Pantone Colors for Packaging
Packaging should do one thing above all else—create brand recognition. Pantone colors offer a completely new experience: vibrant, unique, and adaptable to any box.
What are Pantone colors?
Behind the Pantone colors lies an internationally used color system that originated in the United States. Introduced in 1963, this system is known as the Pantone Matching System. The color system is used primarily in two industries:
- Printing Industry
- Packaging Industry
The benefit of this is that all colors are rendered accurately, regardless of individual color perception. To achieve this, so-called color codes are used—which are internationally recognized for identifying the exact color. In addition, Pantone colors consist of a total of 18 base colors, which, when mixed in varying proportions, produce over 2,670 solid colors (e.g., core, pastel, neon, and metallic colors).
And don’t forget: the different paper qualities. From matte-coated and glossy-coated to uncoated, anything is possible. Printing on different types of paper is a major advantage—and depending on the printed material, this should be made clear.
Advantages of Pantone Colors
Specialty inks for packaging not only look great, but also offer several advantages:
- Wide color range (over 2,670 colors)
- Colors appear more vibrant and lively
- They are ideal for corporate identity
- Vibrant colors and metallic effects are possible
- Unique, standardized number codes
- Pantone colors are considered a color language (precise matching)
- Global standard; color charts available
The biggest advantage is international recognition—the standard is the same everywhere. This leads to far fewer misunderstandings. The numerical codes also play a major role in this.
What are Pantone colors used for?
Pantone colors offer many advantages and are used in a variety of fields. A prime example is packaging and gift boxes —they are designed to catch the eye and offer customers a unique experience.
But Pantone colors also help build your brand identity. People remember the design and associate it with your brand the next time they make a purchase. Print materials and digital design should not be overlooked in this context. Metallic colors attract even more attention. What many people don’t consider is how eye-catching these colors are at the point of sale—that’s where Pantone colors usually stand out more quickly.
Hot foil stamping in Pantone colors
One way to make packaging visually appealing is through hot foil stamping. Pantone colors can also be used for this purpose. Given the wide range of colors available, there should be something to suit everyone’s taste—from simple designs to a mix of several metallic colors.
Screen printing in custom Pantone colors
Pantone colors can also be used in screen printing. This is a printing technique that can be applied to a variety of materials. This method allows for the reproduction of detailed, openwork graphics—which, when finished with the right Pantone color, are real eye-catchers.
In principle, it is possible to choose between one or more colors. Configurators help you do this. Simply select the “Optional Details” option and click on “Color & Finish.” You can even specify the exact position using this feature.
How do you set up a Pantone color?
Special colors such as Pantone are often referred to as spot colors, since the color is premixed and is not composed of four colors, as is the case with CMYK. This makes it possible to use a color consistently across different media—for example, as part of a corporate design.
Creating spot colors for packaging requires the use of specialized software. More specifically, you need a layout program capable of recognizing spot colors. Simple image-editing programs or office applications such as Word are not suitable for this purpose. The following are recommended:
- Adobe Illustrator
- InDesign
- QuarkXPress
- CorelDraw
Design packaging in Pantone colors?
Talk to our finishing experts—we’ll advise you on color selection, printing methods, and implementation.