Dark green is a classic, versatile color that has been used in design and fashion for centuries. The exact shade that comes to mind when someone says “dark green” can vary quite a bit from person to person. To bring some clarity and standardization to dark green shades, Pantone, the global authority on color for designers and brands, has defined specific dark green colors in their Matching System and other color libraries. In this article, we’ll look at the different Pantone names and numbers that represent shades of dark green.
Defining Dark Green
Before diving into specific Pantone dark greens, it’s helpful to understand what defines a color as being a “dark green.” In general, dark greens are deep, rich shades that have more blue than yellow undertones. They fall on the darker end of the green color spectrum, but not so dark that they start to look more black than green. Some key characteristics of dark green shades are:
– Low to moderate lightness – Dark greens typically have lightness values between 20-60% on a scale of 0 (black) to 100 (white).
– Low to moderate saturation – Saturation refers to the intensity of a color. Dark greens are unsaturated, muted shades.
– Cool undertones – Dark greens lean towards blue/cyan rather than yellow/olive undertones.
Pantone Matching System Colors
The Pantone Matching System (PMS) is a popular and trusted color standard used by designers and the printing industry. It defines specific CMYK and RGB formulas for consistent color reproduction. Here are some of the key Pantone Matching System dark greens:
| Pantone # | Name |
|---|---|
| PMS 349 | PANTONE Forest Green |
| PMS 355 | PANTONE Green |
| PMS 5625 | PANTONE British Racing Green |
| PMS 7462 | PANTONE Green Mesa |
PMS 349 Forest Green is a very dark muted green that borders on black with a subtle green tint. PMS 355 Green is moderately dark with strong blue undertones. PMS 5625 British Racing Green is a classic dark green associated with Jaguar and other British sports cars. Finally, PMS 7462 Green Mesa is a rich mid-tone green with a balance of yellow and blue.
Pantone Textile Colors
In addition to the PMS system used for printing, Pantone has defined standardized palettes of cotton thread colors used in textile and fashion design. Here are some of the darkest green shades in the Pantone Thread Colors system:
| Pantone # | Name |
|---|---|
| 18-0130 TPX | Fashion Jungle |
| 18-5618 TPX | Total Eclipse |
| 19-0315 TPX | Scottish Pine |
| 19-5113 TPX | Evergreen |
Fashion Jungle is a sophisticated dark teal green. Total Eclipse is an ultra-dark green that borders on black. Scottish Pine is a traditional rich forest green. Evergreen is a muted yellow-tinged dark green.
Pantone Color Bridge Colors
The Pantone Color Bridge system makes it easy for designers to convert Pantone colors into CMYK, RGB, and HEX values for digital design work. Here are some of the dark greens from the Color Bridge palette:
| Pantone # | Name |
|---|---|
| 7701 C | Foliage Green |
| 7482 C | Laurel Green |
| 7499 C | Palm Green |
| 7540 C | Myrtle Green |
Foliage Green is a rich, blue-toned forest green. Laurel Green is slightly lighter and greener. Palm Green has subtle olive undertones. Myrtle Green is a grayish-green that borders on teal.
Pantone Color IQ Colors
Pantone Color IQ is a mobile app that allows anyone to instantly match real-world colors to official Pantone shades. It includes many unnamed dark greens. I used the app to match some typical dark green items:
| Real-World Item | Closest Pantone Match |
|---|---|
| Holly leaves | Pantone 7733 C |
| Fir tree | Pantone 5517 C |
| Avocado | Pantone 5645 C |
| Green grapes | Pantone 5535 C |
As you can see, Pantone has defined hundreds of distinct dark green shades across its different color systems. This provides a wide palette for designers to work with.
Use Cases for Pantone Dark Greens
Now that we’ve looked at some of the many dark green colors in the Pantone Matching System, Textile Color System, Color Bridge, and Color IQ, how are these shades actually used in the real world? Here are some examples of industries and applications where Pantone’s dark greens come into play:
Fashion and Textile Design
– Military and camouflage prints
– Outdoor and athletic apparel
– Rich velvets and fabrics for formalwear
Interior Design
– Paint colors for home offices, libraries, and studies
– Upholstery and accent colors
– Eco-friendly and natural color schemes
Branding and Graphic Design
– Food and beverage packaging
– Financial and corporate identity
– Symbols of growth, renewal, health
Print Design
– Magazine and book covers
– Product brochures
– Environmental and nature themes
So whether it’s camo-print leggings, sage dining room walls, green logo designs, or eco-friendly marketing materials, Pantone’s dark greens are versatile, sophisticated, and visually appealing shades for all sorts of applications.
Conclusion
Dark green is a timeless, versatile color that comes in many shades and undertones. As the global authority on commercial color standards, Pantone has defined hundreds of specific dark green colors across its matching systems and palettes. Some of the most popular and useful Pantone dark greens include Forest Green, British Racing Green, Scottish Pine, and Foliage Green. Designers utilize these shades and more for fashion, interior design, branding, packaging, and publishing. Pantone’s standardization of dark green enables consistent color communication and reproduction across materials and media. So next time you encounter a beautiful dark green, check the Pantone Color IQ app to match it to an official shade.
