Understanding the Pantone Color Matching System (PMS) – A Guide for UK Food Packaging
November 15, 2025
Colours are powerful. When you order pizza, a burger, or a take-away coffee, the logo, packaging design, and colours all contribute to what you expect. Inconsistencies in shade can make a brand feel cheaply made or poorly managed. That’s where the Pantone Color Matching System (PMS) comes in. At Custom Supplies UK, we use PMS to ensure that your brand colours are reproduced exactly, whether it’s on pizza boxes, paper bags, labels, or cups.
What Is the Pantone Color Matching System (PMS)?
The Pantone system is a standardized color system used globally by designers, printers, and packaging manufacturers to ensure that colours match exactly, no matter when or where they are printed. Instead of relying on generic names like "sky blue" or "forest green" (which people interpret differently), with PMS you use specific colour numbers (e.g. Pantone 1795 C, Pantone Neutral 11 C) to communicate your colour.
Some features:
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Consistent Colour: The same PMS number means the same shade across materials and print jobs.
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Wide Range of Colours: Includes solid colours (metallics, pastels, neons etc.) that aren’t always possible with standard CMYK printing.
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Coated, Uncoated, Matte/Gloss Variants: PMS guides often have versions for different paper or board finishes, so you know how the colour will look on the material you’re using.
Why PMS Matters for Food Packaging
For food businesses, getting colour right isn’t just about looking good — it’s about professional perception, brand consistency, and customer trust. Here’s why PMS is particularly useful:
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Aspect |
Why It’s Important |
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Brand Recognition |
If your logo colour changes depending on the batch or material, customers notice. Keeping the same shade across pizza boxes, bags, cups builds recognition. |
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Material Differences |
Colours look different on kraft board vs glossy board vs paperboard. With PMS, you can preview/choose the correct variant so the colour is close (or can be matched) across those materials. |
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Matching Across Suppliers |
If you source packaging from different manufacturers (cups from one, boxes from another), using PMS helps ensure the colour stays consistent. |
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Quality Presentation |
Premium packaging is judged on details. Perfect colour matching elevates perceived quality — important for restaurants, cafés, gift packaging. |
How PMS Works — A Simplified Overview
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Choosing Your Brand Colour
You or your designer pick a PMS colour from the guide or in digital format. -
Selecting the Material & Finish
Decide what kind of board or paper you’ll use (kraft, coated, uncoated etc.) and finish (matte, gloss, lamination). Different materials affect how colours appear. -
Specifying the PMS Number in Artwork
Put the PMS code in your design files so the printer knows exactly what shade to reproduce. -
Proofing & Sample Testing
Order proofs or sample boxes/bags to see how the chosen colour looks on the actual material under typical lighting. -
Production & Quality ControlDuring printing, ensure correct ink mixing, correct press settings, and check as the run progresses to spot shifts or deviations.
PMS vs CMYK vs RGB — What’s the Difference?
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RGB is for screens (digital): monitors, phones, etc. Not reliable for printed packaging.
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CMYK is standard full-colour printing with 4 inks (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black). Good for many designs, but sometimes cannot reproduce very bright neons or certain metallic shades.
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PMS / Spot Colours are premixed inks used for solid, consistent colours. Great for logos, specific brand shades, metallics.
Using PMS alongside CMYK or over-printing (spot colours + CMYK) gives flexibility: you get vivid, accurate branding without compromising on full texture or gradients.
Things to Consider When Using PMS
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Consideration |
Why It Matters |
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Material Finish |
A PMS colour printed on matte kraft board will look different than on shiny coated board. Always check the finish classification in the PMS guide (Coated, Uncoated, etc.). |
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Ink Types |
Some PMS inks are metallic or special effect; they cost more and may require special press settings. |
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Budget & Order Size |
Spot colours (PMS) often have extra setup costs. For larger orders, they become more cost-effective. For very small orders, digital print + CMYK may suffice. |
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Design Complexity |
PMS works best for solid colours; if you have full-colour images or gradients, CMYK or hybrid printing may be required. |
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Colour Matching Under Different Light Conditions |
Lighting influences how colour appears. A PMS colour in daylight might look slightly different indoors. Proofs should be checked under typical lighting for your location. |
How Custom Supplies UK Uses PMS to Serve You Better
At Custom Supplies UK, we help you get the right colour, consistently, for packaging that looks the same batch after batch. Here’s how:
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We offer PMS colour matches for our custom printed packaging (boxes, paper bags, cups etc.).
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Our material options from kraft, coated, uncoated boards are matched with appropriate PMS variants so the colour stays true.
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We provide physical sample proofs so you can see the shade on the actual material before production.
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For larger orders, we ensure stable ink mixing, color profile checks, and quality checks throughout the production process.
Is PMS Right for Your Packaging Need?
You may prefer PMS if:
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You have a strong brand colour identity and want exact shades.
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You use the same brand colour on multiple materials (boxes, bags, cups, sleeves).
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Your packaging volume is moderate to high — making setup investment worthwhile.
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You want metallic or special spot colours that CMYK alone can’t reproduce well.
If your design is mostly photographic, full-colour images, or you’re making a small order, digital printing with CMYK may be more cost-efficient.
Final Thoughts
Colour consistency can make or break how customers perceive your product. Pantone’s PMS gives you a standard, reliable way to ensure that your brand shade of red, blue, green, gold etc. always looks just right—on every box, every bag, every batch.
At Custom Supplies UK, we believe in every detail — colour included. If you want your packaging to match the promise of your food, reach out to us. Let's ensure your brand always gets its signature shade, batch after batch.
