About Pantone Reference

Search common Pantone PMS spot colors with sRGB approximations. Part of the DevTools Surf developer suite. Browse more tools in the Color collection.

Use Cases

• Find the nearest screen color for a print-only brand
• Reference PMS codes when talking to print vendors
• Bridge print and digital color specs in brand guidelines
• Draft brand-guidelines docs that span print and digital

Tips

• Search by PMS number (e.g. 485 C) or color name
• sRGB values are approximate — for press use the official swatch book
• Includes commonly-requested spot colors for brand identity work

Fun Facts

• Pantone sells their color library as annual subscription services — a single year costs ~$15/month per seat for the full digital library.
• Pantone's 'Color of the Year' has been announced every December since 2000. The selection process involves a secret committee that analyzes trends across fashion, film, and technology.
• In 2022, Adobe removed Pantone colors from Photoshop and Illustrator behind a paywall — designers were furious when their files suddenly showed black where Pantone colors used to be.

FAQ

Why does screen Pantone look wrong?

Pantone is print-specific — inks have wider gamut than sRGB screens. The sRGB approximation is the closest screen color but can't reproduce fluorescents or metallics.

Can I use Pantone for web design?

Only as inspiration. For actual web colors, use the sRGB approximation (shown in the tool). For print, use the PMS number and let the printer handle reproduction.

What's a 'spot color'?

A pre-mixed ink (unlike CMYK which mixes from four base inks). Crucial for brand consistency across printed materials.

Is Pantone copyrighted?

The colors themselves aren't. Pantone's database and naming conventions are their IP — we include common codes for reference, not the full licensed library.