Editorial color profile
Meaning, applications, and color guidance
PANTONE 109 C is framed here as a bright yellow for retail and transit wayfinding concepts, especially when paired with decisive black graphics. It can command a broad field, but a disciplined information hierarchy matters more than simply adding more yellow.
Nearby 116 C provides a useful comparison when the brief needs a slightly different yellow direction. Evaluate the two candidates within the complete palette and intended wayfinding hierarchy.
The HEX, RGB, and application image shown here are screen approximations. Use current physical Pantone references to select and approve the production target.[1]
Key color facts
- Pantone's Color Finder identifies the PANTONE 109 C reference. Use a current physical Pantone guide or reference for production specification rather than the digital rendering shown here.[1]
- For the catalog HEX approximation: Calculated contrast with black: 14.37:1.
- WCAG 2.2 Success Criterion 1.4.3 requires at least 4.5:1 contrast for normal text and 3:1 for large text, evaluated with the actual foreground and background values.[2]
- This profile proposes visibility through scale, placement, and black graphic structure; it does not claim that the color by itself satisfies any transport, workplace, or safety regulation.
Calculated screen contrast
#FFD100
- Relative luminance
- 0.669
- Black contrast
- 14.37:1
- White contrast
- 1.46:1
Recommended use cases
Retail zone markers
Use 109 C for one overhead band, category block, or promotional bay, with black numerals and restrained white surroundings. Repeating a smaller yellow tab can connect shelf edges without turning every surface into a signal.
Consideration: Calculate black-text contrast from the exact implemented yellow and test every digital state, including alternate, disabled, hover, and selected treatments.[2]
Transit wayfinding concept
Assign the yellow to a route family, directional panel, or platform zone while black shapes carry arrows and identifiers. Neutral structural surfaces give the signal room and make repeated yellow elements easier to locate.
Consideration: Treat this as visual design direction, not evidence of formal compliance. Validate the complete proposed system against every applicable requirement, environment, viewing distance, and approval process outside this color profile.
Retail packaging family
Let 109 C occupy the package top or one broad side, with black information blocks and a secondary cobalt or forest accent. Consistent geometry can unite sizes while leaving enough uncolored space for detailed copy.
Consideration: Review the final package sample beside a current physical Pantone reference and the proposed 116 C alternative. Choose from physical evidence, not from two approximate screen swatches.[1]
Color palette ideas
Retail Signal
Bright Yellow
#FFD100
Graphic Black
#171717
Clean White
#FFFFFF
Cobalt
#2451A4
Bright Yellow: Mark the main category field or overhead zone.
Graphic Black: Carry numbers, labels, and crisp directional shapes.
Clean White: Create breathing room across surrounding surfaces.
Cobalt: Distinguish a secondary department or compact accent.
Black gives the yellow a decisive information structure, and white prevents fatigue from an uninterrupted field. Cobalt provides a controlled cool counterpoint for secondary coding.
Platform Guide
Route Yellow
#FFD100
Asphalt
#303337
Concrete
#BBB9B1
Signal Red
#B92B36
Route Yellow: Identify the chosen route or directional panel family.
Asphalt: Ground maps, structural frames, and large symbols.
Concrete: Connect the palette to neutral architectural surfaces.
Signal Red: Reserve one separate alert or exception category.
Asphalt and concrete situate the yellow within a practical environment. Red stays deliberately limited so it does not compete with the main route identifier.
Market Block
Market Yellow
#FFD100
Forest
#234F3B
Kraft
#B88C5A
Cream
#F3E7CB
Market Yellow: Lead the principal package face and shelf marker.
Forest: Add depth to a secondary panel or product family.
Kraft: Introduce an earthy neutral within the composition.
Cream: Hold longer information and soften transitions.
Forest gives the bright yellow a strong chromatic anchor, while kraft and cream create a warmer, material-minded setting for a retail package family.
Production guidance
- Use a current physical PANTONE 109 C guide or reference as the production target. The HEX, RGB, palettes, and application image on this page are approximate screen translations.[1]
- Place physical 109 C and 116 C references beside the actual sign or packaging sample before choosing. Consider the whole palette and viewing context instead of selecting from isolated digital chips.
- Keep regulatory and operational validation separate from this editorial color choice. Confirm every relevant requirement for the final wayfinding environment, content, symbols, dimensions, materials, and installation.
- For screen graphics, calculate contrast against the final yellow value and test all type sizes and states under WCAG 2.2. The profile ratio cannot validate altered backgrounds or imagery.[2]
Application example
Frequently asked questions
Should PANTONE 109 C or 116 C be chosen from the screen?
No. Compare current physical Pantone references beside the actual material and companion colors. The HEX and RGB values on these pages are only approximate screen views for early planning.
Is black text suitable on the 109 C digital approximation?
The calculated black contrast provides a useful starting point. Test the exact implemented background, typography, and interactive states under WCAG 2.2 before deciding that the complete interface conforms.
Does choosing this yellow make wayfinding compliant?
No. This profile offers editorial color and hierarchy ideas only. The final system must be checked against every applicable requirement, including its content, symbols, contrast, scale, placement, materials, and environment.
Sources
Publisher: Pantone.
Accessed August 6, 2026.
Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2
Publisher: World Wide Web Consortium.
Published October 5, 2023. Accessed August 6, 2026.