Coated vs uncoated — why the same colour looks different
A Pantone colour is one ink formula, but paper changes everything. On coated (glossy or silk) paper the ink sits on the surface, so colours look brighter and more saturated. On uncoated paper the ink soaks into the fibres, so the same colour prints softer and duller. That is why the Pantone library has a Coated (C) and an Uncoated (U) version of every colour — always pick the one that matches your paper.
Use the Pantone palette for brand and spot colours, the CMYK palette for everyday process printing, and the RGB palette for screens and web design. Tap any swatch to see its HEX, RGB and CMYK values and copy them with one click.
Frequently asked questions
Are these Pantone values exact?
They are widely published screen approximations, shown for reference and design work. Screens vary, and print depends on paper and press conditions — for production printing, always confirm against a physical PANTONE Formula Guide. PANTONE is a trademark of Pantone LLC; this is an unofficial reference tool.
What does the Uncoated view show?
A simulated preview. Uncoated paper absorbs ink and dulls colour, so the Uncoated view reduces saturation to approximate the printed result. The colour number and ink are the same — only the paper changes.
Which palette should I use for printing?
For brand colours, start from the Pantone palette (Coated for glossy/silk paper, Uncoated for matte/offset paper). For full-colour process jobs use the CMYK palette — and use Rich Black (60/40/40/100) for large black areas instead of 100K alone.
Which palette is for websites and screens?
The RGB & Web palette. Screens emit light in RGB, so web colours are specified as HEX or RGB values — never print a screen colour without converting and proofing first.