1 February 2023

Whitepaper: New Pantone Formula Guide Base Inks

Pantone announced the expansion of the Pantone Matching System® color collection in December of
2022 with the exciting addition of 224 new colors. For this release, Pantone also replaced the base
inks used in previous editions with modern environmentally friendly alternatives that are now
compatible with post-print coatings.
About the 224 new colors
The new Pantone Colors fill gaps in our Pantone Matching System color gamut with more dark neutrals,
greens, blues, and violets based on comments and feedback from the global design community.
What has changed?
The color appearance of existing Pantone Colors has not changed. Even though existing colors have
been formulated with some new base inks, the resulting Pantone Color appearance is stable across
viewing conditions, and consistent with the digital libraries available in most design and production
software solutions, including Pantone Connect™ and PantoneLIVE™.
It is important to note that the existing Pantone digital values have not changed and the digital values
for the 224 new colors have been added.
Base ink improvements
Pantone base inks as represented in the latest version of the Pantone Formula Guide and Color Bridge
are eco-friendly, containing soy and other vegetable oils, with consideration for low migration of VOCs
where indirect food contact might occur, no reportable levels of Proposition 65 substances, with no
hazardous substances as defined by OSHA, the EU, and GHS.
The Pantone base inks are compatible with overprint varnishes, aqueous, and UV coatings. This is a
key requirement for most packaging, label, and print applications.
Pantone now mixes all Pantone Colors from a total of only 11 base inks plus colorless extender, which
can simplify ink matching and reduce inventory compared to the 18 base inks used previously.
Base ink properties
Below is a list of the Pantone base inks and related technical information:
Existing Base Inks Guide Page Pigment IDs Common Pigment Names CI Numbers
PANTONE Pink 1.1 PR-122 Quinacridone Magenta Y 73915
PANTONE Green 218 PG-7 Phthalo Green 74260
PANTONE Black 298 PK-7 Carbon Black 77266
PANTONE Process Blue 178 PB-15:3 Phthalo Blue 74160
PANTONE Warm Red 53 PR-48:1 Permanent Red 2B (barium) 15865:1
Note: Warm Red pigment has changed to meet new guide criteria - previously pigment was PR-53:1 Red Lake C (barium)

PANTONE Rubine Red 73 PR-48:2 Pigment Red 2B (calcium) 15865:2

Note: Rubine Red pigment has changed to meet new guide criteria – previously pigment was PR-57:1 Lithol Rubine (calcium)

New Base Inks

PANTONE Orange 016 1.5 PO-16 Benzidine (Dianisidine) Orange R 21160
PANTONE Real Purple 1.5 PV-1 Rhodamine B (PTMA) 45170:2
Note: This base tends to fade and bleed so it is used only where a clean, bright purple is required

PANTONE Violet v2 1.5 PV-23 Carbazole Violet 51319

PANTONE Yellow PY12 1.5 PY-12 Diarylide Yellow AAA 21090
PANTONE Purple v2 1.5 PR-122 Quinacridone Magenta Y 73915
PV-23 Carbazole Violet 51319
Legacy base inks
Below is a list of former Pantone base inks that are no longer used by Pantone in formulating the
1 February 2023

Pantone Colors. They are printed in the new guides so customers can still refer to them if needed.
Legacy Base Inks Guide Page Pigment IDs Common Pigment Names CI Numbers
PANTONE Bright Red 1.1 PR-48:1 Permanent Red 2B (barium) 15865:1
PANTONE Dark Blue 1.1 PV-23 Carbazole Violet & 51319
PB-15:3 Phthalo Blue 74160
PANTONE Medium Purple 1.1 PV-23 Carbazole Violet 51319
PANTONE Yellow 012 1.1 PY-13 Diarylide Yellow AAMX 21100
PANTONE Orange 021 27 PO-34 Diarylide Orange 21115
PANTONE Red 032 55 PR-112 Naphthol Red FGR 12370
PANTONE Rhodamine Red 77 PR-81 Rhodamine Y (PTMA) 45160:1
PANTONE Purple 98 PV-1 Rhodamine B (PTMA)/ 45170:2
PR-81 Rhodamine Y (PTMA) 45160:1
PANTONE Violet 120 PV-3 Methyl Violet (PTMA) 42535:2
PANTONE Blue 072 154 PB-1:2 Victoria Blue SMA 42595:3
PANTONE Yellow 2 This color is now formulated from base inks as shown within guide
PANTONE Reflex Blue 155 This color is now formulated from base inks as shown within guide

Pantone Ink Licensees

Pantone partners with leading ink suppliers around the world to ensure printers and converters have
access to inks in Pantone Colors that meet the criteria required for each print job. Developing these
inks based on the Pantone Matching System is efficient and cost effective and provides designers with
printed results that meet their color expectations. This full ecosystem, including the design community,
print suppliers, and Pantone Ink Licensees, succeeds based on collective confidence in the renowned
Pantone Matching System.
Qualification of Ink Licensees
Pantone Ink Licensees must meet Pantone criteria in successfully matching Pantone Colors with their
licensed ink system. An annual evaluation process ensures that Ink Licensees demonstrate high quality
in developing ink matches to Pantone Colors. Qualified Ink Licensees can make use of Pantone
trademarks and intellectual property in advertising, proofing and labeling their ink offerings. Licensing
the Pantone Matching System improves their marketability with printing companies, brands and
designers, while providing a simplicity in the specification and delivery of inks.
Changes in Ink Licensee Qualification
With the introduction of a simplified set of Pantone base inks that better meet the needs of today’s
design, print and packaging markets, Pantone is also making some improvements in the Ink Licensee
Qualification process. Historically, Pantone required Ink Licensees to develop high quality matches of
the Pantone Base Inks and demonstrate the capability to utilize these base inks developing high quality
matches to a sample of Pantone Matching System Colors.
Going forward, the annual qualification of Pantone Ink Licensees will be simplified. Pantone will require
a sample of high-quality matches to the Pantone Matching System Colors. And while it is highly
recommended, there is no longer a requirement to necessarily utilize base inks that strictly align to the
Pantone Base Inks (now 11 bases).
This simplification will permit Pantone Ink Licensees to efficiently deliver Pantone Matching System
colors across a wider variety of ink types and applications, which often require different base ink
properties and colors. For designers and printers this further expands the utility of Pantone Colors.