# Saint Standard — print colour references

Reviewed 23 September 2026. Digital targets are unchanged. CMYK values below use one defined coated-print profile; PMS references are a researched shortlist, not verified physical matches.

## Palette

| Colour | HEX / sRGB target | CMYK: C / M / Y / K (%) | PMS coated reference | Matching decision |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gris Des Yeux | #16161D | 92 / 80 / 61 / 96 | 532 C | Retained: an exact-HEX primary-source brand precedent supports this choice. |
| Blanc Des Yeux | #E9E9E2 | 11 / 7 / 12 / 0 | 9100 C | Retained as a pale neutral comparison reference. |
| Voile de Lin | #F1F1EB | 7 / 4 / 9 / 0 | 9100 C | Colour-family reference only. The full-strength reference cannot reproduce both Blanc and this lighter tone; a lighter custom physical match is needed to maintain the distinction. |
| Prune De Velours | #624755 | 58 / 70 / 43 / 42 | 5195 C | Retained as the muted plum candidate. CMYK now derives from the agreed HEX rather than contradictory library entries. |
| Rose Des Pétales | #EFE2E5 | 7 / 13 / 8 / 0 | 9022 C | Retained as the pale blush comparison reference. |
| Porcelaine | #F9F4F5 | 3 / 5 / 3 / 0 | 9345 C | Colour-family reference only. A lighter custom physical match or selected paper shade may be needed for this near-white. |

## What changed

All six CMYK targets were converted from sRGB using the locally installed Adobe Coated FOGRA39 ICC profile, macOS CoreGraphics/ColorSync, relative-colorimetric rendering intent, then rounded to whole percentages. The conversion script and profile fingerprint are retained in the source workspace. No generic HEX-to-CMYK formula was used for the displayed values.

This replaces the mixed library values and fills the previously missing Rose Des Pétales, Porcelaine and Prune De Velours process references. Gris Des Yeux previously used 77/71/60/77; Blanc used 8/5/9/0; Voile used 0/0/2.5/5.5. These older numbers are not equivalent recipes under the newly stated output condition. They have not been treated as approved production standards.

Coated FOGRA39 is a reproducible reference condition available locally, not a claim that it is the newest or universally safest press profile. Its specification relates to gloss/matte coated offset paper. It does not describe the thick uncoated linen stock in Saint's stationery direction. For linen, letterpress, digital print or another press condition, supply the digital target and request the printer's destination profile and proof. Do not assign this profile to an unrelated print condition.

Gris Des Yeux totals 329% ink under this profile. Use that rich separation only where the printer supports it; for fine small type and registration-sensitive rules, agree a single-black treatment with the printer. Do not silently force a lower ink limit by subtracting channel percentages.

## PMS research findings

Pantone's own catalogue verifies 532 C, 9100 C, 9022 C and 9345 C as graphics references; 9100/9022/9345 belong to its Pastels & Neons coated collection. Existing 5195 C is retained as a candidate rather than replaced with an unsubstantiated alternative.

Carrot's own style guide pairs exactly #16161D with 532 C, making it useful supporting evidence for Gris Des Yeux. It is another organisation's brand choice, not a measured Saint proof.

The earlier pastel shortlist was re-examined against alternatives including 9060 C and 9061 C. Public search directories return inconsistent screen conversions and sometimes plainly contradictory colour descriptions. Those sources are not sufficient evidence to replace a reference or claim a globally closest match. No licensed complete Pantone spectral dataset or physical fan deck was available for a verified nearest-match calculation. The reviewed evidence does not establish exact PMS equivalents for Voile de Lin or Porcelaine, so none is invented here. Their table entries remain comparison references, not automatic full-strength production inks.

Do not substitute textile TCX/TPG numbers for graphics ink references. Do not convert a C suffix to U mechanically. Do not choose a tint percentage by interpolating between a screen swatch and white: ink, dot gain and paper require a physical drawdown. Coated and uncoated candidates must be evaluated separately on the intended material.

## Production decision

Use the HEX values as the digital identity targets. Use the displayed CMYK set only with the stated coated output condition. For spot printing, evaluate the PMS shortlist on actual stock; approve lighter custom matches for the near-whites if the reference chips are too dark. Keep Blanc and Voile, and Rose Des Pétales and Porcelaine, visibly distinct in a single proof. Record the final ink specification with the approved sample.

Gold foil for ASC and soft rose gold foil for LPS are separate physical finishes. A PMS or CMYK value does not specify foil colour or reflectivity; approve the supplier's foil swatch independently.

## Primary sources

- [Pantone 532 C](https://www.pantone.com/na/en-us/color-finder/532-c)
- [Carrot's own brand colour specifications](https://carrot.io/style-guide/)
- [Pantone 9100 C](https://www.pantone.com/color-finder/9100-c)
- [Pantone 9022 C](https://www.pantone.com/uk/en-gb/color-finder/9022-c)
- [Pantone 9345 C](https://www.pantone.com/na/en-us/color-finder/9345-c)
- [Pantone 5195 C catalogue reference](https://www.pantone.com/uk/en-gb/color-finder/5195-c)
- [Pantone: cross-referencing depends on printing conditions](https://www.pantone.jp/customer-service/help/?t=How-to-cross-reference-CMYK%2FRGB%2FHTML%2FL%2Aa%2Ab%2A-data-to-PANTONE-colors)
- [Pantone: normal printing-process variation](https://support.pantone.com/en/normal-printing-process-color-variances-explained)
- [Pantone: C and U paper designations](https://support.pantone.com/en/what-does-the-terms-coated-and-uncoated-mean-in-the-pantone-graphics-system)
- [Pantone: digital and printed Color Bridge measurement differences](https://support.pantone.com/en/why-do-the-rgb-and-hex-values-differ-in-physical-pantone-color-bridge-guides-and-color-bridge-libraries-found-in-pantone-connect)
- [ICC: FOGRA39 printing condition](https://registry.color.org/cmyk-registry/fogra39)
- [Fogra: characterisation datasets and print conditions](https://fogra.org/en/downloads/work-tools/characterisation-data)
- [Ghent Workgroup: recommended ICC profiles and ink limits](https://gwg.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/recommendedIccProfiles.pdf)