pantone

Pantone is a reference standard for color communication used in design, printing, manufacturing, and branding. It is best known for the Pantone Matching System (PMS), a proprietary color space that assigns a unique number to each color. The PMS aims to ensure consistent color reproduction across materials, processes, and geographic locations by providing a common language for designers and printers.

The company began as a small color-card producer founded in the early 1960s. The Pantone Matching System was introduced in 1963 and quickly became the dominant standard for color matching in the printing industry. Over time, Pantone expanded its offerings to include additional color libraries, digital tools, and brand-specific color systems used by industries worldwide.

Pantone is a subsidiary of X-Rite, which is part of the Danaher Corporation. The organization provides swatch books, color guides, and digital libraries used in design software and manufacturing. It also publishes the annual Pantone Color of the Year, a forecasting selection that influences product development and marketing.

In practice, Pantone colors are used to communicate brand colors and ensure consistency across packaging, textiles, and digital media. However, PMS colors are ink- or substrate-dependent; converting Pantone colors to CMYK or RGB can yield different results depending on printers, papers, and finishes. Users should perform proofs to verify final appearance.