Life in Pantone
I’m that nerd that takes color swatches from hardware stores — not because I’m painting the house — but because I enjoy exploring different color combinations in a tactile way. Unsurprisingly, I was also that student who actually loved the Color-aid projects in Color Theory class.
We’re proud of the mantra ABL (Always Be Learning) at Strong Studio, and so I’d like to share a great Pantone tool I’ve recently discovered that will entertain both designers and color enthusiasts alike.
WHAT’S PANTONE?
The Pantone Matching System (PMS) is essentially the common tongue between a designer’s screen and the printed product, whether that be a poster, thread color, or plastic dye. There are thousands of swatches in the Pantone library, each assigned its own unique PMS number.
This licensed system guarantees that all parties are on the same page and ensures a brand's true color will look the same whether it’s printed in Buffalo, London, or Tokyo. Thanks to the PMS system, Target’s distinctive red (PMS 186), Tiffany & Co.'s robin egg blue (PMS 1837) or McDonald’s french-fry gold (PMS 123) appear the same everywhere, enabling them to become some of the most well-known brand-color associations in the world.
The PMS system isn’t utilized exclusively by major brands, but also by small companies such as Strong Studio. Since color can be interpreted differently by the beholder, the device, or the printed material, designers must establish a system of color values to ensure a brand’s color will be accurate on any medium. To achieve this, we highly recommend Pantone Color Bridge, which provides translations of PMS colors to CMYK (print) and RGB and Hex (digital).
PANTONE IN NATURE
Inspired by my recent cross-country move from New Jersey to Washington, I wanted to extract and collect the incredible Pantone colors I experienced along the drive. It’s exciting to see how close a Pantone swatch — a mathematical formula — can replicate three-dimensional space such as a cloudless, summer sky.
THE PANTONE APP
Although you can manually use Photoshop’s eyedropper tool to extract a PMS, I have been loving the Pantone mobile app which actually does the work for you. Not only do you have all the Pantone collections at your fingertips, but you can select any photo from your library and automatically see which five swatches are in use. Granted it does cost a monthly subscription of $4.99 (after the free first month), but if you are a color nerd like me, it is so worth it.
The Pantone app doesn’t replace printed color swatches entirely, but instead works in tandem to help us find and save spot colors faster and more efficiently. May it serve you well, too.
Happy Pantoning!
WHAT’S YOUR PANTONE?
Looking to bring something new to your customers without creating a whole new identity? Color may be the answer. What better way to stand out at a trade show than to have your tablecloth, TV screen, backdrop, and business cards all use the same brand color?
Whether you’re considering a brand refresh or complete overhaul, we’re here to help. Contact us for a free estimate, and let’s get to work!