When it comes to printing in color, there are so many technologies and systems to consider that choosing the right color model can seem overwhelming. A color model is a system used to characterize and understand the available colors for different devices, digital files and physical media. Color models contain a spectrum of colors, all of which can be viewed on a visual plane.
Both Pantone and CMYK are industry-standard color models used primarily for print materials, but they have very different characteristics and varying benefits. Whether you are developing brand materials, product packaging, professional magazines or personal media, color is one of the most important elements of any printed creation.
From comparing printers and presses to finding the right color models, there are myriad options to consider for every type of printing project. If you want to know more about how CMYK and Pantone differ, continue reading to find out more about the two color models and uncover which system is better suited to your projects.
Sometimes referred to as the Pantone Matching System (PMS), Pantone is a spot color system that features over 2,000 premixed colors in its main formula guides, each of which has an assigned numerical value.
The Pantone system was launched in 1963 by Lawrence Herbert and is a global color standard system that industry professionals utilize to replicate specific colors and shades. By standardizing colors, manufacturers and artists worldwide can replicate the same colors exactly, ensuring visual consistency for products, regardless of where they are produced.
The Pantone system is a niche system used frequently for branding and critical color applications. This is because Pantone spot colors are consistent and acutely specific, and enable people to reproduce exact colors time after time.
CMYK is a process color model, where CMYK stands for Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Key (Black), which are the four colors used by the model to create a variety of colors and shades. Unlike Pantone, which uses thousands of premixed colors, CMYK mixes its four base colors on the press to create new colors as they are needed.
CMYK is a subtractive color model, which means that when its four colored inks are applied to a white background, they absorb — or subtract — certain light wavelengths and reflect other light waves. It is this absorption and reflection of light that creates the appearance of different colors.
Instead of having assigned numbers, CMYK colors are identified by the different percentages of each of the four colors they contain. For example, a golden orange color could be characterized as follows: C=0, M=50, Y=100 and K=0 (0% cyan, 50% magenta, 100% yellow and 0% black).
CMYK is universally used for process printing, commonly used for full-color photos, large print runs and magazines.
Although these color systems have different characteristics and varying benefits, Pantone and CMYK share a few similarities. Both CMYK and Pantone are types of color systems that are heavily relied on in the graphic design and other visually creative industries.
They were both designed primarily for physical printing services and to create tangible materials and products. Although Pantone colors can be used to create digital displays, achieving exact on-screen color matches can be challenging because of variances in color technology and digital programs. Both Pantone and CMYK are most successfully executed when they are used for printing color.
Secondly, both color systems are considered industry-standard systems in the graphic design and printing industries. While they differ in capabilities and benefits, both systems are used on a professional level worldwide to produce high-end printed materials.
PMS and CMYK are fundamentally different tools that create varying results and have differing purposes. The key CMYK and Pantone differences include:
In order to understand which color service is right for your needs and intended uses, it is essential to have a thorough understanding of the differences between CMYK and Pantone.
From their distinctive color creation processes to the contrasting visual results they produce, there are many elements that set CMYK and Pantone apart from one another and which should be considered before you embark on your printing endeavours.
The primary difference between Pantone and CMYK lies in their differing color creation processes. While CMYK uses just four colors to create its entire spectrum of output colors, Pantone provides users with thousands of premixed colors to choose from.
In traditional CMYK printing, the system’s four ink colors — cyan, magenta, yellow and black — are applied to a white surface, where their ink dots overlap and absorb light to create the illusion of various colors. On the other hand, each Pantone color is uniquely premixed according to Pantone’s proprietary formula.
Most of the other differences between CMYK and Pantone stem from their initial differences in the way in which they produce colors.
Due to their contrasting processes, CMYK and Pantone differ vastly when it comes to creating color consistency.
Pantone colors are globally standardized, and each one is premixed with a unique formula and enables more consistent results across every instance of replication. This means that Pantone colors are ready to use and manufacturers are able to achieve precise color matches for every shade, no matter their location or printing technology. The ability to replicate every Pantone color exactly makes the PMS ideal for creating materials that require exact color matches across all products, such as branded media like logos and product packaging.
On the other hand, CMYK is not as proficient at ensuring complete consistency between color replications. As the CMYK system produces colors as they are needed, by mixing its four ink colors, there is often variation between the shades it produces. CMYK colors can also differ depending on the paper or surface upon which the ink is printed, or the technology used to print it. If precise color consistency is a priority for your project, CMYK may therefore not be the optimum choice.
A model’s gamut is the range of available colors that it can reproduce through an output device. In other words, the wider a color model’s gamut, the more individual colors and shades it can create.
As every color created using the traditional CMYK model is made from the same four base colors, its gamut is more restricted than that of the Pantone model. CMYK’s four transparent ink colors are mixed on the paper or printing material itself, and can only create a limited subset of combinations.
