This video does a nice job of explaining the Pantone Color matching system we rely on at B3DigiGrafx.  Each of our printers has a color chart printed for each material we print.  Your color can be matched as closely as the ink system and corps ponding substrate can provide.

When relying on the color as it appears on your monitor make sure your monitor is color calibrated.  Here is a nice device recommended by Pantone.  Its on sale at Buy.com as shown in this promo video:

Call your Account Representative for help with your Color matches. 800-624-1691

The ink systems used by ink jet printers along with the different substrates produce different results from the same design files. B3DigiGrafx prints individual color charts encoded with a reference number for each of its printer ink systems, on every material substrate offered. The color matching charts represent the result achieved for the full range of colors in the Pantone Color matching system.

Now take the case of Ralph Kramden. After sending his designer “Alice” to the moon (To the Moon Alice), Ralph was introduced to color printing. Fortunately Alice brought her Pantone CMYK color book with her to the moon.  Alice while there designed a new logo for Ralph’s lodge and wants the color she sees on her proof printer to be matched by B3DigiGrafx back on earth.  Alice takes the Pantone book and finds that the red 185 matches her example.

Ralph takes her design to the B3DigiGrafx for printing and specifies that the logo be PMS 185.  The B3 color chart for the material and print system to be used is compared to another identical Pantone reference book.  Our print operator selects the best match between the Pantone book and the printed sample on our color chart.  That code is used to produce as close a match to Alice’s 185 red as can be produced on the printer and material used.

The common reference Alice has on the moon, with B3Difgigrafx on earth enables them to communicate enough information to achieve the color desired.  Alice will never see the printed result but she can be confident that the result will closely match her intent whatever material or printer combination B3DigiGrafx has used.

For more in depth exploration follow this link to the Pantone Color Matching System (PMS).