The "A Color To Press Us Forward In 2021" Story

 It was an ordinary day.  Checking out the Pantone Color Of The Year.  For those who have no idea what Pantone might be, it is a system for matching colors, used in specifying printing inks.  Pantone is a color-matching system that defines hundreds of spot-color inks made of CMYK inks.  If you are wondering ... CMYK refers to the four ink plates used in some color printing: cyan, magenta, yellow and key (black).  CMYK is also known as process color and by mixing these colors together, you can create any color you can imagine.  I taught Graphic Arts for many years and when I needed a specific color of ink, I used the Pantone samples and I could buy any color imaginable.  Our school colors were blue and white and the Pantone color I used for the school's envelopes and stationery was known as Delph Blue.  In 2020 the Pantone color of the year was Classic Blue even though most people might think it should have been Grim Black.  With the arrival of 2021 many were hoping for a bright or gay color to enhance our mood.  So, this year's Pantone Color of the Year is: Ultimate Gray...and Illuminating.  

These two shades have been picked to suggest the light at the end of the tunnel.  How does Pantone decide on the color for each year. They have forecasters who scour the globe for months noting developments in clothing, cars, kitchens, coffee, etc. and translate all of that into a color they claim will be the dominate shade of the coming year.  No single color would have worked this year or have gotten across the meaning of the moment.  Thus their multiple choices.  The prognosticators began by acknowledging the shades of gray in which we have all been immersed and Ultimate Gray is what is known as a neutral gray or a dependable gray.  And, Illuminating is not the sun-bright, egg yolk yellow which seemed to be too bright or even acidic for this time in history.    Pantone officials say that the color combination chosen presses us forward, and I hope through these colors we will finally get back to "normal".  So put your multi-colored glasses on and be part of the solution.  Heaven only knows...we certainly need all the help we can get.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.