Pantone Matching System (PMS)


The Pantone Matching System (PMS) is a color standardization system that helps in color identification and matching. It uses the Pantone numbering system to identify colors, and through this numbering system printer and other equipment manufacturers can match colors without having to contact one another. The Pantone color numbers consist of a three- or four-digit number followed by the letter C, U or M, which stands for "coated," "uncoated" and "matte," respectively. The color palette in the PMS consists of about 1,114 colors. This color matching system is very helpful in avoiding color inconsistencies between the various types of print and digital media. The PMS was developed by Pantone LLC (Carlstadt, NJ, USA), which was acquired in 2007 by X-Rite, Inc. (Grand Rapids, MI, USA).