Supportsoft Glossary

Pantone Matching System (PMS)

The Pantone Matching System (PMS) is a standardized color reproduction system. It ensures that brand colors print exactly the same way, everywhere in the world. 

Pantone is the universal language of color. Unlike CMYK, which mixes ink dots to approximate a color, Pantone uses pre-mixed, specific ink formulas. If we say "Pantone 186 C," a printer in Tokyo and a printer in New York will open the exact same can of red ink.

For a brand, this is consistency insurance. We use Pantone for our business cards and official stationery to ensure the logo is perfect. It also lets us print colors that screens can't even show, like metallics or neons.