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.
Pantone is slowly phasing out the confusion. The newer TCX (Cotton) standard is becoming the universal default for soft goods. The legacy TPX paper fans are being discontinued in favor of TPG (Textile Paper – Green) , which uses safer chemistry, but the number remains the same.
The ultimate converter is Spectrophotometry. Modern factories use a device to scan your TPX paper and compute a dye recipe for cotton. This bypasses the TCX library entirely. pantone tcx to tpx converter
Q: Is there a free app to convert TPX to TCX? A: No official free app. Pantone Connect offers a trial. Free web converters are visual guides, not engineering tools.
Q: Can I convert a 2024 TPX color to an old TCX number? A: Yes, but if the TCX fan deck is older than the TPX color, the TCX number won't exist. You must use a closest match algorithm.
Q: Why does my converted color look wrong on screen? A: Because monitors use RGB light. Pantone TCX and TPX are physical dyes/pigments. You cannot "convert" dry pigment to light perfectly. There is no mathematical conversion
Q: What do I do if a TPX color has no TCX equivalent? A: Order a "custom lab dip." Send the physical TPX swatch to your supplier. They will dye a piece of cotton to match the paper using a spectrophotometer. You will then create your own custom TCX match.
It is important to state unequivocally: Pantone officially discontinued the TPX library in 2015.
While many designers still use TPX numbers out of habit (like referring to a "Xerox" when you mean a "photocopy"), the industry has fully migrated to TCX. To “convert” TCX to TPX: Keep the same
If you are a student or a new designer, you never need to buy a TPX book. Focus on TCX.
However, if you are managing legacy designs from 2010 to 2014, you need a Pantone TCX to TPX converter to translate your past into the future.
In the world of product design, fashion, home textiles, and industrial manufacturing, color is not just an aesthetic choice—it is a precise specification. A slight shift in hue can mean the difference between a product being approved for mass production or rejected as "off-brand."
Two of the most common, yet confusing, standards in the textile industry are Pantone TCX (Textile Cotton eXtended) and Pantone TPX (Textile Paper eXtended). For years, designers have struggled with the question: How do I convert my old TPX swatch book to the new TCX standard?
Enter the Pantone TCX to TPX Converter. This article will explain what these codes mean, why the conversion is necessary, how to perform it accurately, and the best tools to use.