Pantone Color of the Year 2014
The Pantone Color of the Year 2014 is Radiant Orchid (18-3224). Its HEX approximation is #B163A3. A purple-pink that Pantone positioned as a color of confidence and creativity, favored by an increasingly expressive design culture.
About Radiant Orchid
A purple-pink that Pantone positioned as a color of confidence and creativity, favored by an increasingly expressive design culture.
Pantone announced Radiant Orchid as its Color of the Year 2014 in December 2013, following the program's annual cadence. The announcement placed the shade within the broader cultural conversation of the year — from fashion and interiors to graphics and packaging — and was accompanied by coordinated product releases from partner brands who had pre-adopted the color. Like every Pantone Color of the Year, Radiant Orchid is a TCX reference (18-3224) rather than a Solid Coated (C) code, reflecting the program's textile-focused selection framework.
In practical design terms, Radiant Orchid translates to a screen HEX of #B163A3 and a CMYK print approximation of 0/44/8/31. The precise printed result depends on paper, ink, and proof conditions. For brand-critical work that references Radiant Orchid, the safest approach is to specify the 18-3224 TCX reference directly to your printer or textile supplier, and to verify with a printed proof on the target stock before committing to production.
Closest Solid Coated match
If you need to reproduce Radiant Orchid with a Solid Coated (C) reference, the closest match in our catalog is 2352 C (#B565A7), with a perceptual difference of ΔE 2000 = 1.12. This is a very close match — suitable for most print reproduction needs.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Pantone Color of the Year 2014?
The Pantone Color of the Year 2014 is Radiant Orchid (18-3224). Pantone announced it as the shade that its Color of the Year Committee believed would best reflect the cultural mood and design trends of 2014. Its HEX approximation is #B163A3.
What is the HEX code for Radiant Orchid?
Radiant Orchid is a Pantone TCX reference (18-3224), not a HEX color. Its closest screen approximation is #B163A3 in the sRGB color space, with RGB channels 177, 99, 163 and CMYK print approximation 0/44/8/31. These values are approximations and should not be treated as authoritative — the Pantone code is the actual specification.
What Pantone Solid Coated code is closest to Radiant Orchid?
The closest match in our Solid Coated catalog to Radiant Orchid (18-3224) is 2352 C at #B565A7, with a perceptual difference of approximately ΔE 2000 = 1.12. This is a very close match and is likely suitable for print reproduction.
How do I use Radiant Orchid in my design?
For digital design, use the HEX value #B163A3 — it will render correctly across browsers. For print design, specify the Pantone TCX reference 18-3224 to your printer, or convert to the closest Solid Coated (C) code (2352 C). For textile and fashion applications, the TCX code itself is the standard — no conversion is necessary if your manufacturer works with Pantone textile references.