Pantone greys we print
Cool Gray and Warm Gray are the quietest decision on the page and the easiest to get wrong. The temperature of the grey has to agree with the paper.
On-screen approximation: not a colour-accurate reference. Match to a physical PANTONE® chip before you sign off.
On our stocks
Cotton gives greys a gentle matte reading, while coated white makes subtle differences easier to see. Warm or coloured paper can shift a neutral grey noticeably; opaque foil is better for a pale grey on a dark sheet.
13 colours
Left: coated · Right: uncoatedWhat 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 greys 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 greys 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.
- How do I keep a grey neutral?
- Start with the paper: a warm sheet can make a cool grey read warmer. Specify the stock and its matching physical chip together rather than choosing by screen alone.
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.