Pantone, on the other hand, can specify a wide range of colors and tones that cannot be replicated by CMYK, and therefore has a wider gamut. Pantone also benefits from being able to incorporate special ingredients into its colors. For example, Pantone colors can include metallic flakes to create shiny gold and silver tones that the CMYK model can’t accurately reproduce.
When comparing these two models, it is important to not only consider the quantity of colors they can make — it is also about the type or quality.
The Pantone color matching system is able to produce an array of colors, some of which are more vibrant and saturated than CMYK colors.
Pantone colors can be more vibrant than CMYK colors for various reasons:
Some of the bright colors created by Pantone are therefore unachievable using CMYK’s limited ink colors.
In general, color vibrancy varies between the two systems depending on ink formulation, substrate and the printing process used.
Their differing qualities make the CMYK and Pantone color models well-suited to different applications.
Thanks to its ability to accurately reproduce colors exactly, Pantone services are ideal for creating materials that require absolute consistency.
Examples of Pantone applications include:
Although CMYK cannot match the accuracy of the Pantone model, it does have the upper hand when it comes to detail and variety, and is the industry standard for photographic and image-heavy printing. CMYK color services are suited to projects that require a wide variety of colors and those for which exact color matching is not a priority.
Examples of CMYK applications include:
Cost is a significant factor for printing projects, and Pantone can be much more expensive to use than CMYK.
For offset printing, printers using Pantone require a dedicated printing unit and washup for each color, increasing setup time and cost. In contrast, printers using CMYK require only four for the model’s four base colors.
In digital printing, Pantone colors are approximated using color management software, such as Fujifilm ColorPath, and expanded-gamut ink sets.
From just four inks and trays, CMYK can produce a wide range of colors, making it a more cost-effective option than Pantone.
Depending on your particular printing project, design priorities and budget, both CMYK and Pantone color models are well-regarded systems, both of which have their benefits.
Neither color model is necessarily better than the other, but they certainly have their individual strengths.
If color consistency is a priority for your project, or if you need to print onto non-white backgrounds, you should generally use the Pantone color system. On the other hand, if your project contains detailed images or a wide array of tones, you may choose to use CMYK.
Some modern presses, both digital and offset, now support “expanded gamut” or “N-color” printing processes for CMYK printing. In these processes, the CMYK model has additional ink colors, such as orange, green and violet, to expand its color offerings and bridge the gap between CMYK and Pantone.
To get a deeper understanding of how CMYK and Pantone differ, take a look at some of the topic’s most frequently asked questions.
In some cases, it is possible to convert CMYK to Pantone colors. However, it is not an exact science. While some software tools, such as Adobe Illustrator, allow for conversion, results vary based on the systems’ color gamut overlap. If you are trying to convert CMYK to Pantone colors, color proofs are recommended before finalizing.
Pantone is a trademarked brand name. The first syllable, “pant,” is taken from the word “pantograph,” while “tone” means a hue or shade of a color.
A color gamut is the range of colors and shade variations that a color model can produce. The more shades a color model can produce, the wider its gamut is.
In general, you should split the applications of the two color models as follows:
Generally, using Pantone colors is more expensive than using the CMYK process. Not only are the individual Pantone inks more expensive than CMYK inks, but the Pantone model also requires more equipment and more maintenance between uses.
Whereas traditional CMYK printing requires only four ink plates — one for each of its colored inks — each premixed Pantone ink requires its own plate. Plus, when using Pantone inks, the printing equipment and ink plates need to be cleaned between uses to avoid contaminating the ink colors.
Not only is using Pantone generally more expensive financially, but it also costs more time and effort than the CMYK model.
Variable cost factors include:
Screens cannot accurately display true CMYK colors. Because CMYK colors are created by absorbing and reflecting light wavelengths, they will always look slightly different on-screen than on printed materials.
Also, both CMYK and Pantone colors appear slightly differently on-screen because screens use a red, green, blue (RGB) model to create colors. While CMYK colors can be simulated on-screen using RGB color values, the final printed result can vary depending on the chosen media, inks and lighting.
At Fujifilm, we don’t believe in compromising quality.
With our CMYK+ extended color model, you can adapt the CMYK model to achieve accurate spot colors and brilliant images across your multicolor print projects.
The CMYK+X extended gamut color model, otherwise known as an “N-color process,” is increasingly used in high-end digital and offset presses.
We understand that bright and specialty colors can seem unachievable when you are on a budget. That’s why we developed an industry-first solution that simulates over 90% of Pantone colors, based on the original CMYK color model.
The CMYK+X benefits from an extended standard ink set, creating a wider gamut and more opportunities to add impact with vivid, specialty colors — all at faster speeds and lower costs than traditional Pantone or CMYK printing.
At Fujifilm, we provide the technology and support you need to print with confidence. Explore our Pantone- and CMYK-compatible printers and presses today, and bring your designs to life.