We’ve licensed PANTONE® color libraries for AI Tech Packs. Eligible Tech Pack subscribers can now use officially licensed color references when creating tech packs.
You can identify the color you want with a reference your supplier can check, then review it as part of the sample process.
A shared reference for the factory
Write “deep olive” in a tech pack, and two people may picture two different greens. A reference photo helps, but the shade on your screen may look different on your supplier’s.
A complete PANTONE® reference gives both of you a specific standard to work from. You can discuss the intended shade, compare it with the appropriate physical reference and review the supplier’s sample against it.
Pantone’s software licensing program allows its color references to be used in digital tools. Our license covers their use in AI Tech Packs for tech pack creation.
For a dress with an olive body and a contrasting trim, give the shell fabric its own color callout and specify the trim separately. That makes the instructions easier to follow than asking the factory to match the overall image.
What this helps your team do
- Give your supplier a defined color target for each fabric or trim.
- Keep the intended color clear when you revise measurements, construction or artwork.
- Use the same reference when reviewing a sample and discussing changes with the supplier.
Choose the right reference for the material
Include the full color reference, including the letters at the end. Those letters identify the relevant system or material: TCX refers to textile color standards, while TPG refers to pigments and coatings. Pantone’s color-system guide explains the differences.
Confirm that your supplier is using the same reference. A fabric color, a printed label and a coated trim can need different standards, even when they’re intended to look similar.
Before you send the tech pack
Check the color instructions along with the measurements, materials and construction notes:
- Make clear which fabric or component each color applies to.
- Include the full PANTONE® reference and its suffix.
- Check that the color reference agrees with your written instructions.
- Review the physical reference and the supplier’s sample or lab dip before approving production.
The physical check still matters. Screen previews can differ from physical PANTONE® standards, and materials and production processes affect the finished color.
Keep using physical references and your usual sample-approval process. Pantone explains how different materials and finishes affect color.
Available now
The licensed PANTONE® functionality is available to eligible Tech Pack subscribers. You can find membership details on our pricing page.
If you’d like to see how AI Tech Packs fits your team’s development process, book a walkthrough.
PANTONE® and other Pantone trademarks are trademarks or registered trademarks of Pantone LLC in the United States and/or other countries.