Color practice
Pantone and digital workflows: use references without false precision
Named color systems are valuable references, but a screen approximation should never be mistaken for a physical swatch.
A reference system is not a CSS value
Pantone and other reference systems exist to make physical color conversations more repeatable. A HEX code is built for a screen; a named or numbered swatch belongs to a different production context.
When a brief gives you a reference color, record the source system and the intended material. Avoid presenting an online approximation as the official physical color.
Keep the hand-off legible
Use a digital approximation for the interface or concept board, then bring the physical reference into proofing. Keep a note of the display profile, paper or substrate, and lighting conditions for any critical decision.
For a web palette, the more useful question is often not “what is the exact equivalent?” but “what role, contrast, and mood should this reference create on screen?”