Understand the Pantone Matching System in Detail

No matter which section of the fashion industry you work for, you would always need things like a Pantone Reference Book and other such tools. In this post, the main tools in a fashion professional’s toolbox are revealed.

The Pantone Matching System

The Pantone Matching System Color often uses a different scheme for coding which is a very standardized one that utilizes a numbering system to identify the colors. Standardizing the colors helps manufacturers to reference a Pantone numbered color that matches them perfectly without having any direct contact with the other.

The Pantone system is mainly used for trims, hangtags, packaging, prints and almost all of the design processes that need color. All of the artwork regarding these elements would be submitted to garment factories or suppliers; the colors used are matched up for meeting the ideas and requirements of the designer. This system is also helpful in the dyeing of fabrics, but you should be very careful while doing it as it can be very difficult to match the paper with real fabric as many variables bring in variation in the shades.

Pantone Material Formats

The Pantone material is available in different formats. These are explained below.

Coated For Paper 

This fan guide often provides a visual comparison (side-by-side) of Pantone Spot Colors to the closest CMYK process printing match. The color code ends with suffix PMS, and PMS colors that are marked with a C often means that the particular color is printed on coated paper for obtaining a glossy finish like would see in a magazine. Letter U indicates uncoated paper that has a more porous finish and it is more common on letterhead. Uncoated papers are mainly more ink-absorbing when compared with coated paper, and this reduces its overall sharpness.

Fabric Chips

This type of cotton planner is usually available in a three-ring binder and the binder contains 65 0.6” x 0.6” cotton chips. The TC/TCX suffix mainly represents textile cotton and it is also available in nylon form.

The website of Pantone usually has reference to almost all of the colors too. But you should always keep in mind that on-screen simulations of digital color do not often match the standards of Physical Pantone Color. It is always suggested to refer Pantone Color publications for more updates for ensuring physical accuracy.

Working with Fabric Mills

The Pantone Matching System is used by many clothing manufacturers out there.  Even though Pantone is the system that is widely used by mills for dyeing fabrics and for color reference, understand that variations in color could occur because of many factors such as humidity, light and the reality that each fabric takes in color very differently.