Find Pantone Equivalents in Adobe Photoshop: Fast and Simple Guide
Let’s say a client asks you: “Can you send me the Pantone code for our logo?” and let’s say their logo wasn’t set up using Pantone colors? It used to be a fairly simple request, especially if you had the Adobe suite and knew where to look. Since late 2022 the Pantone libraries haven’t been available in Adobe though. So now what?
Here’s a quick step-by-step guide on how to get the approximate Pantone color from any image using Photoshop if you have the older versions and what to do now if you have upgraded.
Adobe Photoshop 2022 Or Earlier
Whether you’re prepping a design for print or just want to match brand colors accurately, here’s how you do it:
- Open your image in Photoshop
Load up the file that contains the color you want to match—like a logo, product photo, or design mockup. - Grab the Eyedropper Tool
Select the Eyedropper Tool (shortcut: I) from the toolbar on the left. - Click on the Color You Want to Match
Use the Eyedropper to select the part of the image that contains the color you’re trying to find a Pantone match for. - Open the Color Picker
Once you’ve selected the color, click the Foreground Color swatch (at the bottom of the toolbar) to bring up the Color Picker window. - Click “Color Libraries”
Inside the Color Picker, you’ll see a button labeled Color Libraries—click it. This brings up Photoshop’s built-in Pantone matching system. - Choose Your Pantone Library
From here, select the Pantone library you want to use (such as Pantone Solid Coated or Pantone Solid Uncoated). Photoshop will automatically show the closest Pantone match to your selected color.
And that’s it! You’ve got your Pantone code.
Important: Keep in mind this method gives you the closest match—it may not be 100% exact, especially if the original color doesn’t exist in the Pantone system. But it’s a solid starting point for most design and print projects.
Adobe Photoshop Updated Versions
In recent updates to Adobe Photoshop, users were surprised to discover that Pantone color libraries have been removed from the software. This move is part of a shift in the licensing agreement between Adobe and Pantone, and it’s left many designers scrambling to figure out how to accurately use Pantone colors in their workflows. If you’re one of them, don’t worry — there are ways to still work with Pantone colors.
Use the Pantone Connect Plugin
Pantone has released an official plugin called Pantone Connect, available through Adobe Exchange or the Creative Cloud marketplace. Prewarning, the reviews are not good. If you want to take a look for yourself, check out Pantone Connect on Adobe Exchange here.
How to Install Pantone Connect
- Open Photoshop.
- Go to Window > Extensions (Legacy) or Plugins > Browse Plugins.
- Search for Pantone Connect in the Creative Cloud marketplace.
- Install the plugin and restart Photoshop if needed.
- Log in or create a free Pantone account.
Pricing
Free tier: Gives access to some Pantone libraries and features.
Paid tier (~$7.99/month as of writing): Unlocks full color libraries, tools, and palettes.
Note: The free tier has limited functionality and may not include access to all color books like Pantone Solid Coated or Uncoated.
Use Pantone Color Bridge or Printed Books
If you have access to a Pantone Color Bridge guide (printed version), you can manually look up color values and recreate them using CMYK or RGB color modes.
Use Photoshop’s Color Picker to manually input the closest values. Not ideal for digital precision, but useful for rough approximations.
Load Legacy ACB Files (If You Have Them)
Before the removal, Photoshop stored Pantone colors in .acb (Adobe Color Book) files. If you still have access to an older version of Photoshop, or a backup of those files, you can manually copy them into the new version.
You can always install older versions of Photoshop as well to gain access to them to complete this process.
- Locate your old Pantone .acb files:
On Windows:
Program Files > Adobe > Adobe Photoshop > Presets > Color Books
On Mac:
/Applications/Adobe Photoshop/Presets/Color Books - Copy the desired .acb files (e.g., Pantone+ Solid Coated.acb).
- Paste them into the same folder in your current Photoshop installation.
- Restart Photoshop.
- Go to Swatches > Color Books and check if the Pantone libraries appear.
Legal Note: Use of these legacy files may violate licensing agreements depending on your region or intended use. Proceed at your own discretion.
Use Online Pantone Color Finders
Pantone offers a free online color finder on their official website. You’ll still have to create an account and login though. Once you have done that:
- Search for a Pantone color (e.g., 186 C).
- View RGB and HEX values.
- Manually enter those values in Photoshop.
Final Thoughts
Yes, Adobe’s removal of Pantone colors from Photoshop is frustrating for many creatives. But with a little extra effort, you can still maintain color accuracy and keep your design workflow consistent. Whether you go the official route with Pantone Connect or stick with manual methods, you now have several ways to keep those colors in your palette.
Have you found a workaround or tool not listed here? Share it in the comments, the design community could use it!