Sage is a soft, calming shade of green that brings to mind the leaves of sage plants and the natural beauty of the outdoors. As an earthy color, sage evokes feelings of comfort, relaxation, and subtle sophistication. Determining the exact Pantone color number for sage allows designers to achieve color consistency across projects and mediums when working with this versatile hue.
Understanding the Pantone Color System
Pantone is a standardized color matching system used in design, printing, manufacturing, and other industries requiring precise color reproduction. The Pantone Matching System (PMS) is a proprietary color space that consists of over 1,100 solid shades identified by numbers and letters. For example, PANTONE 12-1108 TCX is the official Pantone color designation for sage.
Here are some key things to know about the Pantone color system:
- It provides a universal language for color that allows accurate communication across designers, brands, printers, etc.
- Physical Pantone swatches and chips are used for color matching and quality control.
- Pantone utilizes a dual-notation system of a number + letter code to identify each color.
- The PMS number identifies the main hue (e.g. 12-1108).
- The letters indicate specific Pantone libraries (such as TPX, TCX, or Fashion+Home).
- Pantone is updated frequently, so color numbers may change over time.
- Pantone formulas specify exact mixes of CMYK or RGB values needed to reproduce the color.
Standardizing on Pantone colors is important for industries like graphic design, where accurate color reproduction across various substrates is required for logos, branding, and packaging. Pantone also provides inspiration and guidelines on color trends through seasonal color forecasts.
How to Identify the Pantone Color Number for Sage
If you don’t already have the specific Pantone number for a desired shade of sage, there are a couple options to determine the closest match:
Use a Pantone swatch book – Physical Pantone color swatch books and chips provide the most accurate way to pinpoint a Pantone color number. Compare sage color samples to the solid coated and uncoated swatches to find the closest match. The color’s PMS number will be printed underneath the swatch.
Use Pantone’s online color finder – Pantone offers a digital color finder tool on their website. You can browse shades and input color values like CMYK or RGB to generate the closest corresponding Pantone colors and numbers. Helpful if you don’t have the physical swatches on hand.
Use a built-in Pantone library – Many design programs like Adobe Creative Suite include built-in Pantone color libraries. You can explore Pantone colors visually and sample sage hues until you find the right match. The software will display the official PMS number.
Use a color matching tool – Some online tools allow you to upload a sage color sample image and will identify the closest matching Pantone shade and number from the database. Useful when sampling from physical objects.
Pantone Color Number for Sage Green
After comparing a variety of sage green color samples across Pantone libraries, the closest match is:
PANTONE 12-1108 TCX
This is an excellent representation of the traditional soft, muted sage green color. Let’s break down the specifics of this Pantone number:
- 12-1108 – The base Pantone number identifying the main sage green hue
- TCX – Denotes the Pantone Textile Color System library
Some key details about PANTONE 12-1108 TCX Sage Green:
| CMYK Values | 54, 17, 63, 25 |
| RGB Values | 121, 148, 115 |
| Hex Color Code | #799473 |
These CMYK, RGB, and hex values can be used to reproduce the sage Pantone color accurately in print materials, web sites, videos, and more.
PANTONE 12-1108 TCX Sage Green strikes a natural, earthy tone. It has a grayish-green appearance that evokes the subtle complexity of sage plants and foliage. The muted vibrancy makes it very versatile for pairing with other colors. It works particularly well for organic, health-focused, or nature-inspired designs.
Alternative Pantone Colors for Sage Green
Depending on the specific sage green shade needed for your project, here are some other Pantone colors that may also be suitable alternatives:
| PANTONE 16-5123 TPG | Slightly brighter, yellow-toned sage green |
| PANTONE 14-6311 TCX | Cooler, grayish sage green |
| PANTONE 17-6030 TCX | Desaturated, dusty-looking sage |
| PANTONE 18-0115 TCX | Deeper, forest sage green |
The specific Pantone library used (TPX, TCX, TPG, Fashion+Home, etc.) may also impact how the color reproduces across materials, so it’s helpful to reference physical swatches when evaluating alternatives. Consulting the Pantone color forecasts can provide guidance on sage green colors that reflect current design trends as well.
Using Sage Green Color in Design
Now that you know PANTONE 12-1108 TCX is the premier color number for sage green, how is it actually used in design?
Here are some popular ways to incorporate sage green into designs across various mediums:
Print projects – Sage works well for printed collateral like brochures, flyers, posters, and direct mail. Ensuring printers use the correct Pantone number will achieve an accurate sage green reproduction.
Logos and branding – Sage green can communicate earthy, natural, organic qualities as part of a brand identity. Using the Pantone color builds consistency across business cards, signage, packaging, and more.
Web design – Websites can feature sage backgrounds, menus, banners, and accents. Using the RGB or hex values for the Pantone shade ensures accurate sage green color on screens.
Presentations – Sage is an ideal subtle, professional background choice for PowerPoint slides, pitches, and videos. Referencing the Pantone number guarantees consistency across presentations.
Apparel – For clothing and accessories, sage works well in fabrics like cotton, linen, and chambray. Use Pantone’s textile swatches to achieve an accurate sage match for apparel.
Home decor – Painting walls, upholstering furniture, or selecting area rugs in sage can create a relaxing, organic environment. Pantone’s home library ensures correct color reproduction.
Conclusion
In summary, PANTONE 12-1108 TCX is the quintessential Pantone number that represents a traditional sage green color. This soft, muted shade evokes nature and organic vibes. Using the exact Pantone color number allows designers to achieve color accuracy and consistency across any printed, digital, or manufactured project where sage green is desired. Referencing the CMYK, RGB, or hex values associated with this Pantone shade makes reproducing an accurate sage color simple. Whether it’s for logos, marketing materials, textiles, or home decor, PANTONE 12-1108 TCX ensures you achieve the perfect sage green tone for your needs.
