What is Pantone? In 1963, Lawrence Herbert, Pantone’s founder, devised a system to help identify, match and communicate colour’s to create a way of fixing the problem when it came to re producing accurate colour’s that matched. His understanding of the spectrum is that it is seen differently by each and every person, this then led to the innovation of his Pantone Matching System (PMS), a book which consisted of standardized colour in fan format which allowed clients to easily view each colour as well as compare and contrast.
Pantone is a industry in New Jersey, it is knows for its Pantone Matching System, which is a proprietary colour space which is used in lots of different industries, mainly design printing, it is sometimes used for fabrics, plastics or coloured paint.
The Pantone numbering system helps for when you want to identify colour’s. Different manufacturers in different locations can all reference a Pantone numbered colour, making sure colours match without direct contact with one another. Pantone was originally designed for the graphics industry, the pantone solids palette is now used by a wide range of industries, and is the most commonly used palette. For example, Pantone 199 Red can be identified as Pantone 199C (C= Coated Paper), Pantone 199U (U= Uncoated Paper) or Pantone 199M (M=Matte Paper).
How Does Pantone Work?
The Pantone Solid Colours Palette originated to help designers control colour and specify which colours they wanted for projects, by using the unique numbered system it allows for designers to have the same colour throughout their projects. From wall colours to furnishing and décor colour, this helps keep the pallet the same throughout every small detail. This is the most widely used Pantone palette, with colours sometimes referred to as ‘PMS’ (Pantone Matching System) or ‘spot colours’.
The PMS has a huge range of colours to choose from, they are all designed to make sure you have the desired colour. Colour guides are very useful as they help you understand all the different hues and also to help compare colours or see how they work together, the chart is intended as a reference guide only because colours can vary when being printed. Take a look HERE at all the variation of colours in which Pantone have.
RESOURCES: PANTONE Graphics Website, 2015 – ACCESSED 26TH OCT 2015
Personally I feel that Pantone own colour, they have a system which cannot be replaced and is used within nearly every design aspect/ industry within the world, it is all linked to a data base which is all for the colour matching system, this to me is a new world for colour to belong in, Pantone will forever potentially have a hold on this system which every industry may use, it is a very clever way of keeping colour in an order and a way in which people can understand it.
Peta-Louise Krog 
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