Meet Ultra Violet, Pantone’s 2018 Color of the Year

In December, Pantone announced the Color of the Year for 2018, PANTONE 18-3838 Ultra Violet, a bright, cool purple hue.

Pantone describes the shade as “inventive and imaginative, Ultra Violet lights the way to what is yet to come. [It] communicates originality, ingenuity, and visionary thinking that points us toward the future.”

The Pantone Color Institute has selected a Color of the Year since 2000. Pantone’s color experts comb the world to find a color that they think best defines the zeitgeist. Past colors include last year’s Greenery, a lively yellow-green shade and 2016’s two color pick, a pairing of pale pink and soft blue.

“The Pantone Color of the Year has come to mean so much more than ‘what’s trending’ in the world of design; it’s truly a reflection of what’s needed in our world today,” says Laurie Pressman, Vice President of the Pantone Color Institute.

If you’re considering ways to use this springy color in your marketing and packaging, consider Pantone’s advice that “Ultra Violet offers complexity and nuance that appeals to our desire for originality in all that we touch.” Adding that 2018’s Color of the Year is being used by forward looking brands, personalities and artists who want to stand out.

“It’s also the most complex of all colors, because it takes two shades that are seemingly diametrically opposed — blue and red — and brings them together to create something new,” Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute, told the New York Times.

If you’re looking to differentiate your products or packaging and get noticed, consider using embellishments to increase the impact of this vibrant violet shade.

This color lends itself to nature scenes of water, sunsets, clouds or the cosmos, and print finishing effects can create a realistic look and feel. Embellishments like gloss or matte varnishes can provide visual variety in designs, incorporating pattern and texture, or be used to accent part of a design, such as a logo. Or consider pairing this purple with foil for a luxurious look that reminds us why royalty has prized the color for centuries.

Pantone has created palettes to help you incorporate the Color of the Year into your designs. They include bright colors, deeper hues, pastels, mid-tones, and metallics, to showcase the versatility of the shade. Each palette evokes a distinctive feeling. Use one of theirs or create your own to use Ultra Violet to make your business stand out.

Embossing Plus can help you find engaging ways to use Pantone’s Color of the Year in your designs by incorporating texture, foil and other embellishments to draw customers in and capture their attention.

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