GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., May 23, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- X-Rite, Incorporated and Pantone LLC, today announced that Procter & Gamble (NYSE: PG), the company behind consumer brands including Gillette^®, Tide^® and Pampers^®, has implemented PantoneLIVE™, a cloud-based color service, to improve operational efficiency in packaging execution. With color so critically tied to brand equity, maintaining color consistency on product packaging is essential for brand recognition and ensuring consumer confidence and delight.

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"PantoneLIVE is an efficient, effective and seamless technology that saves time and money, and helps ensure design intent makes it to shelf, whether we are creating a new Charmin^® package design, proofing an Olay^® label, mixing ink for Tide^® packaging or assessing the quality of Gillette^® packaging on press," said Phil Duncan, global design officer at P&G. "PantoneLIVE is an excellent solution for simplifying how we access digital color palettes for design, proofing and print.  When fully implemented, the productivity benefits will be significant – both internally for P&G and for our suppliers."

To facilitate color standardization across all materials in the production process, P&G now has the ability to upload proprietary color palettes onto PantoneLIVE's secure, cloud-based portal, which suppliers can instantly access from around the world. This centralized color communication process helps minimize color revisions and reduce approval times, creating go-to-market efficiencies and, ultimately, lower development costs.

"With supply chains located around the world, it is extremely difficult for large corporations to maintain universal color consistency," explained Dr. Sonia Megert, vice president of the Pantone Digital Business unit at X-Rite/Pantone. "The PantoneLIVE system is ideal for an innovative, global corporation like P&G because it provides a centralized online repository for managing, controlling and accessing official brand color criteria."

In addition, PantoneLIVE instills best practices and protocols to ensure the correct colors are maintained to shelf. Throughout the process, measurement and verification is based on scientific, spectral data, rather than relying on subjective, visual evaluations and costly adjustments on press.

About PantoneLIVE
PantoneLIVE is a cloud-based solution that enables the universal PANTONE Color language to be accurately communicated across the entire packaging workflow – from design concept to retail store shelves. PantoneLIVE extends the PANTONE PLUS SERIES Color Library, mapping critical color information to packaging-specific substrates. The PantoneLIVE ecosystem is supported by licensed hardware and software that enables each area of a packaging supply chain to access the same PantoneLIVE Colors, in addition to brand specific palettes. This results in consistent and repeatable color across product families, regardless of media or print technology, providing a cohesive brand approach.

While users of any manufacturer's ink will be able to take advantage of PantoneLIVE, Sun Chemical is the preferred ink partner. Esko, a global supplier of integrated solutions for packaging, sign and display finishing, commercial printing and professional publishing, is also a preferred partner supporting PantoneLIVE. Both companies worked closely with Pantone and X-Rite to develop PantoneLIVE. For more information, please see www.pantone.com/live.

About Pantone
Pantone LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of X-Rite, Incorporated, is the world's color authority, providing design professionals with products and services for the colorful exploration and expression of creativity. This year, Pantone celebrates its 50^th anniversary. Always a source for color inspiration, Pantone also offers paint and designer-inspired products and services for consumers. More information is available at www.pantone.com. For the latest news, trends, information and conversations, connect with Pantone on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram.

About X-Rite
X-Rite, Incorporated, is the global leader in color science and technology. The company, which now includes color industry leader Pantone, develops, manufactures, markets and supports innovative color solutions through measurement systems, software, color standards and services. X-Rite's expertise in inspiring, selecting, measuring, formulating, communicating and matching color helps users get color right the first time and every time, which translates to better quality and reduced costs. X-Rite serves a range of industries, including printing, packaging, photography, graphic design, video, automotive, paints, plastics, textiles, dental and medical. For further information, please visit www.xrite.com.

PANTONE^®…The color of ideas^SM.

PANTONE^® and other Pantone trademarks are the property of Pantone LLC. Charmin^®, Gillette^®, Olay^®, Pampers^® and Tide^® are registered trademarks are the property of P&G. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. © 2013. All rights reserved.

SOURCE Pantone LLC