Translated from: 察顏觀色 (下)
Yes, color-bind and not -blind this time.
Do you still remember what happened in our last blog column? That Tiny Inc. got all the business brochure printed in wrong colors? This color mismatch was a result from the uses of different visualizing tools, either paper print or digital screen.
Now, I assume you must be as eager as I am to find out how to avoid such an embarrassing mistake. If that’s exactly the case, then you must take this read on Pantone Matching System (PMS).
What is the Pantone Matching System (PMS)?
Pantone Matching System is a patented universal color language first created by Pantone, a printing company based in New Jersey, USA. Pantone founded the color system so as to help different industries (e.g. textiles, apparels, cosmetics, interior design, architecture, industrial design, and etc.) set up standardized color models for distinct product materials, such as paper, fabrics, plastics, pigments, and coatings (Budds, 2015). Currently, there are over 10,000 types of color standards supported by the Pantone color system (Pantone, n. d.)
How Pantone Works?
The classic type of Pantone Matching System comes with a myriad of rectangular color palettes each around 6*2 inches (or 15*5 cm) in size. On the front side of the palette, colors on the same color spectrum will be printed out for view while brief descriptions of individual color codes and the rules for formulating the specific colors will be listed.
Say, for example, that Tiny Inc. wishes to find a perfect orange for its company’s logo. He goes through the different color standards on the Pantone palettes for orange, and voila! He spotted “Pantone 3588 C” and decided to apply that in printing the MACHIEN Logo. Just by telling the printing factory the exact Pantone color code would help Tiny Inc. avoid the printing mistake experienced earlier.
However, it is to be noted that while Pantone offers a universal language for colors, the versions are somewhat different each year. Since new colors will be designed, it is definite that the list for Pantone Matching System will also go longer in an extended span of time. Thus, remember to check your version of the Pantone color code before you finally sent it for print.
So far, I believe you must have learned pretty well how to prevent making the same mistake as Tiny Inc did. Applying Pantone Matching System in your printings is certainly the way to go when you want your graphs to be as green, blue, white, red, or whatever color you like as expected.
You may also refer to the newest online color conversion tool proposed by Pantone to find the perfect match for your RGB or CMYK colors. This way, you get to “bind” your colors intentionally.
References:
Budds, D. (2015, September 18). How Pantone became the definitive language of color. Fast Company.
Retrieved from www.fastcompany.com/3050240/how-pantone-became-the-definitive-language-of-color
Pantone (n. d.) About Pantone. Pantone. Retrieved from www.pantone.com/about/about-pantone
Read in Japanese: