A pantone color is a reference made to a system for identifying color. It is often referred to as the Pantone Matching System (or PMS). Each shade of color has a number assigned to it. For example, people might refer to Pantone Blue 072 C. Blue comes in many shades, but this designation specifies that they would be referring to the specific shade below.
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Pantone 449 - Considered to be the ugliest color in the world. |
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Pantone 292. Also known as Columbia Blue, named after Columbia University. |
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Pantone 072. Considered the
closest match to Reflex Blue.
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This standard developed in 1967 by Pantone Inc has become the world standard for the manufacturing and textile industry. Offset printers, artists and clothing designers now rely on this method of color identification.
Why Use Pantone colors?
Everyone sees color differently. By simply saying, "I want this object to be blue," does not communicate precisely enough. Additionally, brands need very precise colors to for consumers to recognize their product.
Offset printers at different printing plants, using different raw materials and printing conditions can match colors precisely with an established standard. Even while being printed, color can vary depending on press conditions. Pressmen can monitor the quality using the Pantone color guide.
Sometimes offset printers will match a color by combining CMYK on press. Others will add specific ink premixed to match the color. This will prevent variation on the printing press.
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| Matching pantone colors on an offset printing press. |
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How Pantone colors effect branding
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Pantone 484. Usually referred
to as "Coke red".
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Food distribution companies have changed the color of their label slightly, only to find that sales plummted. Consumers associate color with a brand. If the color has changed, they associate this with the product inside the packaging. The lesson? Packaging color MUST be consistent.
Studies have been done to determine how much difference matching a color will make with a brand. It has been found that the right color can increase sales by as much as 87%. Additionally, color can effect the consumer by communicating style and mood. Truly, matching by means of Pantone colors is effective!
Challenges to reproducing pantone colors
1. Printing presses will sometimes try to match Pantone colors by means of the CMYK process. Fluctuations in density and press conditions make this a challenge. A pressman must continually monitor this.
2. Offset printers use different raw materials. When a national brand hires multiple printing companies to produce a printed product, the variation in materials can present a challenge. Different substrates are used with inks formulated by differing raw materials. A pantone color guide helps reduce this challenge.
3. Some colors are harder to reproduce. The Pantone color guide includes pigments that don't react so well in a printing press. Some do not balance well or rub off easily - colors like relex blue.
4. Some printers do not have the ability to reproduce Pantone colors effectively. The most effective way to get consistency in printing Pantone colors is to have an ink mixed in advance. This requires additional printing equipment to run the extra color.
Pantone color guides
The final standard is established by the company Pantone Inc. Buying an original from the company is the only way to ensure the Pantone colors are true and legitimate. Pantone Inc sells through various sources including Amazon. Here is a link to their latest color guide.
A pantone color guide should be replaced every 6 months. The reason is that the color will fade and yellow over time.
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| Pantone color guide. |
The pantone color of the year
Every year, the company chooses a color that is considered the Pantone Color of the Year. In the year 2020, the color PANTONE 19-4052 was chosen. Depending on world events and conditions a new color is chosen every year.
Conclusion
A pantone color is a simply a number to effectively communicate color within the printing and textile industry. It enables these industries to effectively match color across a wide range of variables.
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