Ensuring color consistency is not just a matter of aesthetics; it's a critical component of brand identity and consumer trust. Imagine a world where Coca-Cola's iconic red varies from can-to-can, or where the blue labels of Alcon eye drops don’t match on the shelf. Such inconsistencies can confuse customers and dilute brand recognition.
For big brands, maintaining brand color consistency across all platforms and materials is paramount. This guide will introduce the essential steps to achieve color consistency and ensure your brand stands out on the shelf.
Establish Clear Color Standards
To achieve color consistency, it’s essential to establish clear color standards, especially for your brand colors. Utilizing digital color standards eliminates the subjectivity of visual evaluation and ensures all suppliers and production locations have identical color references.
Utilize Advanced Color Measurement Tools
Advanced color measurement tools are essential to ensure color accuracy. Suppliers can use portable spectrophotometers like the eXact 2 to measure and objectively quantify color differences and maintain consistent color quality across different production batches and locations.
Implement a Digital Color Workflow
A digital color workflow empowers everyone involved in the production process to use the exact color specified by the brand. This includes design, proofing, ink formulation, and printing. By adopting a digital color workflow, brands can improve color consistency on the shelf, reduce waste, and achieve sustainability goals. Quality assurance tools play a crucial role in this process by ensuring that the colors match the specified standards.
Monitor Print Quality Virtually
Leading brands can monitor print quality without site visits by adopting a digital print quality program. This program establishes clear and realistic expectations for print suppliers around the world, utilizes digital data for fast decision-making, and decreases the carbon footprint by reducing wasteful reprints. ColorCert ScoreCards are essential in monitoring and maintaining print quality.
Ensure Your Brand Colors are Reproducible
During the design phase, you must ensure your brand colors can be reproduced accurately across different packaging substrates. X-Rite offers a free Brand Color Assessment Profile, which provides a customized report showing how your brand colors will look on various packaging materials to make educated color decisions.
Train Your Team on Color Fundamentals
Investing in training for your team is essential for maintaining color consistency. X-Rite’s Color Fundamentals Workshop brings together the art of color from Pantone and the science of color from X-Rite. This interactive workshop helps your team understand and communicate brand packaging color effectively. Training on the use of spectrophotometers and other color measurement tools can further enhance your team's ability to maintain color consistency.
Collaborate with Color Experts
Collaborating with experts can provide valuable insights and solutions to help brands maintain color consistency. X-Rite’s Brand Color Experts offer personalized consultations and workshops to address specific challenges and provide actionable solutions. This collaboration ensures that your brand colors remain consistent and accurate.
Conclusion
Maintaining brand color consistency is critical for big brands to build trust and recognition among consumers. X-Rite’s expertise in color management, combined with our advanced digital color solutions, can help brands achieve consistent color quality across all packaging types.
For a limited time, X-Rite is offering a free Brand Color Assessment Profile, usually priced at $499. Complete the form to access our brand color experts and ensure your brand colors are always on point.
