What is Pantone?
Pantone is a printing/color manufacturer/ color management company that
developed the Pantone Color Matching System
The Pantone Color Matching System is largely a standardized color
reproduction system. By standardizing the colors, different manufacturers in
different locations can all refer to the Pantone system to make sure colors
match without direct contact with one another.
One such use is standardizing colors is the CMYK process. The CMYK process is
a method of printing color by using four inks — cyan, magenta, yellow, and
black.
A majority of the world's printed material is produced using the CMYK
process, and there is a special subset of Pantone colors that can be
reproduced using CMYK . Those that are possible to simulate through the
CMYK process are labeled as such within the company's guides.
Planning Ahead
Every five or so years, all of the major color industry players like Pantone
and manufactures of inks, paint and dyes meet and decide on the dominate
color schemes to be used for the next five years.
Early 1980’s – Black and White were dominate (partly influenced by the
success of Star Wars)
Late 1980’s to early 1990’s - Neon colors were dominate (partly influenced
by the success of Blade Runner)
Early 2000’s - Earth tones colors were dominate (partly influenced by the
environmental movement)
Present day - Pastel colors are dominate .
Why Meet Every Five Years?
All of the paint , ink and dye manufactures need to co-ordinate their
colors so your drapes will match your sofa, your car interior trim will
match with your cars exterior or your sneakers will match your shirt.
Without some co-ordination, color chaos would result.
Try matching or finding a replacement for 1970’s bathroom fixtures.
Today, it is almost impossible.
Pantone Color Guide
Pantone DVD with the predicted colors for fall and winter 2012 -2013.
People in the graphics industry need to purchase these guides in order to
remain current.
Some Colors are Property
Pantone asserts that their lists of color numbers and pigment values are the
intellectual property of Pantone and free use of the list is not allowed. This is
frequently held as a reason why Pantone colors cannot be supported in
Open Source software such as GNU Image Manipulation Program (GIMP)
and are not often found in low-cost software.
Pantone palettes supplied by printer manufacturers can be obtained freely,
and, depending on supplier, do not come with usage restrictions beyond a
sales ban on hard copies of the palette.
Use of many colors by printers, software manufactures and paint
manufactures require paying a licensing fee or a royalty to the company
who owns a specific color.
Some Pantone colors can only be reproduced using Pantone’s patented
printing system.