Pantone Color of the Year 2018
The Pantone Color of the Year 2018 is Ultra Violet (18-3838). Its HEX approximation is #5F4B8B. A deep blue-purple that captured creativity, spirituality, and the future — a color of imagination in a divided cultural moment.
About Ultra Violet
A deep blue-purple that captured creativity, spirituality, and the future — a color of imagination in a divided cultural moment.
Pantone announced Ultra Violet as its Color of the Year 2018 in December 2017, 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, Ultra Violet is a TCX reference (18-3838) rather than a Solid Coated (C) code, reflecting the program's textile-focused selection framework.
In practical design terms, Ultra Violet translates to a screen HEX of #5F4B8B and a CMYK print approximation of 32/46/0/45. The precise printed result depends on paper, ink, and proof conditions. For brand-critical work that references Ultra Violet, the safest approach is to specify the 18-3838 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 Ultra Violet with a Solid Coated (C) reference, the closest match in our catalog is 3574 C (#5C4580), with a perceptual difference of ΔE 2000 = 2.58. This is a very close match — suitable for most print reproduction needs.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Pantone Color of the Year 2018?
The Pantone Color of the Year 2018 is Ultra Violet (18-3838). Pantone announced it as the shade that its Color of the Year Committee believed would best reflect the cultural mood and design trends of 2018. Its HEX approximation is #5F4B8B.
What is the HEX code for Ultra Violet?
Ultra Violet is a Pantone TCX reference (18-3838), not a HEX color. Its closest screen approximation is #5F4B8B in the sRGB color space, with RGB channels 95, 75, 139 and CMYK print approximation 32/46/0/45. 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 Ultra Violet?
The closest match in our Solid Coated catalog to Ultra Violet (18-3838) is 3574 C at #5C4580, with a perceptual difference of approximately ΔE 2000 = 2.58. This is a very close match and is likely suitable for print reproduction.
How do I use Ultra Violet in my design?
For digital design, use the HEX value #5F4B8B — it will render correctly across browsers. For print design, specify the Pantone TCX reference 18-3838 to your printer, or convert to the closest Solid Coated (C) code (3574 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.