Sublimation Pantone Colors

What is the Pantone Matching System?

The Pantone Matching Syetem (PMS) is a standardized color reproduction system that was developed by Lawrence Herbert in the late 1950's. This system is mainly used in the printing industry, but it has also found use in the manufacture of fabrics, paint, and plastics. The Pantone Matching System has become the most widely used system among graphic professionals such as designers and graphic artists, as well as in various printing industries.

The Pantone Matching System ensures that manufacturers and printers anywhere in the world can get a definite concept of what a specific color should look like, simply by referring to the code assigned and the swatch guide. There are various color guides that are used for this purpose: The Formula Guide, which displays 18 basic Pantone mixing colors and a palette of color variations created using the base inks in different proportions, and the CMYK Guide, which shows over 2.8K CMYK process colors and their values.

This guide is to be used when printing, using the four-color process printing. It was designed to work with any type of equipment used to reproduce colors and can also be used to reproduce color effects such as metallic and fluorescent tones. In this system, the colors are represented using a 3- or 4-digit code followed by a letter which represents the type of paper stock the color is printed on: Uncoated, Coated, and Matte.

In the Pantone Matching System, each Pantone color corresponds to a number and swatch sample that is created mixing 13 base pigments in specific amounts; this protects consistency and guarantees reproducibility. The artist or designer just needs to provide the Pantone color codes used in their work for the printing company to be able to reproduce them. Using this system ensures that the right color is printed, regardless of what it may look like on the screen.

This system can be used to match colors when you can't compare the samples in person. It is the best choice when you need to get a good idea of what a client is looking for when reproducing logos in multiple media; create precise shades and lively hues; add special effects such as fluorescent details or pastel color; or when you need to cover a large area where color consistency is extremely important.

As an example, we used an Internet matching application to find the Pantone number to the closest match for the colors of our logo:
What is the CMYK color processing and how does it work?

Most industries today use CMYK or 4-color processing for printing, whereby the image is separated into four different color values: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black (k). This printing process is used worldwide because almost the entire color spectrum can be reproduced with these ink colors. CMYK colors are used in a wide assortment of print materials, such as magazines, newspapers, and fabric.

This process uses four color dots to reproduce the images, which allows the use of a wide array of colors in a relatively small area. Even though CMYK can generate many different shades and colors, the resulting hues can sometimes be slightly inconsistent. This means the same color can change depending on the media.
PMS meets CMYK

Each of these color systems have their advantages and disadvantages.

The Pantone Matching System has developed and published the Color Bridge Set, which provides a side-by-side visual comparison between Pantone spot colors and CMYK process colors. This guide also includes the CMYK, Hex, and RGB values to help designers and other graphic artists with the production of their digital art. Additionally, the most popular graphic software available comes with a CMYK-to-Pantone converter and vice versa. You can also find online tools to carry out the conversions. However, it is important to note that there is no accurate conversion from one system to the other.

Because both color models have specific applications and uses, one or the other should not be used at all times. Occasionally, it is even necessary to use both on the same project to get the best results. For example, in full-color pictures that include images of a logo, the best approach is to use PMS for the logo and CMYK for the pictures. It is important to understand which color system is better suited for any given project, as this will result in printed materials that will pop with lively, crisp colors. Knowing the differences between CMYK and PMS and how they work is what allows the printing business to turn digital files into striking printed copies.

Since most art is prepared in CMYK, we always request a Pantone number. This is a critical tool that helps us identify our client's color intentions, and allows us to adjust our printers to achieve the closest possible results.

What is dye-sublimation?

Sublimation is the conversion of a substance from the solid state to the gas state without going through the liquid state.

Dye-sublimation fabric imaging is a process that consists of using heat-sensitive inks that, upon exposure to heat and pressure, turn into gas and merge with a polyester fabric. The greatest advantage of this process is that ink becomes part of the fabric's structure and the color comes alive while making the images extremely durable.
There is a wide range of polyester fabrics that come in a variety of textures for dye-sublimation, depending on what the print is for—woven texture polyester is best to use for exteriors and upholstery, and knit material is better suited for customized apparel, indoor banners, photography backdrops, and table draping.
The results of dye-sublimation printing are beautiful, and more importantly, the colors are permanent because they are embedded in the substrate instead of printed on its surface.