Standard Ink Color Chart and Custom/PMS Color Matching for Embossed Aluminum License Plates

For items #40031, #40033, #40035, #40037, #40431, #40831, #42031

For spot-color screen-printed plates, unless you request otherwise, we’ll automatically create and print your plates using one or more of the standard colors in the chart below.

Color accuracy. Keep in mind that display of these or any other colors on computer screens is approximate only. This is due to the differences between how monitors display color from one to the next, which can vary significantly. If you need to match a specific or preexisting color, it’s very important due to such monitor differences not to rely on computer screens for color accuracy. For color-matching, printers use the Pantone Matching System (PMS). This system utilizes physically printed color swatch books produced under highly controlled conditions and distributed/ sold to the printing industry centrally by the Pantone corporation to ensure absolute color consistency. PMS colors as viewed in physically printed Pantone swatch books, referred to by their PMS number, ensure everyone looking at a Pantone swatch book is seeing the exact same colors when making color selections.

Pantone/PMS color match available at no additional charge. If you need more exact color, we can match any Pantone Matching System color. In lieu of a Pantone swatch number, you can send a physical item by postal mail for us to match as well. Do understand, though, that screen-printing inks use different pigment types than regular commercial printing inks on which the Pantone system is based, so Pantone matches in screen-printing are often less exact and perfect matches are not guaranteed. See important comments in this regard on our color accuracy page and the related discussion on our FAQ page.

Color names/numbers. The swatches below are labeled with both the common color name (above the swatch) we’ve assigned, as well as the equivalent Pantone/ PMS swatch name or number (below the swatch). Also note that the Pantone names/ numbers here correspond to the “coated”/ glossy-finish version of the Pantone swatches, as opposed to the “uncoated”/ matte-finish version.

Color swatches shown are approximate only, due to differences between computer monitors, which can and do vary significantly.

See our color accuracy page for further information about color-matching limitations.

Black

White

Purple

Violet

Navy Blue

Dark Denim Blue

Black color swatch White color swatch PMS 2612 Purple color swatch PMS 268 Violet color swatch PMS 295 Navy Blue color swatch PMS 541 Dark Denim Blue color swatch

Black

Used only on non-white tag bla nks

PMS 2612
(brighter with more red than Violet swatch)

PMS 268
(bluer/ darker than Purple swatch)

PMS 295

PMS 541

 
Dark Blue

Deep
Royal Blue

Medium
Royal Blue

 
Rich Blue

 
Bright Blue

Columbia
Blue

PMS Reflex Blue color swatch PMS 286 Deep Royal Blue color swatch PMS 2935 Medium Royal Blue color swatch PMS 301 Rich Blue color swatch PMS Process Blue color swatch PMS 279 Columbia Blue color swatch

PMS Reflex Blue (similar to U.S. Postal Service’s “Priority Mail” blue)

PMS 286

PMS 2935

PMS 301

PMS Process Blue

PMS 279
(like sky blue but darker with no aqua)

Pale Blue

Teal Blue

Teal Green

Cool Green

Hunter Green

Forest Green

PMS 277 Pale Blue color swatch PMS 3145 Teal Blue color swatch PMS 327 Teal Green color swatch PMS Basic Green color swatch PMS 350 Hunter Green color swatch PMS 343 Forest Green color swatch

PMS 277

PMS 3145

PMS 327

PMS Basic Green (a very bright green with a hint of teal)

PMS 350

PMS 343

Emerald
Green

 
Kelly Green

 
Spring Green

 
Lime Green

Light
Sage Green

Light
Cream Yellow

PMS 334 Emerald Green color swatch PMS 348 Kelly Green color swatch PMS 362 Spring Green color swatch PMS 368 Lime Green color swatch PMS 621 Light Sage Green color swatch PMS 607 Light Cream Yellow color swatch

Between
PMS 334 (bluer than Kelly Green swatch)

PMS 348
(less blue than Emerald swatch)

PMS 362

PMS 368

PMS 621

PMS 607

 
Yellow

Medium
Yellow

 
Goldenrod

Soft
Yellow-Gold

Medium
Yellow-Gold

Bright
Yellow-Gold

PMS Basic Yellow color swatch PMS 116 Medium Yellow color swatch PMS 117 Goldenrod color swatch PMS 124 Soft Yellow-Gold color swatch PMS 131 Medium Yellow-Gold color swatch PMS 1235 Bright Yellow-Gold color swatch

PMS
Basic Yellow

PMS 116

PMS 117

PMS 124
(more pleasing on black plate than PMS 131 at right)

PMS 131
(stands out better on white plate than PMS 124 at left)

PMS 1235
(brighter with more orange than PMS 124 at left)

Yellow-Orange

Pumpkin Orange

Orange

Orange-Red

Bright Red

Cardinal Red

PMS 1375 Yellow-Orange color swatch PMS 144 Pumpkin Orange color swatch PMS 021 Basic Orange color swatch PMS Warm Red color swatch PMS 185 Bright Red color swatch PMS 1935 Cardinal Red color swatch

PMS 1375

PMS 144

PMS 021
Basic Orange

PMS Warm Red

PMS 185

PMS 1935

Brick Red

Bright Pink

Rhodamine Red

Rubine Red

Maroon

Burgundy

PMS 1807 Brick Red color swatch PMS 232 Bright Pink color swatch PMS Rhodamine Red color swatch PMS Rubine Red swatch PMS 202 Maroon color swatch PMS 216 Burgundy color swatch

PMS 1807

PMS 232

PMS Rhodamine Red (between a magenta and a hot pink)

PMS Rubine Red (between a magenta and Bright Red above)

PMS 202
(more red than Burgundy swatch)

PMS 216
(more purple than Maroon swatch)

Dark Brown

Medium Brown

Tan

Light Tan

 

 

PMS 732 Dark Brown color swatch PMS 1615 Medium Brown color swatch PMS 722 Tan color swatch PMS 726 Light Tan swatch

PMS 732

PMS 1615

PMS 722

PMS 726

 

 

Medium
Gray

Light
Gray

Metallic
Silver

Metallic
Gold

Metallic
Copper

 

PMS 430 Medium Gray color swatch PMS 428 Light Gray color swatch PMS 877 Metallic Silver color swatch PMS 872 Metallic Gold color swatch PMS 876 Metallic Copper swatch

PMS 430

PMS 428

PMS 877
(see comments about metallic appearance on our color accuracy page)

PMS 872
(see comments about metallic appearance on our color accuracy page)

PMS 876
(see comments about metallic appearance on our color accuracy page)

 

See our color accuracy page for exact-color limitations.