Pantone Color of the Year 2021 / Tools for Designers

Color Formula & Guides

The Pantone Color of the Year 2021 can be found in the following color systems:

  • ULTIMATE GRAY

    COTTON (TCX)

    PANTONE®
    17-5104 TCX
    Ultimate Gray
    CROSS REFERENCE

    Print PANTONE 17-1504
    Ultimate Gray using best cross
    references from the Pantone
    Matching System (PMS):

    PMS SOLID COATED (INK)

    BEST MATCH
    PANTONE®
    Cool Gray 7 C
  • ILLUMINATING

    COTTON (TCX)

    PANTONE®
    13-0647 TCX
    Illuminating
    CROSS REFERENCE

    Print PANTONE
    13-0647 Illuminating
    using best cross
    references from the
    Pantone Matching
    System (PMS):

    PMS SOLID COATED (INK)

    BEST MATCH
    PANTONE®
    106 C
    ALTERNATE
    MATCH
    PANTONE®
    113 C
  • COLOR VALUES

    Visit Pantone Connect to get color values for Pantone 13-0647 Illuminating, Pantone 17-5104 Ultimate Gray, and their best PMS cross references for sRGB, Hex/HTML, CMYK, and L*a*b*

    VISIT PANTONE CONNECT ON THE WEB

    Some Pantone Connect features require creation of a free user account to access

Tools for Designers

More than 10 million designers and producers around the world rely on Pantone products and services to help define, communicate and control color from inspiration to realization – leveraging advanced X-Rite technology to achieve color consistency across various materials and finishes for graphics, fashion and product design. Pantone Standards feature digital and physical color specification and workflow tools. Read on to learn more about applying the Color of the Year 2021 across various industries, determine color values across our color systems, explore palettes and color harmonies, and more.

USAGE A marriage of strength and optimism, PANTONE 17-5104 Ultimate Gray + PANTONE 13-0647 Illuminating do not have to be used in equal proportions. Either color can take precedence, whether for apparel, beauty, home furnishings, product design, or packaging.

  • Ultimate Gray + Illuminating in Apparel and Fashion Accessories

    PANTONE 13-0647 Illuminating, punctuated by a touch of PANTONE 17-5104 Ultimate Gray, conveys a message of sunshine and strength. Enduring Ultimate Gray provides a great bouncing off point with Illuminating bringing in some brightness by way of a scarf, footwear, handbag, shawl, tops. With its energetic presence the marriage of Ultimate Gray and Illuminating are a great combination for activewear. The high visibility contrast of Illuminating and Ultimate Gray adds to its appeal for outerwear.

    SHOP Tools for Fashion Design
  • Ultimate Gray + Illuminating in Beauty

    A mix of warm and cool tones, combining PANTONE 17-5104 Ultimate Gray and PANTONE 13-0647 Illuminating in hair or nail makes a dramatic statement. Illuminating sparkles and shimmers when paired with Ultimate Gray in eye make-up.

    SHOP Tools for beauty
  • Ultimate Gray + Illuminating in Home Décor

    PANTONE 17-5104 Ultimate Gray and PANTONE 13-0647 Illuminating are a great combination to set the mood in any room in the home, adding a dose of sunshine and positivity. Juxtaposing Illuminating with Ultimate Gray in table linens, sheeting, and home accessories including pillows and tabletop infuses vitality and liveliness. Painting a front door in bright yellow Illuminating conveys a warm and welcoming message when supported by solid and dependable Ultimate Gray in the exterior finishes. The ideal combination for any office, whether in the home or in a commercial space, with Ultimate Gray providing the firm foundation for Illuminating, a vibrant yellow that heightens awareness and enhances intuition, lighting the way to the intellectual curiosity, originality, and resourcefulness of an open mind.

    SHOP Tools for home décor
  • Ultimate Gray + Illuminating in Packaging and Multi-Media Design

    Pairing PANTONE 13-0647 Illuminating, the color of highest visibility and reflectivity with resilient PANTONE 17-5104 Ultimate Gray produces a visually noticeable message no matter where it appears. The coupling of friendly Illuminating with quietly assuring Ultimate Gray infuses a message of vitality into a firm foundation of reliability, wisdom and experience for packaging and multi-media design.

    SHOP Tools for graphics