Read the complete code
A number without its suffix is incomplete. “186 C” identifies the coated reference; “186 U” identifies the uncoated reference. Textile and product systems use other suffixes and should not be treated as interchangeable.
INDEPENDENT DIGITAL REFERENCE
Pantone color
chart.
Search 3,172 coated and uncoated digital references by number, finish, family, or HEX value.
Independent referencePantone® is a registered trademark of Pantone LLC. This site is not affiliated with or endorsed by Pantone LLC.About accuracy ↓
START WITH THE RIGHT REFERENCE
Search the number.
Check the finish.
This chart brings together 3,172 approximate digital references for Pantone coated and uncoated graphics colors. Search by a number such as 186 C, a named base ink such as Warm Red, a color family, or an approximate HEX value.
The chart is designed for research, early design decisions, mockups, and conversations with printers. It does not contain physical ink formulations, spectral measurements, or a guarantee that an RGB display will reproduce a printed Pantone standard.
Compare nearby colors
Use the family filters to explore alternatives rather than choosing from one screen swatch. The closest numerical result is useful, but neighboring colors may preserve the intended warmth, depth, or contrast more successfully.
Verify on the material
Once a shortlist is ready, compare current physical standards under controlled light. Then proof the selected color using the actual stock, coating, ink process, and finishing conditions planned for production.
1,831 references
Digital simulations only. On-screen colors may not match physical Pantone standards. Always verify critical color with current official Pantone publications.
COLOR ACCURACY
A screen is a simulation, not a standard.
This chart is built for discovery and approximate digital workflow. It cannot reproduce a spot ink on a specific physical substrate. Display calibration, browser color management, ambient light, paper, coating, ink formulation, and production tolerances all change appearance.
For critical work: identify the correct Pantone library and finish, then approve the color using a current physical Pantone guide or Pantone Connect data and a production proof.
Why coated references look stronger
Coated paper has a sealed, smoother surface. Ink remains nearer the surface instead of spreading deeply into the fibers, so printed colors commonly appear cleaner, denser, and more saturated. A coated simulation is appropriate only when the specified library and intended production surface agree.
Why uncoated references look softer
Uncoated paper absorbs more ink and scatters more reflected light. The same spot-ink formula can therefore appear duller, lighter, or less saturated. Choosing the U reference communicates the expected appearance on an uncoated substrate; it does not describe a different universal HEX color.
How to use a Pantone chart in a real workflow
- Define the material and process.Decide whether the job uses coated paper, uncoated paper, textile, plastic, paint, or another material before choosing a library.
- Find an initial reference.Search the number directly or use the HEX to Pantone matcher to produce a perceptual shortlist from a screen color.
- Inspect alternatives.Compare the closest references and both finishes. Look at how each option behaves beside the other colors in the design.
- Check availability and production method.Confirm with the printer whether the color will use a dedicated spot ink, an extended-gamut process, or a CMYK approximation.
- Approve a physical result.Use a current official guide and a suitable proof. Record the selected library, suffix, proof type, substrate, and any accepted tolerance.
Pantone, HEX, RGB, and CMYK are not interchangeable
A Pantone reference communicates a target within a proprietary physical color system. HEX and RGB describe emitted light for screens. CMYK describes proportions of process inks interpreted through a particular print condition. Converting between them can create a useful visual approximation, but it cannot preserve colors that fall outside the destination gamut or predict a press without a profile.
For web use, start from an approved digital brand value rather than assuming that one online Pantone simulation is universally correct. For process printing, ask for the printer’s output profile or official Color Bridge information. For spot-color production, specify the complete Pantone reference and approve an ink drawdown or contract proof when the color matters commercially.
Frequently asked questions
Is this an official Pantone color chart?
No. Print Color Chart is an independent reference and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Pantone LLC.
Do screen colors exactly match printed Pantone colors?
No. A display is an RGB simulation. Pantone itself advises evaluating physical standards before using a color in production.
What do C and U mean?
C refers to a coated-paper simulation and U to an uncoated-paper simulation. The substrate changes how the ink appears.
Can I convert HEX to Pantone?
Yes. Use our nearest-color matcher to compare an sRGB value with this approximate digital reference library.
Why does the same Pantone number have different HEX values?
Coated and uncoated references simulate the way one ink formula changes on different paper surfaces. Digital values attempt to represent those different appearances.
Should I send HEX or a Pantone number to a printer?
Send the intended Pantone library, number, and finish, then confirm whether it will run as a spot ink or be converted to process color. A HEX value alone does not specify a physical print result.