Pantone Colour Matching for Tissue Paper: Getting Your Brand Colours Right

Your brand colours are one of the most recognisable elements of your business identity. When customers see your signature shade, they should immediately think of your brand. That is why colour accuracy matters so much when printing custom tissue paper.

Pantone colour matching is the gold standard for ensuring your tissue paper is printed in exactly the right colours. This guide explains how it works, why it matters, and how to get the best results.

What Is the Pantone Matching System?

The Pantone Matching System (PMS) is a standardised colour reproduction system used across the printing and design industries worldwide. Each colour is assigned a unique reference number, ensuring that a colour printed in London looks identical to the same colour printed in Manchester, New York, or Tokyo.

When you specify a Pantone colour for your tissue paper, you are giving the printer an exact colour formula to follow, eliminating guesswork and ensuring consistency across every batch.

Why Pantone Matching Matters for Tissue Paper

Brand Consistency

Your tissue paper is part of your brand experience. If the shade of blue on your tissue paper does not match the blue on your website, business cards, and shopping bags, it creates a subtle but noticeable inconsistency that undermines brand trust.

Customer Expectations

Regular customers develop a relationship with your packaging. They expect the same beautiful tissue paper every time they order. Pantone matching ensures that reorders are identical to the original print run.

Professional Appearance

Accurate colour reproduction signals professionalism. It tells customers that you care about every detail of their experience, right down to the shade of your tissue paper.

How Pantone Colour Matching Works

Step 1: Identify Your Pantone Colours

If you already have brand guidelines, your Pantone colours should be listed there. Common places to find your Pantone references include:

Brand guidelines document
Logo files and specifications
Previous print supplier documentation
Your graphic designer's files

If you do not know your Pantone colours, do not worry. We can help you identify the closest Pantone match to your existing branding by comparing samples from the Pantone colour book.

Step 2: Coated vs Uncoated

Pantone colours come in two versions:

Coated (C): How the colour looks on glossy, coated paper
Uncoated (U): How the colour looks on uncoated, matte paper

Since tissue paper is uncoated, you should specify the Uncoated (U) version of your Pantone colour. For example, Pantone 186 U rather than Pantone 186 C.

The same Pantone number can look noticeably different on coated versus uncoated paper, so this distinction is important.

Step 3: Providing Your Colours to the Printer

When placing your order, provide your Pantone references in one of these ways:

Include them in your artwork file
List them in your order notes
Reference them in your email or enquiry

For example: "Please print in Pantone 286 U (blue) and Pantone 186 U (red)."

Step 4: Proof Approval

Before your tissue paper goes to print, you will receive a digital proof showing the layout and colours. While screen colours are never 100% accurate (every monitor displays colours differently), the Pantone references ensure the physical print will be correct.

Spot Colour vs CMYK: Understanding the Difference

Spot Colour Printing

Spot colour printing uses pre-mixed Pantone inks. Each colour is mixed to the exact Pantone formula before printing. This method delivers the most accurate colour reproduction and is ideal for:

Logos and branding elements
Designs using 1-4 colours
When exact colour matching is critical

Our 17gsm tissue paper is perfectly suited to spot colour printing, typically with 1-2 colours.

CMYK Printing

CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Key/Black) printing creates colours by combining these four inks in different proportions. It is used for:

Full-colour photographic designs
Complex multi-colour artwork
Gradient effects

Our 30gsm tissue paper is ideal for CMYK printing, delivering photographic-quality results.

Important note: CMYK printing can closely approximate Pantone colours but may not achieve an exact match. If colour accuracy is critical, spot colour printing is the better choice.

Common Colour Challenges and Solutions

My Colours Look Different on Screen

This is completely normal. Every screen has different settings for brightness, contrast, and colour temperature. Trust your Pantone reference numbers rather than what you see on screen.

The Print Looks Different from My Business Card

Different substrates (materials) absorb ink differently. Tissue paper is more absorbent than card stock, so colours may appear slightly softer or warmer. This is a natural characteristic of the material and is factored into the printing process.

I Need an Exact Match to My Existing Packaging

Send us a physical sample of the colour you need to match. Our print team can use a spectrophotometer to identify the closest Pantone match and ensure consistency.

My Brand Uses a Custom Colour

If your brand colour does not correspond to a standard Pantone reference, we can create a custom ink mix. This may require a slightly larger minimum order, but it ensures your tissue paper is a perfect match.

Tips for Best Colour Results on Tissue Paper

Always specify Uncoated (U) Pantone references for tissue paper
Request a printed sample before committing to a large order
Keep your artwork simple — bold, clean designs reproduce best on tissue
Consider the tissue base colour — white tissue gives the truest colour reproduction
Use high-contrast designs — they look more impactful and are more forgiving of minor variations
Store colour references — keep a record of exact Pantone numbers for future reorders

Our Colour Range

We offer a huge range of tissue paper base colours, from classic white to vibrant brights and elegant metallics. You can also opt for flood-printed tissue, where the entire sheet is printed in a solid colour.

Browse our colour guide to see the full range of options available, or get in touch and we will help you find the perfect combination for your brand.

Get Your Colours Right

Ready to order custom tissue paper in your exact brand colours? Send us your Pantone references and artwork, and we will create a free proof showing exactly how your tissue paper will look. Our expert print team is always happy to advise on colour choices and printing methods.

To learn more about how Pantone matching works on tissue paper, see our colours guide for a full breakdown of spot colour vs CMYK options. Pantone themselves have a useful colour finder tool if you need to look up specific references.