

Pantone came out with its color palettes for Spring/Summer 2019 and for the 2019/2020 Fall/Winter season. These colors can 'up your game' by making your designs, patterns, and artwork consistent and beautiful. Before I tried these color combinations, I desaturated the palettes to get a better look at the tonal values they possessed. While these colors are deep, rich, and appear varied I discovered that many were very similar in tonal values. The grayscale version of the palettes show which colors should or should not be used together to prevent a muddy, blah color scheme. As always, Pantone doesn't disappoint us with it's fun, witty, and sometimes bizarre descriptive names!

The Living Coral is the color of the year. Unfortunately this palette has little contrast between values.

This palette has a little more contrast, I love the retro look to these colors!

I'm not sure where Pantone got the names for these colors, Terrarium Moss would not taste good with a Mango Mojito, but the colors look fabulous! On closer examination you can see there are only two real contrasting values.

These neutrals bring it all together, I love how contrasty it is, offering solutions to a color scheme that would otherwise have little tonal difference. It balances and creates a satisfying and engaging stability.


Pantone did a little better with contrasting values with their fall and winter colors. Your projects might still need some creative color swapping between palettes. There are no pale pastels but strong colors with a voice.

These colors remind me of cranberry ice, for early winter and holiday celebrations!

The values in this palette are 'iffy', not much chance on getting away with it. I'd try swapping out one color for one of the neutrals. It would be hard to separate these retro colors (Fruit Dove, who knew?).

These moody colors could represent fall or a late winter with promises of spring around the corner.
