Emma Davis Print Production Specialist at 4OVER4.COM
Emma is our prepress and print production voice, built from the knowledge of our production team, with over 20 years in printing.
Question
Should I use the Coated or Uncoated Pantone guide for my conversion?
Answer
Match the swatch guide to the paper you are actually printing on. The same Pantone ink looks noticeably different on a coated versus an uncoated sheet, so picking the wrong reference bakes color error into the job before it even starts.
- Coated (C): use for glossy, satin, or silk stocks. Ink sits on top of the surface, so colors look brighter and more saturated.
- Uncoated (U): use for matte, linen, or natural uncoated paper. The surface absorbs ink, so colors appear softer and slightly muted.
- Order of operations: pick the paper, choose the matching guide, then approve the color.
When a brand color must hold across different stocks, note both the C and U values so each print run references the right one.
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