FOR PROFESSIONALS AND LEARNERS AS A REFERENCE
Pantone Colour Chart
Complete PMS colour reference with hex codes and visual swatches. Click any swatch to copy its hex value.
110
Colours
8
Families
PMS
Standard
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What is Pantone Colour and The History
Pantone color refers to a standardized color system developed by Pantone called the Pantone Matching System (PMS). Instead of describing a color vaguely as “dark blue” or “bright red,” Pantone gives each color a specific code, such as Pantone 186 C or Pantone 300 U. This allows designers, printers, manufacturers, and brands around the world to reproduce the exact same color consistently, regardless of location, printer, or material.
Pantone began in the 1950s as a small commercial printing company in Carlstadt. In 1956, a young employee named Lawrence Herbert joined the company and used his chemistry knowledge to organize pigments and ink formulas.
At that time, printers had no universal way to match colors. Designers, clients, and printers often relied on verbal descriptions or physical samples, leading to inconsistent results. In 1962, Lawrence Herbert bought the company, and in 1963 he introduced the Pantone Matching System. The original system used a small number of base pigments that could be mixed in precise ratios to create repeatable colors
Pantone began in the 1950s as a small commercial printing company in Carlstadt. In 1956, a young employee named Lawrence Herbert joined the company and used his chemistry knowledge to organize pigments and ink formulas.
At that time, printers had no universal way to match colors. Designers, clients, and printers often relied on verbal descriptions or physical samples, leading to inconsistent results. In 1962, Lawrence Herbert bought the company, and in 1963 he introduced the Pantone Matching System. The original system used a small number of base pigments that could be mixed in precise ratios to create repeatable colors