Source : Free On-Line Dictionary of Computing

Pantone
     
         A set of standard colours for printing, each of
        which is specified by a single number.  You can buy a Pantone
        swatch book containing samples of each colour.  Some computer
        graphics software allows colours to be specified as Pantone
        numbers.  Even though a computer {monitor} can only show an
        approximation to some of the colours, the software can output
        a {colour separation} for each different Pantone colour,
        enabling a print shop to exactly reproduce the original
        desired colour.
     
        (1996-03-23)