The documentary The King of Color brings long-overdue attention to Lawrence Herbert, the creator of the Pantone Matching System and one of the most influential yet least recognized figures in modern visual communication. Herbert entered the printing industry in the 1960s, a time when color reproduction was inconsistent and subjective. By assigning numbers and formulas to colors, he created a universal system that allowed printers to reproduce hundreds of precise hues from a limited set of base inks, forever changing print production and creative collaboration.

Directed by Patrick Creadon, known for documentaries including Wordplay and Hesburgh, the film features an exclusive interview with Herbert, now 90, offering insight into both his thinking and the impact of his work. The documentary traces how Pantone moved far beyond printing into advertising, fashion, industrial design, and digital media, becoming a shared global language for color. Interviewees in the film argue that Herbert’s influence on the visual world rivals that of figures such as Steve Jobs and Ray Kroc in their respective industries.

The film also explores Pantone’s continued cultural relevance after Herbert sold the company in 2007, including recent debates sparked by high-profile color selections, such as Cloud Dancer for 2026. While the storytelling has moments of uneven pacing, the documentary succeeds in explaining how color standardization works and why it matters. The King of Color is now playing in select theaters in Los Angeles and New York City, offering print professionals, designers, and creatives a deeper appreciation of the system that quietly shaped everyday color worldwide.