Pantone Inks

PANTONE originated in 1963 with the PANTONE Matching System (PMS) which started with more than 500 colors. Today, the PMS offers 9,758 total colors and PANTONE has expanded to include the PANTONE Fashion, Home + Interiors (FHI) System which offers 3,049 total colors. As a universal system to communicate accurate colors between industry products and people, PANTONE colors can be used or referenced by everyone from professionals in their work to clients trying to relay their goals.

PANTONE Process Color System Guide bookhttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pantone_hg.jpg#filelinks

PANTONE Inks provides a standardization for designers to reference when choosing colors that function cross platform. Regular CMYK printing and RBG screen displays depict colors with the same HEX code differently depending on numerous factors including quality and brightness. This issue causes color output to fluctuate across digital and print forms. PANTONE inks fix this problem by ensuring consistent application of color across all forms of media.

Each PANTONE color is given a unique name and number to catalogue its individual ink formula. PANTONE has two color systems for different needs, the PANTONE Matching System (PMS) and the PANTONE Fashion, Home + Interiors (FHI) System.

Color consistency across platforms is especially important for companies when carrying out brand campaigns. Many large brands such as Tiffany & Co. (1837 Blue) have copyrighted PANTONE colors that only their brand can use.

In publishing, depending on production costs, PANTONE colors are typically used for two-color publications while four color books use CMYK. CMYK printing uses process colors meaning the ink is applied by the machine in specific but often inconsistent ratios in the printing process. PANTONE inks, however, are spot colors meaning they are premixed custom solid inks.