Pantone’s textile color systems TCX (Textile Cotton eXtended) and TPX (Textile Paper eXtended) are widely used in fashion, interiors, and product design. Converting between them matters because TCX swatches are formulated for cotton/textiles while TPX swatches are printed on paper simulants — the same color name/number can look different depending on substrate and printing process. This article explains the differences, why conversion isn’t exact, practical methods to convert, and recommended workflows for designers.
When you search for a Pantone TCX to TPX converter, you are actually looking for a cross-reference index. Pantone intentionally designed these libraries to overlap, but not perfectly.
Therefore, a "converter" is actually a Visual Translation Table. pantone tcx to tpx converter
If you have physical swatches (the only reliable method for legal production):
There is no "magic algorithm" software that mathematically converts the hex code, because the relationship is based on physical swatches. However, there are three reliable methods to convert between the two systems. Therefore, a "converter" is actually a Visual Translation
There is no mathematical conversion.
Pantone TCX and TPX codes refer to identical colors. The difference is purely in the suffix:
To “convert” TCX to TPX: Keep the same number, change the suffix.
Example: 19-4052 TCX (Classic Blue) → 19-4052 TPX. To “convert” TCX to TPX: Keep the same
TCX stands for Textile Cotton eXtended. In 2014-2015, Pantone phased out TPX and replaced it with TCX.
Before using a converter, it is essential to understand the two standards.
Pantone TPX (Textile Paper eXtended) refers to color swatches printed on paper. These are lightweight, coated paper strips used primarily for design visualization, mood boards, and presentations. TPX colors are viewed under controlled lighting to simulate how a color might look on fabric, but they do not account for material texture or dye absorption.
Pantone TCX (Textile Cotton eXtended) refers to color swatches dyed onto actual 100% cotton fabric. These are physical cotton chips that show how a dye behaves on real textile fibers. TCX is the industry standard for final production because fabric texture, weave, and dye penetration affect how the color appears.