In our fast-paced world, many people don't really appreciate the accuracy it takes to ensure that the red on a branded billboard in London is the same on the company's website. Achieving this color consistency in branding, design, and publications is not an accident. Instead, it is the result of a well-thought-out language called color standardization.
For designers, suppliers, and manufacturers, color is more than an aesthetic; it is a tool that can determine if a product will succeed or fail. When the color of a product or website varies on different devices or materials, it creates a feeling of disconnect.
It gives a similar feeling to looking at a disorganized menu. It could throw the consumer off. The easiest way to avoid this is by using color standards, and the next segment explains more about it.
What Are Color Standards
Color standards are industry-defined rules that are used to ensure consistent color reproduction across different materials. Color standards are reference points that companies use to measure color across a wide range of industries. An easier way to think about color standards is to see it as a dictionary of the visual world.
Why Do We Need Color Standards
Color standards help designers, suppliers, and manufacturers speak the same language. They ensure that the product looks similar no matter where you see it.
Designers and manufacturers need color standards because they can't rely on the human eye. Our ability to perceive a certain color could be affected by lighting and even biological fatigue. Two professionals may look at the same color and call it different names, which makes it practically impossible to rely on human perception.
The human eye leaves room for inconsistency, which could derail branding in today's world. Therefore, to achieve the near-perfect consistency needed to excel in the 21st century, color systems moved from using descriptive names to numerical values.
By assigning values to dimensions like hue, saturation, and brightness, we are able to create a digital fingerprint that is applicable worldwide for any color.
Color systems now act as support systems for supply chains and help reduce production errors. It also protects the brand's integrity and ensures that the designer and manufacturer is able to provide a seamless experience for the end user.
Scientific Foundations of Color Measurement
Color systems were built on scientific data. Since we couldn't rely solely on the human eye, scientists had to understand the principles that allowed us to see color in order to quantify it. Some of the theories that shaped the scientific foundation of color measurement include:
Trichromatic Theory
This theory was first proposed by Thomas Young in 1802 before being championed by Hermann von Helmholtz in 1852. The Trichromatic theory provided the foundation for understanding color vision.
The theory starts by explaining that color measurement begins with the human eye. Our retinas have three types of light-sensitive cells known as cones. These cones are labelled S, M, and L (Short, Medium, and Long wavelengths). These cones are specifically blue, green, and red light.
By measuring how these three cones respond to stimuli, scientists were able to generate numerical values to represent any color in the visible spectrum. The Trichromatic theory formed the backbone for every digital screen and camera we use today.
CIE Standard Observer
Given that vision varies from one person to another, we needed a universal benchmark that all industries could point to, and in 1931, the International Commission on Illumination (CIE) established the Standard Observer.
Although it was later refined in 1964, the principles remained the same. The Standard observer is a mathematical model that was based on how the average human eye reacted to light.
This model used standardized matching functions to translate spectral data into X, Y, and Z tristimulus values. Basically, this model used mathematics to make sure that when we say a color is standard Red, we’re making that decision based on the data from the average human eye and not from a person’s opinion.
From creating the standard observer, the CIE also developed the XYZ and CIELAB color spaces. While the XYZ color space directly maps to the way light stimulates our eyes, it isn't very intuitive for designers.
To solve this, the CIELAB (Lab) model was introduced in 1976 by Richard Hunter. This is a 3D model where L represents Lightness, a represents the red-green axis, and b represents the yellow-blue axis. This model is used as the ideal tool for quality control and color matching across different industries.
Tools Used for Color Measurement
To capture the data needed for color measurements, scientists used special instruments like the colorimeter and spectrophotometer. The colorimeter is used to measure the intensity of color. It basically mimics human vision to see if a color is close enough to what the human eye sees.
The spectrophotometer is actually the gold standard. It measures the full spectral data of a color at every wavelength. It is used for maintaining color consistency in industries.
International Color Standards
There are four major color standards used as references by designers and manufacturers. They include RGB, CMYK, Pantone, and USDA. The next section will expand on them.
RGB (Red, Green, Blue)
The RGB (Red, Green, Blue) standard is the backbone of our digital environment. It is the framework through which LCD screens, plasma displays, and CRT monitors work. It is an additive model that creates colors by mixing light.
In this system, each color is assigned a value from 0 to 255. When these three colors combine at 255, they create pure white light. For professionals, understanding the RGB is important for ensuring that apps, blog and digital spaces are clear and vibrant regardless of what device you open them on.
CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Key)
The CMYK model is used for commercial printing. Once a design leaves a digital screen and is to be printed on a physical material, manufacturers use the CMYK standard. Manufacturers rely on it because it is a subtractive process. The inks subtract brightness from the white paper,
One of the most important colors in this model is Key or Black. This color matters because mixing Cyan, Magenta, and Yellow results in a muddy dark brown color.
