What is the difference between coated and uncoated pantone colours?

The same ink colour can look different depending on what type of substrate (material) you print it on. Inks printed on an uncoated material such as paper, soak into the material and lose vibrancy as it takes on the character of the surface. If you use the same ink and put it on a coated material, it looks brighter and retains vibrancy and has a gloss look similar to the material surface. When choosing colours, you should consider the surface you’re printing on (e.g. paper or film) and choose the correct Pantone type (coated or uncoated) to ensure you get the right outcome. If you use different materials across your packaging range, you may have to choose different Pantone colours for matte and glossy materials to ensure you keep your brand colours consistent across different materials.