Supreme x Pantone Formula Guide
The original behind the Supreme x Pantone Formula Guide is the Pantone Formula Guide Coated & Uncoated (GP1601A) — $217 retail vs Supreme's $228.
Supreme vs. Original
Supreme version
About the original
The Pantone Formula Guide is the printing industry's standard spot-color reference, first published in 1963 by Lawrence Herbert, who developed the Pantone Matching System to let printers specify color without ambiguity across plants and continents. The current edition is a fan-deck of 2,390 solid ink colors printed on coated and uncoated paper, with CMYK equivalents and base-ink mixing formulas listed beside each chip. It is used daily by graphic designers, brand managers, packaging printers, and ink manufacturers worldwide; Pantone recommends replacing the guide every twelve months due to ink fade. The Supreme version is the standard Formula Guide Coated & Uncoated set (GP1601A) with box-logo branding printed on the cover.
About Pantone
Pantone is an American color standards company founded in 1962 by Lawrence Herbert in Carlstadt, New Jersey, after Herbert bought the printing division of M&J Levine Advertising for $50,000. In 1963 Herbert introduced the Pantone Matching System, a proprietary library that lets designers and printers reproduce specific colors consistently across substrates and presses. The PMS library now contains over 2,100 spot colors, and the Pantone Color of the Year program, launched in 2000, drives an annual cycle of design press. The company is headquartered in Carlstadt and has been owned by Veralto since 2023. Supreme collaborated with Pantone on a paint can and color chip accessories.
Price comparison
| Supreme retail | $228 |
|---|---|
| Pantone retail | $217 |
| Hype tax | +5% |
Questions
Is the Supreme x Pantone Formula Guide just the regular Formula Guide Coated & Uncoated (GP1601A)?
The Supreme x Pantone Formula Guide, released in Fall/Winter 2024, is based on the Pantone Formula Guide Coated & Uncoated (GP1601A). Supreme collabs sometimes change the colorway or materials; the description on this page covers the original's specs and any notable differences in the Supreme version. If you want the product without the box logo, the Pantone Formula Guide Coated & Uncoated (GP1601A) is the one to buy.
How much cheaper is the Pantone Formula Guide Coated & Uncoated (GP1601A) than the Supreme version?
Supreme charged $228 for the Supreme x Pantone Formula Guide; the Pantone Formula Guide Coated & Uncoated (GP1601A) retails for $217. That's a 5% markup — buying the original saves you $11, or 5% off the Supreme price. Buy the original at retail and you skip the hype tax entirely.
Where can I buy the Pantone Formula Guide Coated & Uncoated (GP1601A)?
You can buy the Pantone Formula Guide Coated & Uncoated (GP1601A) from Blick Art Materials. Retail price is $217. The buy links on this page go straight to the product listing at each retailer.
