PMS Colors at Hot Screen

PMS stands for Pantone Matching System, which is a system of standardized color codes. PMS colors are used in the graphic industry and in many printing and profiling sectors. Every year, Pantone releases updated color charts, including Pantone Solid Coated/Uncoated.
At Hot Screen, we work with Pantone C-, Metallics-, and Pastels & Neons C-scales. This type of PMS colors is coated, which prevents the color from being absorbed by the material it is printed on and gives a slightly glossier/clearer effect. Pantone U (Uncoated) means that the color is uncoated and can be absorbed by the material it is applied to, giving the print a matte appearance. Therefore, it is important to use the correct color scale when ordering transfers. What else should you consider?

One PMS Color – Different Shades from Year to Year

In December 2022, PMS colors were expanded with an additional 224 hues. At the same time, Pantone reformulated its basic colors for the first time since 1963. Here is a comparison image between the same PMS color, Pantone 4127 C, the one to our left from 2023 and the one to our right from 2022:

The PMS charts are updated every year, although the difference between some PMS colors was larger this time due to the reformulation of the recipes.

Also, the use and exposure of PMS charts can alter them over time, which is why Pantone recommends replacing your PMS chart after 12-18 months. You can always find the latest Pantone chart in our webshop!
At Hot Screen, we use the latest Pantone C-guide. Our color technicians interpret the recipes of the colors that come from Pantone and mix according to them. This means that our colors are not certified according to Pantone, but they match the color charts.

Find out if it’s a PMS color code!

Each PMS color is provided with a unique name and/or number. You can see this when you open your file in the program where you created the logo. The names/codes can look like this:

PANTONE 151 U
PANTONE 877 C
PANTONE COOL GRAY 10

If your logo is made with PMS colors, our ordering tool reads them when you upload your file. If your logo lacks PMS colors, the tool helps you identify and make suggestions. If you prefer a different color than the suggestion, you can easily change it with a few clicks. You can also get assistance from our sales support, who will put together a proof with alternative colors for your logo in case you don’t have any preset hues.