Pantone Color Systems -- For Graphic Design

Pantone Color Systems – For Graphic Design

IF YOU WORK IN PRINT, PACKAGING, OR DIGITAL DESIGN, YOU’RE IN THE RIGHT PLACE!

AN ARRAY OF COLOR OPTIONS IN SOLID AND PROCESS

You’ve probably heard the word PMS, which stands for the Pantone Matching System, a proprietary numbering system for colors used in graphic design. Did you know the Pantone Matching System includes both solid and process colors?

Solid color versus process color

 

  • Solid colors  (sometimes call spot colors) are the truest representation of color intent in graphic arts. Solid color printing, also known as spot printing or offset printing, is the process by which a single color is formulated and then applied through print.

  • Process colors  utilize a limited number of inks, such as cyan, magenta, yellow and black (CMYK), applied in different ratios to create a variety of colors. Process colors are generally used when color accuracy or range is less critical.

 

WE HAVE 3,026 SOLID COLORS, AVAILABLE IN THE FOLLOWING FORMATS:

WE HAVE 6,732 PROCESS COLORS, AVAILABLE IN THE FOLLOWING FORMATS:

TOP SELLING GRAPHICS PRODUCTS

  1. Formula Guide | Coated & Uncoated

    FORMULA GUIDE | COATED & UNCOATED

    Visualize and communicate color for graphics and print

  2. Color Bridge Guide Set | Coated & Uncoated

    COLOR BRIDGE GUIDE SET | COATED & UNCOATED

    Translate Pantone Colors into CMYK, HTML, and RGB

  3. Solid Chips | Coated & Uncoated

    SOLID CHIPS | COATED & UNCOATED

    Shareable, versatile color for graphics and print

  4. Portable Guide Studio

    PORTABLE GUIDE STUDIO

    Comprehensive and convenient color for graphics and print


DIGITAL SOLUTIONS FOR GRAPHICS

Pantone Connect

YOUR PANTONE COLORS, EVERYWHERE.

Pantone Connect is a platform that provides designers with access to digital Pantone Colors and helpful color features across mobile, web, and design applications in Adobe® Creative Cloud®.


Pantone Connect helps designers to streamline their color selection, color communication, and design process to improve accuracy and reduce time time/rework. This includes matching physical color samples to Pantone Colors, creating and arranging palettes for design projects, and applying Pantone colors to design files.

LEARN MORE


FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS


1: HOW DOES PANTONE CHOOSE THE PAPER FOR THE GUIDES?

We print our colors on the most commonly used, globally available paper stocks. Our coated guide is #1 grade 100lb gloss text stock (148 g/m2) and the uncoated guide is premium grade 80lb text stock (118 g/m2).



2: WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN COATED (C) AND UNCOATED (U)?

PMS colors marked with a C mean that the color is printed on coated paper for a glossy finish, as you would see in a magazine. This is desirable for sharp and complex designs, as the ink stays on top of the paper, preventing bleeding. Likewise, a U indicates uncoated paper, which has a more porous finish, common on letterhead. Uncoated paper is generally more absorbent of ink than coated, reducing sharpness.



3: WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SPOT PRINTING AND PROCESS PRINTING?

Understanding the difference between spot and process is incredibly important in setting color expectations from design intention to production and when transitioning from a computer screen to the printing press. Solid color printing, also known as spot or offset, uses ink mixed to a precise formulation, resulting in more precise colors and allowing for bold, vibrant colors.


Alternatively, process printing is a method of printing colors using Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black (CMYK). In Extended Gamut printing, another form of process printing, Orange, Green, and Violet are added to the CMYK process to expand the color range.



4: WHY SHOULD YOU UPDATE YOUR PANTONE GUIDES & BOOKS?

Handling, light, humidity, and paper aging will cause colors to become inaccurate and you could be missing the latest market and trend driven colors. How many colors are you missing? Learn more here .



5: WHICH GUIDE IS RIGHT FOR ME?

Which Pantone Graphics guide is right for me?