Greys · spot ink
PMS Cool Gray 11 U
Pantone® Cool Gray 11 Uncoated — PANTONE Cool Gray 11 on uncoated stock
Translucent — will not cover dark stock. Printers write it PMS Cool Gray 11 U; brand guidelines usually write it Pantone® Cool Gray 11 Uncoated. Same ink, same plate — the letter is the paper it lands on. On coated stock the same colour is PMS Cool Gray 11 C, and it does not look the same.
- Secondary type
- Two-colour work with a strong accent
On-screen approximation — not a colour-accurate reference. Match to a physical PANTONE® chip before you sign off.
Coated vs uncoated, honestly
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.
| Stock | Reference | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Coated | Cool Gray 11 C | Denser and brighter. Ink sits on a sealed surface, edges stay sharp. |
| Uncoated | Cool Gray 11 U | Softer and less saturated. Fibres absorb the ink; expect a step down in punch. |
How it behaves in production
- The workhorse dark grey. Deep enough to read as near-black on coated, soft enough to stay a grey on uncoated.
- Grey is where paper temperature shows most: a cool grey on a warm cream sheet looks green. Match the temperature of the grey to the temperature of the stock.
On dark stock
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.
See the foil directoryThe paper matters as much as the ink
A CMYK build of a spot colour is an approximation, not the colour. It matters most on large flat solids, on brand-critical marks, and in the brights and deep blues where process simply cannot reach. It matters least in small type and inside photography.
Browse the paper directoryCommon questions
- What does PANTONE Cool Gray 11 look like on uncoated paper?
- Softer, duller and a touch lighter than the coated chip. Uncoated fibres absorb the ink instead of letting it sit on a sealed surface, so saturation drops across the board. The uncoated swatch here is modelled from the coated approximation — order a printed sample before you sign off.
- Can you print PANTONE Cool Gray 11 on dark or coloured stock?
- Not as a standard ink hit. PANTONE Cool Gray 11 is translucent, so on dark stock the paper colour comes through and the result is tone-on-tone. For this colour on dark paper we foil stamp or run an opaque screen instead.
- Can PANTONE Cool Gray 11 be matched in CMYK?
- Sometimes. A process build is usually acceptable inside imagery or small type and usually visible on a large flat solid or a brand mark. If this is your brand colour, keep it a spot.
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.
Pairs beautifully with
Three combinations that hold up on press. Open one and the Studio starts with the stock, the foil and the ink already locked in.
PANTONE Cool Gray 11 on Gmund Colors Matt 66 · Seafoam
PANTONE Cool Gray 11 on Gmund Colors Matt 66 · Seafoam. Ink is translucent: on a pale mint aqua sheet the printed colour shifts toward the paper. Sign off against a printed sample, not the chip.
Compatibility matrix
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PANTONE Cool Gray 11 on Gmund Cotton Gentlemen Blue
PANTONE Cool Gray 11 on Gmund Cotton Gentlemen Blue. Ink is translucent: on a saturated cornflower blue sheet the printed colour shifts toward the paper. Sign off against a printed sample, not the chip.
Compatibility matrix
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PANTONE Cool Gray 11 on Gmund Heidi Dull Black 530gsm
PANTONE Cool Gray 11 on Gmund Heidi Dull Black 530gsm. Ink is translucent: on a dull matte black, dyed through sheet the printed colour shifts toward the paper. Sign off against a printed sample, not the chip.
Compatibility matrix
Start this combination