Why colours that match in the office don't match at the store, and how to stop it.
A lab dip is a small swatch the mill dyes to match the buyer's colour standard. It is the cheapest place to fix a colour, and the most often rushed.
Agree the light before you agree the colour
Two colours can match under one light and drift apart under another. This is metamerism, and it is behind most shade complaints. Agree the light sources in the brief, typically D65 daylight plus the store lighting the brand uses, such as TL84.
- 3: lab dip options per colour is common
- ΔE ≤ 1.0: a typical instrumental pass mark
- 2: light sources to approve under, at least
Approve with numbers and with eyes
A spectrophotometer reading removes argument, but the final call is still visual. Approve against the physical standard, in a light box, with the agreed sources.
