pantone Matching System utilizes spot color to provide accurate and specific colors for your product, something that the traditional CMYK method cannot achieve.
If you are interested in learning about spot color and process (CMYK) color, visit this blog— Spot Colors vs. Process Color: Why does it matter?
How are they used?
The Pantone Color Matching System is widely used in the printing and manufacturing industries. It allows individuals working on a project to refer to the same color via PMS numbers, regardless of their location. This system enables designers, ink makers, manufacturers, and clients to ensure that the color being used is consistent from sample to final product, without needing to communicate directly with each other.
Pantone Color Of The Year
Every year, Pantone unveils a signature color that captures the essence of the times. For 2025, the spotlight is on Mocha Mousse—a rich, warm hue that perfectly embodies the year’s spirit. Curious to learn more about this captivating color? Dive into our blog post: Unveiling Mocha Mousse: The Pantone Color of the Year for 2025!
What should I do if I don’t know my Pantone color?
If you’re looking to get your hands on a Pantone Matching System book, you should know that it can be quite expensive – costing a couple of hundred dollars or more. Unless you plan on using it frequently, it may not be worth the investment. Instead, consider asking your printer if they have one available. They can match a color sample for you if they do.
If you have a color in CMYK or Hex color code, there are websites available that can assist you in converting the value into a corresponding Pantone color value.
- Code Beauty RGB to Pantone Converter
- Code Beauty Hex color to Pantone Converter
- Coder’s tool CMYK to Pantone Converter
- DNS Checker CMYK to Pantone Converter
Would you happen to know what Hex color code is? Visit the blog post below!
Learn the Essentials of Hex Color Codes: Important Fundamentals Unveiled.
You can also download an app called Pantone Connect from Pantone.com. It offers a range of benefits for designers and creatives, including accurate color matching, efficient workflow integration, inspiration, and collaboration capabilities. However, it is quite expensive and you have to learn how to use it.
Wrapping up
I hope that you now have a deeper understanding of Pantone colors and their practical applications. These colors are essential in the printing and manufacturing industries as they allow you to accurately replicate colors in production processes and communicate effectively about color. If you are ever asked for the PMS number by your printer, you should now be equipped to respond accordingly.
If you found this post helpful, please let me know. Thank you.
