Pantone history

In 1964, he launched the Pantone Color Specifier for the design market, and in the next year introduced the first artist materials application of the Pantone Matching System.

Pantone also developed new systems and guides in Hebert's first decade as owner, including, in 1968, Pantone's first Four-Color Process Guide and its Color Tint Selector for the design field.

In 1971, 3M signed on as a Pantone Color Key licensee.

In 1974, Pantone also made its first foray into the digital world of computing when it produced its Color Data System for computerized ink color formulation and matching.

Herbert took Pantone private in 1977.

In addition, in 1984, Pantone formed a new division, its Electronic Color Systems Division, established to reproduce the company's color standards in a digital system.

By 1985, Pantone had also signed on its first software licensee, Via Video.

In 1988, it also signed up QMS, Inc., as its first printer licensee, and in the next year added NEC Technologies, Océé Graphics, and Tektronix Inc. to its list.

It was also in 1989 that Pantone expanded its Textile Color System to 1,225 colors and, in a cooperative venture with Intergraph Corporation, developed its Color Interface for high-end computer systems.

The company's co-development of products would continue through the next decade, starting in 1990, when it developed its Professional Color Toolkit in conjunction with Radius Inc.

In 1991, the company expanded its textile color system to 1,701 colors.

By 1992, Adobe, Bitstream, Deneba, MultiAd Services, Quark, and Ventura had all announced support for the Pantone color system in their newest software releases.

Among other things, in 1993 it introduced its Open Color Environment (POCE), the first color management system allowing true WYSIWYG color matching.

The next year, 1994, Pantone introduced its Color Systems Cross-Reference Software as well as ColorDrive, a desktop color-management program free of specific applications.

Next, in 1995, Pantone introduced its Textile Color Swatch Files, its Foil Stamping Color Guide, and its SuperChip, all technical refinements for making color delineation as accurate as possible in different applications of the Pantone systems.

In the following year, 1998, it began shipping ColorWeb Pro, introduced its OfficeColor Assistant, an operating system add-in, and, with Apple, launched a worldwide color seminar series called "Expand Your Color Universe."

See the full list of Pantone winners starting from 2000.

2002 Source: studica.com True Red Following the devastating attacks on September 11th, Pantone chose red as a nod to patriotism.

The nation needed the hope and serenity brought forth by 2003's chosen color, Aqua Blue.

2006 Source: studica.com Sand Dollar As the mortgage crisis affected millions of Americans, Sand Dollar represented neutrality and concern for the economy.

Over-saturation can hinder a company—for example, Starbucks notoriously built too many franchises, diluted its brand, and lost nearly half of its stock value by 2008—but Pantone isn’t concerned.

One of its most ambitious offerings is the MyPantone app, which debuted in 2009 and costs $10.

2010 Source: studica.com Turquoise Still reeling in the financial crisis, Turquoise was Pantone's chosen shade to reflect compassion and healing.

In 2012, Pantone developed a swatch book of skin tones with the thinking that photo retouchers would use it to for color correcting.

For 2015 it was Marsala, a deep, liver-like maroon.

2016 Source: studica.com Rose Quartz and Serenity For the first time, Pantone chose two colors, Rose Quartz and Serenity, to represent the cultural movement toward gender equality and fluidity.

Hazzard, L. Tracy. "Why Pantone's Color of 2017 Matters to Your Business;"