The Whitley Printing Company

Naturally, color accuracy and consistency are critical. The PANTONE® Matching System (PMS) was first created in the 1960s as a standardized way to ensure consistent color reproduction, without regard to the equipment used. It has since become a nearly universal-standard for printers.

PANTONE® colors are arranged in a variety of PMS Color Guides. Different paper stocks are used in the guides because ink reacts differently depending on the paper surface. Designers choose a color and specify whether the color was chosen to print on coated (C), uncoated (U) or matte (M) stock. The printer then uses a standardized formula and special mixing inks to create the ink to match.

Many (but not all) PMS colors can also be created using a standard CMYK four-color printing process, which combines cyan, magenta, yellow, and black inks to reproduce colors. Spot colors are PMS colors that can’t be recreated through the CMYK process, and must be added as a separate step (but often in the same press run on five- or six-color presses).

Some PANTONE® colors, such as metallic and fluorescent inks, must be purchased premixed. If you use a particular PMS color regularly (i.e., for corporate logos or branding) you may also suggest that your printer purchase it premixed for consistency. Keep in mind it may take two to three days for your printer to receive premixed ink.

Learn more at PANTONE.com