Many businesses know about the color giant Pantone, because they picked Pantone business colors for their company’s stationery. However, you can use Pantone color info for more than just picking something nice for your letterhead.
Using a Pantone color directory, you can find the perfect color for your promotional needs, home interiors, fashion, even television and website. You can search Pantone colors online, as well as buy Pantone color forecasting products. When considering your Pantone business needs, you’ll want to think about the following:
1. Color affects the entirety of a design, regardless of the medium.
2. Colors don’t exist in isolation–using color palettes helps unify design and message.
3. The Pantone color forecasting website can help you design on the cutting edge with new colors handpicked by top color experts.
Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done
Think about the ways Pantone color forecasting can be used in your business's products and services
Business cards in Pantone colors are just the tip of the iceberg. Perhaps you need uniforms, bumper stickers, pens, websites, brochures, office interior design or lanyards. You can design any of these things with the Pantone color system.
I recommend: Take this fun
interactive quiz with Pantone's Cammie Chameleon, who will help you find Pantone solutions for all your business color needs. You can also buy
PantoneView books that include the current forcasted colors and demonstrate the many uses of color available to a business owner.
Decide on a color palette using Pantone color info
Because color drives design, it is essential that you start with the right colors before you begin any designing.
I recommend: Take a look at the free Pantone color charts that forecast the up-and-coming trends in colors for the next season. Check out the
Pantone fashion color report, and the corresponding
designer paint colors, since these are the two industries that drive color trends in all other areas. If you can’t get inspiration from the trend reports, consider having Pantone do the work for you. Pantone’s
Color Think Tank can design the perfect color palette for your business.
Find a Pantone color forecasting distributor
Now that you've learned about color and decided on a color palette, it's time to find a Pantone color forecasting supplier. It's important to have the actual fan guides and color cards in order to make accurate color decisions. A high-quality, well-calibrated monitor is important; however, it can't guarantee how the color will look on the physical product.
I recommend: You can order Pantone products directly from their website if your business is in the US or Canada. If you deal with print media, you will want the
Pantone Reference Library. For textile decisions, consider the
Fashion + Home Cotton Selector. Those needing inspiration for interior design will want the
Color Specifier. Finally, those designing for plastic need the
Pantone Plastics Opaque and Transparent Selector.
Tips & Tactics
Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide
- While the Pantone color system libraries are expensive, they are important to have if your business is any of the design industries. In addition, these color cards, selectors and specifiers need to be replaced annually, as the ink can fade, the paper can yellow and general wear and tear can alter the look of the colors within. Each year, your design business needs to designate someone to look at the Pantone directory online and buy the appropriate libraries.
The official source of Pantone Color Forecasting is
the Pantone Color Forecasting page at Business.com
Related Resources from Business.com
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