Our new Pantone guides have arrived

When it comes to branding, colour accuracy matters. When we’re building brands for our clients, we can’t afford to rely on guesswork and varying colour profiles on different displays. Pantone guides give us a definitive, real-world reference point that ensures our colours are consistent across the board.

It’s the kind of investment that reflects our focus on quality. We’ve been doing this for over two decades, and we know that the detail makes a difference. When a client’s brand guidelines specify Pantone 185 C, we want to show them exactly how that looks across print, not as an approximation on screen.

Pantone actually covers everything from print through to textiles, so it can be tricky knowing which guides to buy. For graphic design, there are Formula guides, Colour Bridge guides, Pastels & Neons, Metallics, and CMYK guides.

We were torn between Formula Guides and Colour Bridge guides. Formula Guides simply show the Pantone colour in its pure form, printed on coated or uncoated paper. Colour Bridge guides show the Pantone colour, as well as its process CMYK match. It also gives us breakdowns of the Pantone colour in RGB and as a HEX code for digital, too.

We went with Colour Bridge guides rather than Formula guides as we can see the Pantone colour directly next to its process equivalent. This is really useful when we’re working on projects that cover both print and digital, or when a client’s budget means digital printing rather than spot colour.

The majority of our print work ends up being produced using CMYK, so having that direct comparison helps us manage expectations and make informed decisions about colour reproduction. We can have honest conversations with clients about how their brand colours translate across different printing methods.

Here's something many people don't realise: Pantone guides have a shelf life. The colours fade and shift over time, especially when exposed to light. Here’s how you can help keep your Pantone guides in peak condition:

• Replace them every 12 to 18 months to ensure colour accuracy.
• Keep them in their original sleeves when you’re not using them.
• Avoid leaving them in direct sunlight.

It might seem over the top, but if we’re going to rely on these guides for accurate colour matching, they need to stay accurate.

Given the investment (and yes, Pantone guides aren’t cheap), we’ve designated a specific home for our new guides in the studio. They live in a drawer, in their protective sleeve, away from coffee cups, curious hands, and the general chaos of a busy creative studio.

We’ve also made sure the whole team knows they’re there, and how to use them properly. No bending pages, no leaving them open on desks, and definitely not lending them out. These are tools, not coffee table books.

It’s a pretty small purchase in the grand scheme of things, but it’s one of those investments that quietly improves the quality and accuracy of our work. Better colour accuracy means fewer surprises during print, happier clients, and a happy design team.

If you’re curious about how we approach colour in your project, or you’d like to see your brand colours in the Pantone flesh, just ask. We’re always happy to geek out about this stuff.