Mixing these colors cannot result in a deep, rich black color, which is needed to make the final print accurate. The key color provides depth, contrast, and detail that make the final print look exactly as designed in a digital workspace.
Pantone
While RGB and CMYK are formulas for mixing colors, Pantone provides spot colors. Spot colors are pre-mixed, solid inks that are good for vibrancy and color consistency.
The Pantone Matching System (PMS) is the world’s most recognized color system because it remains stable across different print runs. Pantone colors can be converted to RGB or CMYK, but they are most powerful when used as a standalone reference to eliminate the variability that often comes with ink-mixing processes.
USDA
The USDA color standard was created by the United States Department of Agriculture. This color standard is used to grade the quality and ripeness of farm produce.
For example, a tomato's grade from "Green" to "Light Red" to "Red" is determined by comparing the fruit to a standardized color chart. This allows farmers to decide the moment for picking and helps food processors ensure that packaged goods meet safety and aesthetic requirements.
Harmonizing the Standards
Most industrial workflows don’t choose one standard. They integrate them instead. By harmonizing these standards, we can create a shared language that can help minimize production errors and build a more sustainable, efficient global supply chain.
How Color Standards are Applied Across Industries
Color standards are important in every sector, and they are used for different things. Apart from maintaining brand consistency, it is important because color is used to code messages, feeling and even help consumers make decisions. The next segments explore how color standards are applied across certain industries.
Manufacturing and Automotive
In the automotive industry, color is more than a styling choice. It is also a part of the engineering process. For example, a "Deep Sea Blue" sedan must look the exact same way whether it was manufactured in January during the winter or in June when heatwaves occur.
This level of consistency requires high-precision Batch Matching. Given that cars are made of a mix of materials, including steel, aluminium, and various plastics, engineers must ensure that the paint adheres and reflects light identically across every surface.
Also, color standards in manufacturing must account for weathering. Paint finishes are subjected to years of intense UV exposure and harsh chemicals. To maintain brand integrity, manufacturers use standardized testing to ensure that the hue does not change over time.
This scientific approach removes any room for inconsistency during large-scale production, ensuring that a fleet of vehicles looks uniform and high-quality for years after leaving the factory.
Printing and Packaging
For consumer goods, the packaging is the first thing consumers see, making it the face of the brand. In this instance, color can be used to drive sales because a poorly designed product can put off potential buyers.
Apart from the design, it is important to get the printing right. To achieve this, printers use the CMYK model. With this model, printers can formulate inks and produce a product that looks exactly like the digitally designed copy.
Digital Media and UX
We spend most of our time on screens, with some people moving between their laptops and phones every day. This lifestyle has led to screen fatigue and digital burnout. However, recent standards in UI/UX (user interface/user experience) design have shifted their focus to include accessibility and human well-being.
This means that UI/UX designs aren’t only about aesthetics; they also include rest and recovery for the human eyes. Standardized contrast ratios such as those defined by the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) ensure that text is readable for everyone, including those with visual impairments.
There are also adaptive color technologies that adjust the color temperature of our devices according to our circadian rhythms. By moving our screens to warmer tones in the evening and more energized hues in the morning, our phones are able to reduce the effect of blue light and support our sleep patterns at night, while stimulating the body to work and remain active during the day.
Challenges and Future Trends
One of the biggest challenges to color consistency is the complexity of global supply chains. Environmental, political, and material elements are constantly changing and affect how colors are seen in different climes.
Environmental factors like humidity and temperature affect how different color pigments settle on a surface, while materials like silk and polyester have different physical textures, which means colors may not look identical on these surfaces. Manufacturers are now burdened with managing these limitations while hoping to meet the expectations of customers.
In terms of future direction, AI can be used in color matching before companies begin production. This would hasten supply chain processes, and color standards may need to be adjusted to match the latest technology.
Bridging Imagination and Industry
Color standards are a silent part of our visual world. However, the fact that they are silent doesn’t mean they are unimportant.
They are the dictionary of the visual world and guide brands and business owners on how to easily translate a digital idea into an identical physical material.
Without color systems, industries could suffer damning losses and put global production networks in disarray. Color systems have helped us stop guessing and instead use mathematical figures to ensure brand colors look the same in different climates, on multiple materials, and on digital screens as well.
Color standards aren’t just used in design or branding alone; they are used in agriculture, as seen with the USDA color standard. So are color standards important? Yes. Respecting color standards is one way to ensure success for your brand, as color is the bridge between your creative vision and the reality of the marketplace.