Convert HEX color codes to their closest Pantone color matches with precision and ease. Perfect for designers transitioning from digital to print, ensuring brand consistency across all media. Browse our comprehensive Pantone color database and find the perfect color match for your project. No Signup Required.
Find the closest Pantone color match for any HEX color code
#FF6F61
Sample text to show readability
Living Coral
PANTONE 16-1546
Sample text to show readability
PANTONE 16-1546
This is how text would appear on this Pantone color background. Use this preview to assess readability and visual impact in your designs.
The Pantone Matching System was invented in 1963 by Lawrence Herbert in New Jersey.
Frustrated by inconsistent color printing, he developed a revolutionary system that standardized colors worldwide.
Today, Pantone colors have transcended printing—the annual "Color of the Year" announcement influences fashion, interior design, and technology.
Some shades are literally owned by Pantone through trademark protection.
HEX colors use the RGB additive color model (light-based), while Pantone uses subtractive color mixing (pigment-based).
Our converter uses CIE Lab color space as an intermediate step for better human color perception representation.
The Delta E formula we use was developed by the International Commission on Illumination to measure perceptual color differences.
A Delta E of 1.0 means the average human eye cannot distinguish between two colors.
Professional color matching often requires spectrophotometers that cost thousands of dollars.
Our algorithm provides remarkably accurate results for most design applications without expensive equipment.
RGB can display about 16.7 million colors, while traditional printing can only reproduce about 55% of those colors.
This creates a fundamental limitation in color conversion accuracy between digital and print media.
The most expensive Pantone colors to produce are metallic and fluorescent colors.
These specialty inks can cost up to 10 times more than standard colors to print, making them a luxury choice for premium design projects.
Pantone creates custom colors for major brands and events. Tiffany & Co.'s iconic blue (Pantone 1837) is trademarked and cannot be used by others.
The company even created a custom purple color called "Love Symbol #2" to honor Prince after his passing.
Discover fascinating insights about color theory, psychology, and the amazing world of Pantone colors
Red increases heart rate and creates urgency - that's why it's used in clearance sales and fast food logos.
Blue is trusted by 57% of men and 35% of women as their favorite color, making it perfect for corporate branding.
Your eyes can distinguish about 10 million different colors, but most people can only name about 11 basic color terms.
Women can see more shades of red than men due to having two X chromosomes with color vision genes.
Coca-Cola's red is so iconic that it's estimated to be worth over $74 billion in brand value alone.
McDonald's golden arches were originally turquoise! They changed to yellow in the 1960s to stand out more.
Purple was once more valuable than gold! It took 12,000 murex shells to produce just 1.4 grams of purple dye.
Only royalty could afford purple clothing, which is why it's still associated with luxury and power today.
Your phone screen can display about 16.7 million colors, but high-end monitors can show over 1 billion colors.
Professional printers can only reproduce about 70% of what you see on screen - that's why color matching is crucial!
Pantone creates about 1,000 new colors every year, but only about 200 make it into their official color guides.
The Pantone Color of the Year influences fashion, home decor, and design trends worth billions of dollars globally.
Prepare to be amazed by these incredible facts about colors that will change how you see the world
Did you know there are colors your brain literally cannot process? These "impossible colors" include reddish-green and yellowish-blue.
Scientists have actually made people see these impossible colors in lab experiments using special techniques that trick the visual system.
The reason we can't normally see them is because our brain processes opposing colors (like red-green) in the same neural pathway, making simultaneous perception impossible.
Pink doesn't actually exist in the light spectrum! It's your brain's way of interpreting a mix of red and violet wavelengths.
Magenta is another "non-spectral" color - it only exists in your mind as a combination of the longest and shortest visible wavelengths.
This means that some of the most beautiful colors we see are actually creative inventions of our visual processing system!
Mantis shrimp have 16 types of color receptors (humans have only 3) and can see ultraviolet, visible, and polarized light simultaneously.
Bees can see ultraviolet patterns on flowers that are completely invisible to us - flowers literally have "landing strips" we can't see!
Some birds can see magnetic fields as colors, helping them navigate during migration. Imagine seeing the Earth's magnetic field as a beautiful aurora!
"Safety Orange" (similar to Pantone 165) is scientifically proven to be the most visible color to the human eye in most lighting conditions.
This specific shade is used for life jackets, traffic cones, and hunting gear because it stands out against both natural and urban backgrounds.
The color is so effective that it's estimated to prevent thousands of accidents every year just by being highly visible to our visual system.
A HEX to Pantone converter is a tool that finds the closest Pantone color match for any given HEX color code. It uses color science algorithms to calculate the visual difference between colors and identify the most similar Pantone color from a comprehensive database.
Converting HEX to Pantone is essential when transitioning from digital design to print production. While HEX colors are perfect for screens, Pantone colors ensure consistent, accurate color reproduction in printing, packaging, textiles, and other physical materials. This is crucial for brand consistency across digital and print media.
Our tool uses the Delta E color difference formula, which measures perceptual color differences as the human eye sees them. Matches with a Delta E value under 2.0 are considered very close, while values under 1.0 are nearly identical. However, exact matches are rare since HEX and Pantone use different color spaces.
The Pantone Matching System is a standardized color reproduction system used worldwide in printing and manufacturing. Created in 1963, it provides a universal language for color communication, ensuring that 'Pantone 186 Red' looks identical whether printed in New York or Tokyo.
Yes, our tool includes a comprehensive browser of popular Pantone colors. You can search by color name or Pantone code, view color swatches, and copy HEX values. This makes it easy to explore Pantone colors and find inspiration for your projects.
Absolutely. This tool processes everything entirely in your browser - no color data is sent to our servers. Your color choices and projects remain completely private and secure on your device.
HEX colors are digital RGB values displayed on screens using light, while Pantone colors are physical ink formulations for printing. HEX uses additive color mixing (light), whereas Pantone uses subtractive color mixing (pigments). This fundamental difference means perfect matches aren't always possible.
Most professional design software like Adobe Creative Suite includes Pantone color libraries. You can select Pantone colors directly in these programs, or use the HEX equivalents we provide for digital work. Always specify Pantone codes when sending files to print vendors.
Some digital colors, especially very bright or saturated ones, cannot be accurately reproduced with physical inks. The RGB color space (used for HEX) can display colors that are impossible to print. In these cases, the closest available Pantone color will be suggested, but the difference may be noticeable.
Yes, our tool works both ways. You can browse our Pantone color database to find HEX equivalents for any Pantone color. This is useful when you have a Pantone specification but need to create digital mockups or web designs.
Pantone colors are essential in printing, packaging, fashion, textiles, plastics, architecture, and any industry requiring precise color matching. Major brands use specific Pantone colors to maintain consistent brand identity across all materials and locations worldwide.
Pantone regularly releases new colors and updates their color systems. They announce a 'Color of the Year' annually and periodically introduce new color collections. Our tool includes the most popular and widely-used Pantone colors from their extensive catalog.
You can easily copy HEX codes and Pantone information using the copy buttons throughout the tool. For project documentation, you can take screenshots of the color comparisons or manually record the conversion results for your design specifications.
Consider your specific application: printing method, substrate material, viewing conditions, and brand guidelines. Sometimes a slightly less mathematically accurate match might be more appropriate for your specific use case. Always test print samples when possible.
Our tool focuses on Pantone spot colors, which are pre-mixed inks that provide the most accurate color reproduction. For process colors (CMYK), the conversion becomes more complex and may require additional considerations based on your specific printing setup and requirements.