How this works

Pantone spot colors are mixed inks formulated to specific recipes. CMYK is a process-color system that reproduces colors by overprinting cyan, magenta, yellow, and black dots. Most Pantone codes have an approximate CMYK equivalent published in the Pantone+ Color Bridge guide — those are the coated values shown here.

The conversion is necessarily approximate: spot colors can include fluorescents, metallics, and pigments outside the CMYK gamut. For jobs where color accuracy is critical (brand colors, packaging), print the spot color instead of approximating it in CMYK.

Common questions

Why does my CMYK output look different from the Pantone chip?

Your monitor approximates the conversion in RGB. Pressroom output depends on paper, dot gain, ink film density, and proofing condition. Always proof against a calibrated reference before approving for press.

What do the “C” and “U” suffixes mean?

“PMS” (Pantone Matching System) is the umbrella system. A “C” suffix is the coated-paper reference, “U” is uncoated. The same Pantone code prints differently on coated and uncoated stock, so its CMYK approximation differs too — use the paper-finish toggle above to switch between them.

Are the uncoated values exact?

No. Pantone does not publish open uncoated CMYK recipes, so the uncoated figures are an estimate derived from the coated reference by simulating how ink reads on uncoated stock. Treat them as a starting point and confirm against a printed Pantone Color Bridge Uncoated guide.