Pantone Coated vs Uncoated: What C and U Really Mean

Every Pantone color comes in more than one version — most commonly C (coated) and U (uncoated). Picking the wrong one is one of the most common reasons a printed brand color looks “off”.

The short answer

• C – Coated: the color as it appears on glossy or silk paper with a clay coating. Ink sits on top of the surface, so colors look rich and saturated.
• U – Uncoated: the color as it appears on uncoated paper such as office paper, letterhead, kraft or recycled stock. The paper absorbs ink, so the color looks lighter, flatter and less vivid.

The ink formula is the same. What changes is the paper — and therefore how the color looks.

Why uncoated paper changes the color

Uncoated paper is porous. Ink soaks into the fibers and spreads slightly (dot gain), and the rough surface scatters light. The result is a softer, slightly darker-looking but less saturated color than on coated paper.

Which one should you use?

Printing on…	Use
Brochures, magazines, glossy packaging, labels	Coated (C)
Letterheads, envelopes, notebooks, books	Uncoated (U)
Kraft boxes, recycled paper	Uncoated (U)

Many brands specify both — for example PMS 286 C for glossy materials and PMS 286 U for stationery — so their color looks consistent across every material.

Converting with the right finish

Our converters let you switch between Coated (C) and Uncoated (U) results. Try it with the HEX to Pantone converter: enter your brand color, then compare the coated and uncoated matches.

Other Pantone suffixes

You may also see:

• CP / UP — Color Bridge simulations of the color in four-color process.
• TCX / TPX / TPG — Pantone Fashion, Home + Interiors colors for textiles and products.

These belong to different Pantone libraries and are not interchangeable with C and U graphics colors.

Key takeaways

• C = coated paper, U = uncoated paper.
• Same ink, different appearance.
• Choose the version that matches the paper you will actually print on.