Blue Tomato Graphics :: Tips & tricks

What is the Pantone® Color Matching System?

The Pantone® Matching System (or PMS) is the most widely recognized color recognition system in the world. It serves as a sort of "language" for the various service providers within the design industry. Though most commonly thought of in relation to the graphic design and print industries, Pantone is also widely used in textiles and plastics. From designer to manufacturer to client, the Pantone® Matching System provides a means for everyone involved to reference a common color library. This single point of reference ensures that at all levels of the creative process, consistency and accuracy of color is maintained.

Graphic designers make use of the Pantone® Matching System as they determine which colors to incorporate into their clients’ projects. The formula guide consists of three components: solid colors on uncoated stock, solid colors on coated stocks, and a corresponding process (CMYK) color ink formula for each.

Uncoated and coated chips display a single ink color. Uncoated chips represent what the color would look like when printed on an uncoated stock. Coated chips represent the color on a stock coated with a varnish or gloss surface. This is important to specify, as the printed ink will absorb differently into the two surfaces. A non-coated surface will cause the ink to appear flat, while a coated stock will give a much deeper and rich appearance. Designers make use of both varieties to give certain effects to the printed piece. Also available are book sets containing perforated swatch chips, which may be removed for sending with a job for printer reference.

The process (CMYK) ink formula guide corresponds to the solid ink colors noted above. This offers an alternative to solid color printing, using the CMYK method of printing. Rather than a single ink color, CMYK uses four ink colors in combination. These inks (cyan, magenta, yellow, black) are translucent, and when laid on top of each other in varying amounts, approximate the desired Pantone color.

Whatever method is used, the Pantone® Matching System helps make sure that the color in the final design piece is what the printer, the designer, and most importantly the client – expects to see.