How to Find Your Pantone® Color for Letterpress Printing
Pantone® colors are the industry standard for specifying print color. Blue Press Ink offers inks identified by Pantone color names and numbers, allowing printers to work within a familiar, standardized color system.
This guide walks through how to find a Pantone color using Pantone’s official tools, and how to use that information when ordering ink from Blue Press Ink.
Step 1: Open Pantone Connect
Start by going to Pantone’s official website. From the homepage, click the Pantone Connect square in the top navigation bar.
Step 2: Click “Try It Free”
On the Pantone Connect page, click the Try It Free button. This will take you into Pantone’s online color browsing tool.
Step 3: Create a Free Pantone Account
To access the color tools, create a free Pantone account. You can sign up using your email address or one of the available sign-in options.
When prompted to select what you do, choose Graphics. This ensures you are shown the most relevant color tools for print work.
Step 4: Locate the Color Library Selector
After registering, the screen will populate with color tiles. Focus on the black library selector box near the bottom center of the page.
This control determines which Pantone color system you are viewing and is an important step before choosing a color.
Step 5: Select the Pantone Matching System (PMS)
In the black library selector box, click the down arrow to view available Pantone color systems. Scroll through the list and locate the Pantone Matching System (PMS) for Graphics.
For letterpress printing, choose either Pantone Solid Coated V5 or Pantone Solid Uncoated V5, depending on the paper you plan to print on.
Step 6: Find and Record Your Pantone Number
After selecting the correct Pantone guide, the page will fill with color tiles. As you hover over each tile, the Pantone (PMS) number will appear.
This Pantone number (for example, Pantone 185 C or Pantone 072 U) is the number you will use when ordering ink.
Step 7: Send Us Your Pantone Number
Once you’ve identified your Pantone number, email it to us and we’ll confirm that it’s one we mix.
We’re happy to double-check the number, answer any questions, and make sure everything is set up correctly before you place your order. If you’ve made it this far — congratulations, you’ve done the hard part.
Email your Pantone number to info@bluepressink.com and we’ll take it from there.
Pantone® is a registered trademark of Pantone LLC. Screenshots are used for instructional purposes only. Blue Press Ink is not affiliated with or endorsed by Pantone LLC.
About Us
About Blue Press Ink
Blue Press Ink was born from a passion for printmaking and letterpress. As the letterpress and specialty printmaking side of Southern Ink grew, it became clear that these products needed their own focus. Blue Press Ink emerged as a dedicated division, designed to serve printers, artists, and studios with professional-grade inks tailored specifically to their craft. The name “Blue Press” comes from our roots in Blue, Texas—a nod to the community and place where our journey began.
Our Mission
We exist to provide inks that combine reliability, versatility, and beautiful results on every sheet. Every formulation reflects a careful balance of tradition and innovation—drawing from the rich history of oil-based inks while introducing modern refinements for consistency, ease of use, and creative flexibility.
What Makes Blue Press Ink Different?
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Hybrid Technology: Stays open on the press like a rubber base but dries hard on the sheet like an oil base—perfect for long runs without smudging or waste.
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Superior Print Quality: Smooth rollout, strong pigmentation, and crisp impressions for bold solids, fine type, and layered effects.
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Versatility & Reliability: Trusted by small studios and professional shops alike, our inks perform consistently across uncoated, coated, cotton, and specialty papers.
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Made for Printers: Designed around the real needs of letterpress and printmaking professionals, ensuring dependable performance for every project.
Blue Press Ink is more than just a product line—it’s a dedicated home for printmakers who value craftsmanship, creativity, and quality. By becoming its own company, Blue Press Ink can focus fully on supporting this vibrant community, helping you bring your visions to life, one perfect impression at a time.
𝒞𝑜𝓂𝓂𝒾𝓉 𝓎𝑜𝓊𝓇 𝓌𝑜𝓇𝓀 𝓉𝑜 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝐿𝑜𝓇𝒹,
𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝓎𝑜𝓊𝓇 𝓅𝓁𝒶𝓃𝓈 𝓌𝒾𝓁𝓁 𝒷𝑒 𝑒𝓈𝓉𝒶𝒷𝓁𝒾𝓈𝒽𝑒𝒹.
— 𝒫𝓇𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓇𝒷𝓈 𝟣𝟨:𝟥
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