In the customization of trademark accessories, color is the soul of brand visual identification. A subtle color difference may make a luxury tag look cheap or greatly reduce the vitality of a sports brand. As an accessories supplier that has served more than 300 brands, we know that color matching is not a multiple-choice question, but a must-answer question for brand management.
The following are the most commonly used color numbers in our industry:
Pantone C (coated): Special for coated paper, bright colors, suitable for smooth surface printing.
TCX (Textile Cotton Extended): Special for cotton textiles, containing 2,100+ colors, such as ribbons, embroidery and other accessories.
TPG/TPX (Paper/Textile): TPX is the old version (discontinued), TPG is the new version, containing more environmentally friendly color powder, used for textiles and paper design.
Differences: TCX is based on cotton cloth coloring, TPG/TPX is more universal, but it is necessary to pay attention to the color differences of different materials (such as polyester vs. cotton).
Industry pain points: Why do 90% of color difference disputes come from communication gaps?
We often encounter some problems in color matching, for example:
Scenario 1: The customer sent a design draft and said “make it in this red”, but the actual product was orange – the RGB color value cannot correspond to the actual production.
Scenario 2: The Pantone TCX color number was specified, but it turned gray when used on the silicone material – the cross-material color rendering rules were not taken seriously. TCX is a special color for textile transfer, while silicone is directly colored by ink.
Scenario 3: The customer sent a piece of cloth and asked for “exactly the same”, but the difference in the base color of different batches of cloth caused the matching to fail, because the color of the cloth is dyed in large vats for each batch, and each batch of bars will have slight color differences.
Our insight: The color problem is essentially a supply chain collaboration problem, which needs to be solved from the three dimensions of standards, tools, and processes.
2.Challenges of computer color matching
Many customers pursue some color contrast and eye-catching effects when designing, and do not have specific Pantone color number requirements, but we need to remind customers that there is a certain gap between screen color display and physical objects; in addition, the final color of the same color number on different materials will also have slight differences, for example, the same color number will show differences on different auxiliary materials such as webbing, silicone, and metal (such as TCX color may be gray on polyester). Please see the following example. Under the same color, there will be a slight difference in the color produced by Printing and Mold.
3.Solutions and best practices
3.1. Standardization of early communication
Mandatory color number labeling: require customers to provide Pantone color numbers (TCX/TPG is preferred) and indicate the material and process (such as “TPG-19-4052 TCX, for polyester webbing”).
Provide physical color cards: send Pantone color cards or self-made material sample cards to customers to unify and reduce misunderstandings.
3.2. Key points of production control
Proofing stage:
Make 3-level color difference standard samples (ideal/acceptable/unqualified), and confirm with customer signature.
Mass production:
Use the same dye/ink batch for the same batch to avoid cylinder difference.
Calibrate the workshop light source regularly (color matching under D65 standard light source).
3.3. Remedial measures for computer matching
If the customer insists on screen color:
Output physical sample, explain “the difference between screen color and physical color is inevitable”.
Provide the closest 3 Pantone color numbers for customers to choose.
4.why do top brands choose to cooperate with us?
Color consistency is the silent guardian of brand value. When you choose us, you are not only choosing a supplier, but also getting a color management partner from science to art.
4.1. Data assets: industry-leading color think tank
8,000+ measured sample database: covering 9 types of auxiliary materials such as embroidery, silicone, PVC, woven labels, etc., with precise matching.
4.2. Technology investment: Using technology to break through industry pain points
Based on the customer’s design, AI is used to generate 3 options, and the designer personally matches the best option for the brand to choose.
4.3. Service upgrade: from color matching to brand asset management
In the early stage of design-personal color matching and proofreading, while the designer participates in discussing the effect of color and actual material
Sampling stage-product process analysts will provide 2-3 color versions to arrange samples to reduce trial and error costs
Mass production stage-according to the sample effect confirmed by the brand, strictly implement the signing process to ensure that there is no color difference risk in bulk goods within 3 years