Pantone yellows we print
The most translucent inks in the book. Yellow over anything but near-white is a coverage problem, not a colour problem.
On-screen approximation: not a colour-accurate reference. Match to a physical PANTONE® chip before you sign off.
On our stocks
Yellow is especially translucent on cotton and takes on the warmth of the fibres. Coated white gives the clearest reading, while coloured stocks can turn it mustard or greenish; foil is better when yellow needs to cover a dark sheet.
What to know before you specify one
- The same ink is not the same colour on the two stocks. On coated sheets the ink sits on a sealed surface: denser, brighter, sharper edges. On uncoated the fibres absorb it: softer, duller, slightly lighter, and warm colours lose the most punch. Some colours change character outright: brights go chalky, deep navies go grey-blue.
- Offset and letterpress inks are translucent. On a dark or coloured stock a light ink will not cover: it sinks into the sheet and reads tone-on-tone. For light colour on dark paper the answer is foil stamping or an opaque screen pass, never a straight PMS hit.
Colours with a full write-up
Common questions
- Do these yellows shift on uncoated stock?
- Yes. Uncoated fibres absorb the ink, so it generally reads softer and less saturated. Judge the physical chip that matches your stock.
- Can I get these yellows on dark paper?
- Standard offset and letterpress inks are translucent. For light colour on dark paper, choose opaque foil or a suitable screen-printing pass instead.
- Can you match one of these in CMYK instead?
- Sometimes. A process approximation may suit imagery, but large flat brand colours show the difference more clearly. Compare the physical references for the chosen stock.
- Is yellow ink a substitute for gold?
- No. Yellow is a colour without a metallic reflection. Choose metallic ink for a restrained sheen or gold foil for a reflective highlight.
PANTONE® is a registered trademark of Pantone LLC. Print Peppermint is not affiliated with or endorsed by Pantone LLC. Codes are referenced to identify the inks we print.