Getting a custom packaging color right is a process, not a single step. It runs from a clear color reference, usually a Pantone code, through formulation and a physical sample, to a signed-off approval against the real component. The reason it takes several steps is that the same color looks different on different materials and finishes and under different lighting, so approval should use the actual component, an agreed physical reference and any measurement criteria established with your supplier.
Start with a precise reference
Color work begins with a shared, unambiguous target. A Pantone color code is the most common reference because it gives the manufacturer a fixed standard to match, rather than a description like "soft sage" that everyone pictures differently. If you have a brand color already defined, supply its Pantone reference; if you are developing one, choose the reference before sampling begins. Ask APG which color-matching options are available for the specific structure and material you choose.
Why material and finish change the color
A color is not an absolute; it is how a surface reflects light. The same Pantone reference reads differently on glossy plastic, frosted or flint glass, a metallized surface or a matte coating, because each reflects and absorbs light in its own way. Translucent materials add another variable, since what is behind or inside the container shows through. This is why a color approved on one material should not be assumed to carry across to another, and why color and finish are best decided together.
From reference to a physical match
With a reference agreed, the manufacturer reproduces the shade on the chosen substrate using a colored masterbatch, ink or coating, depending on how the color is applied. A first sample comes back for review. Because screens and printed swatches cannot fully represent a three-dimensional, lit object, judge the match on the physical part, not a photo or monitor. Expect one or more rounds of adjustment to dial in the shade on your specific material and finish.
How to review a color sample
- View under several lights. Daylight, store lighting and warm indoor light can shift a color's appearance.
- Judge the real component. Assess the sample on the actual structure, material and finish you will produce.
- Check the whole package. Make sure the cap, pump, bottle and any decoration read well together.
- Compare against the reference. Hold the sample next to the Pantone chip rather than relying on memory.
- Document the decision. Record the approved sample as the production standard.
Set realistic expectations
Even with a fixed reference and a careful process, some natural variation exists between materials, finishes and production runs, and between what a customer sees on a screen and holds in their hand. Agree with your supplier what counts as an acceptable match, and keep an approved physical standard so later runs can be checked against the same reference. This protects consistency across a product line, where a jar, a bottle and a cap may be made from different materials yet need to look like one family.
As a hypothetical illustration, a brand matching a signature blue across a glass bottle and a plastic cap might find the first samples read slightly cooler on the glossy cap than on the frosted glass, and ask for an adjustment so the two sit together. This is only an example; your own color will need its own sampling on your chosen components.
Next step with APG
APG offers custom colors and decoration options for a range of packaging components. Share your reference and chosen components so the team can confirm feasibility and discuss sample development before production. Confirm the minimum order quantity for your component and decoration. Request a quote to begin your custom color.