When creating custom drinkware—such as stainless steel tumblers, insulated bottles, plastic cups, or promotional mugs—color accuracy is one of the most important details. At Anhui iFun, a professional manufacturer of drinkware, we work closely with global clients who often provide color references in Pantone, CMYK, RGB, or HEX formats.

However, many customers wonder:

• What is the difference between Pantone, CMYK, RGB and HEX?

• Which color format should I provide for custom water bottles?

• Why do printed colors sometimes look different?

This article provides a clear explanation based on the Colour Conversion Guide (Pantone–CMYK–RGB–HEX), helping you choose the right color system for your next drinkware project.

What Are Pantone, CMYK, RGB and HEX?

1. Pantone (PMS) – The Standard for Accurate Physical Printing

Pantone is a standardized color matching system used worldwide.
At iFun, when customers request laser engraving, silk-screen printing, heat transfer printing, or powder coating, we often rely on Pantone numbers to ensure accurate color reproduction.

Best for:

• Logo printing

• Powder coating

• Silkscreen printing

• Consistent colors across different materials

Tip: Pantone U = Uncoated (matte surfaces) / Pantone C = Coated (glossy surfaces)

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2. CMYK – For Traditional Printing

CMYK stands for Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black, and is used for printing on paper.

Best for:

• Printing packaging

• Paper manuals

• Boxes or labels

 Note: Not all Pantone colors can be achieved exactly using CMYK.

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3. RGB – For Digital Displays

RGB stands for Red, Green, Blue, and is used only for screens (phones, computers, websites).

Best for:

• Digital proofs

• Website logos

• Social media images

❗ Not suitable for printing.

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4. HEX – Web Color Codes

HEX codes are six-digit color codes used in web design (e.g., #FF0000).

Best for:

• Online branding

• E-commerce product displays

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Why Color Conversion Is Not Always Perfect？

The PDF guide you provided also explains that:

• Some Pantone colors cannot be fully matched in CMYK printing

• RGB & HEX colors often appear brighter than printed colors

• Screen colors vary depending on device brightness

• Materials (metal, plastic, silicone, powder coat) also affect the final result

At iFun, before mass production, we always provide physical pre-production samples to confirm the exact color.

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How Anhui iFun Ensures Accurate Colors for Drinkware？

As a professional bottle manufacturer, we follow a strict color-matching workflow:

Step 1 — Customer provides Pantone / CMYK / RGB / HEX

We accept all formats.

Step 2 — Engineering team applies color to the selected material

(stainless steel, plastic, metal coating, rubber paint, silicone sleeve).

Step 3 — Provide pre-production samples

This ensures the final color is exactly what the client expects.

Step 4 — Mass production after approval

Color consistency is controlled within industry tolerance.

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Download: Pantone–CMYK–RGB–HEX Conversion Guide

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Conclusion

Choosing the right color format helps ensure your custom drinkware looks perfect. Whether you’re developing branded bottles, promotional tumblers, or retail-ready drinkware, Anhui iFun can provide accurate color matching based on Pantone, CMYK, RGB, or HEX values.

If you want to start your own custom bottle project, feel free to contact us—we’re here to help！