The same color identifier (e.g., "16-1522") will look significantly different on matte cotton (TCX) versus glossy coated paper (C) due to substrate and coating [1, 2]. 2. Best Methods for TCX to Pantone C Conversion
| System | Full Name | Format | Best For | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | Solid Coated | Ink on coated paper | Print, packaging, branding on glossy media | | Pantone U | Solid Uncoated | Ink on uncoated paper | Print on matte, absorbent paper | | Pantone TCX | Textile Cotton eXtended | Dyed cotton fabric swatch | Apparel, textiles, soft goods manufacturing | | Pantone TPX | Textile Paper eXtended (Legacy) | Ink on coated paper | Early design inspiration, general reference |
Before we dive into the conversion process, it's essential to understand the key differences between TCX and Pantone C: tcx to pantone c
(Delta E) value to give you the mathematically closest Pantone C match. Common Conversion Approximations
: Never rely solely on a screen. Use a physical TCX Swatch Card to compare against a physical Formula Guide Coated . The same color identifier (e
Take your physical Pantone TCX cotton passport or swatch card. Open your physical Pantone Formula Guide (Coated). Place the fabric directly on top of the paper color chips.
: While primarily used for CMYK, the Color Bridge Guide can help you visually compare a printed PMS C color against your TCX swatch card. Common Conversion Approximations : Never rely solely on
to identify the corresponding Pantone C color.
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ PANTONE COLOR SYSTEMS │ └─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ │ ┌─────────────────────┴─────────────────────┐ ▼ ▼ Fashion, Home + Interiors (FHI) Formula Guide │ │ ▼ ▼ TCX (Textile Cotton X-Ref) Pantone C (Coated) • Substrate: Cotton fabric • Substrate: Glossy paper • Use: Apparel, bedding, soft goods • Use: Print, packaging, digital What is Pantone TCX?
Method 1: Use the Official Pantone Color Finder Tool (Digital)