Are You Serious About Color?

Designers are at their best when they can be the most creative, whether they are designing new paint colors, stunning plastic accessories or the latest in fashion. But sometimes their creative intent can’t be accurately and reliably achieved with the materials and manufacturing process being used. With the right tools in place, designers can let creative juices flow, and check achievability before they get too far along in the process.

Once a design has been produced and approved, it is up to the lab to come up with the best formulations to realize design objectives, delivering achievable specifications to manufacturing. Functional color formulations lay the groundwork for good color. As always in a color-accurate workflow, make sure technicians have the right tools in place to formulate the best possible color.

Prior to starting a large manufacturing run, creating small-batch samples will validate the work done by design and the lab. Measuring and monitoring color throughout this process will ensure the most effective color recipes for the manufacturing process. This is an important step that, while it can be time-consuming, will save significant time and money in the long run by reducing waste and rework in the manufacturing process.

Once manufacturing begins, the risks associated with inadequate color control become much larger. Color drift during manufacturing and batch-to-batch variations can create havoc in the supply chain and affect the salability of the ultimate product.