It helps to have a printed sample in order to match visually as well as possible. For instance, among the various color swatches, it matters whether one is matching coated versus uncoated stock. This is an unknown to me at the moment.
The Pantone inks are the same. So 2607 is 2607 no matter whether one is printing to coated or uncoated stock. But the guides show actual ink sample on various types of stock (coated versus uncoated). As such, the colors vary visually as uncoated stock absorbs more ink and tends to be both duller and darker than the same ink on coated stock, which has a much lower absorption rate and so colors are typically lighter and brighter. Further muddying the waters *visually* can be the matte papers, etc. But in all cases are the same inks.
Pantone colors are not meant to be represented back lit like on a monitor. Pantone does supply the color values, but like other color models, once back lit can appear different. Pantone is really only meant to be used on paper.
To get back to the question, Bill, for the purpose of this thread of matching color of a web site widget to Pantone, one needs to really know whether the stock is coated or uncoated that one is trying to match in order to get close enough. The various letters following the colors U, C, PC, etc., are an attempt to match the way ink is represented on types of paper.
Take care, Mike
off to lunch...
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