How do I find the PMS color of my logo?
By Promogator Staff
Reviewed Nov 4, 2026 2 min read
Check your brand guidelines or the original vector logo file first, since PMS (Pantone) numbers are often listed there. In Adobe Illustrator, open the Swatches panel and look for spot colors with a Pantone name. If you have only a flat image, ask the designer or printer to match it to the closest Pantone color.
- PMS and Pantone are the same thing: the Pantone Matching System.
- Look in brand guidelines or the original vector file first.
- Illustrator's Swatches panel shows Pantone names for spot colors.
- A JPG or PNG holds no Pantone data, so a color must be matched.
- Match against a physical Pantone swatch book, not your screen.
PMS and Pantone are the same thing
PMS stands for Pantone Matching System. So "PMS color" and "Pantone color" mean the same thing. Each color has a number and a suffix, such as 186 C. The C means the color is shown on coated paper. U means uncoated.
Printers and embroiderers use these numbers to match your brand color closely from one order to the next.
Where your logo's PMS numbers may already be
Try these in order:
- Brand guidelines. Most style guides list PMS, CMYK, RGB and hex values for each brand color.
- The original logo file. Vector files (AI, EPS, SVG, PDF) often keep the color definitions. Open an AI or EPS file in Adobe Illustrator and look at the Swatches panel. A swatch named "PANTONE" followed by a number is a spot color. Click an object in the logo and check its fill to see which swatch it uses.
- Past print jobs. An old business card, banner, sign or order proof may list the numbers.
- Your designer or the agency that made the logo. They usually know.
If you only have a JPG, PNG or screenshot
A flat image stores colors as RGB values. It does not store a Pantone number. Software can show you the RGB or hex value, but there is no exact conversion to Pantone. You can only find the closest match.
Your options:
- Ask a designer or decorator to match it. They compare the color to Pantone references and pick the nearest number.
- Use a physical Pantone swatch book. Hold your printed logo next to the swatches in natural light and choose the closest one.
- Use a lookup tool. Pantone's own color finder can suggest near matches for a hex value. Treat the result as a starting point.
Mistakes to avoid
- Trusting your screen. Monitors vary, and a screen cannot show a Pantone color exactly.
- Guessing between coated and uncoated. The same number can look different on each. Ask which one suits the item.
- Assuming CMYK and PMS are interchangeable. CMYK is a mix of four inks. A Pantone color is a specific premixed ink. Some bright brand colors cannot be reproduced exactly in CMYK.
- Expecting every method to match. Embroidery uses thread, which has its own color range. Thread is matched to the nearest Pantone, so a small shift is normal.
What to send when you order
Send your best logo file, ideally a vector, and any Pantone numbers you know. If you don't know them, say so. The decoration team can match the closest colors and list them on the proof, so you can check them before anything is made.
Step by step
-
Check your brand guidelines
Look for a color page listing PMS or Pantone numbers for each brand color.
-
Open the original vector file
Open the AI, EPS or PDF logo in Illustrator. Check the Swatches panel and the fill of each logo element for Pantone-named swatches.
-
Ask whoever made the logo
Contact your designer, agency or a past printer. Old proofs and print jobs often list the numbers.
-
Match a flat image by eye
If you only have a JPG or PNG, compare a printed copy to a physical Pantone swatch book in natural light and pick the closest number.
-
Choose coated or uncoated
Note the C or U suffix. Ask your decorator which suits the product and material.
-
Confirm on the proof
Send your artwork and numbers, then check that the colors listed on the proof look right before you approve.
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People also ask
What are my logo's Pantone numbers?
They are listed in your brand guidelines or stored in the original vector file. If neither exists, a designer or decorator can match your logo's colors to the closest Pantone numbers.
How do I know my brand's PMS colors?
Ask whoever created your logo, or check old print jobs and style guides. If the colors were never defined, have them matched once and write the numbers down so every future order uses the same ones.
Where can I look up my Pantone color?
Use a physical Pantone swatch book, or the color finder on Pantone's website. Both help you compare. Only the printed swatch is a true reference, because screens show colors differently.
Can I convert a hex code to a Pantone number?
Not exactly. Hex is an RGB screen value, and Pantone is a printed ink system. Tools can suggest the nearest Pantone match, but a person should confirm it against a physical swatch.
