Pantone introduces the SkinTone™ Guide

Pantone, the global reference for colors and provider of professional tools for designers, has launched Pantone SkinToneTM. This is an exciting new collection with 110 skin tones that can be used for inspiration and whenever skin tones need to be combined with a color standard. 

Pantone created this guide using the scientific measurement of thousands of real skin tones across the spectrum of human skin types. Specially created to be the closest real image of skin colors, the library is a full visual reference of human skin tones whenever skin colors are relevant.

Pantone SkinToneTM Guide with 110 skin tone shades, photo source: graphicsdirect.co.uk

This guide includes a wide and subtle range of human skin tones.

The SkinToneTM Guide developed by the Pantone Institute is the only worldwide color standard available to accurately match and reveal skin tones.

The Pantone SkinTone Guide numbering system is simple. 

Each Pantone SkinTone number consists of a four-digit alphanumeric. The first two positions reflect the skin tone or undertone. The other two positions represent the tone/lightness and skin darkness. 

Pantone SkinTone includes a color index with 110 colors numbered from 1Y01 SP to 4R15 SP. Each color is identified by a unique Pantone number representing both tone and undertone. The colors are developed to highlight the best color match under D65 (Daylight 6500K) lighting. The Pantone guide features a large-size color sampler with a central hole for easy color evaluation and matching.

The first two positions reflect the skin tone shade/undertone, the other two positions are the tone/lightness and skin darkness. photo source: diyphotography.com

The Pantone SkinToneTM Guide: Recommendation for use

The Pantone SkinToneTM Guide is recommended for industries such as beauty, fashion, product design, photography, printing, packaging/graphical design, and medical design. 

Since technology should blend harmoniously with art and the ambience, BenQ issued a press release about manufacturing the world's first monitors for validating Pantone SkinToneTM: PD3205U and PD2705U models. 

"Pantone SkinTone Validated certification assures designers and photographers of displaying authentic real-world colors and accurately conveying the skin tone palette," said Conway Lee, president of BenQ Corporation. 

Pantone SkinTone Validated is an extension of the guide and reassures professionals that such devices comply with the Pantone Matching System (PMS) and accurately display natural skin tones.

SkinTone™ Guide by Pantone, photo source: torso.de