Many factors affect color, including: resin, additives, texture, shape, lighting conditions, usage environment, processing conditions, and most of all human perception.

Additionally, regulatory compliance, such as UL, can impact the selection of pigments and dyes used to achieve an accurate color match.

Addressing all these issues is not easy, that is why processors find it cost effective to work with the color experts at RTP Company.

Your application may have special requirements that impact your color formulation. When preparing a custom color match RTP Company will ask you to supply information regarding the following issues:

Color Samples

End Use Application

What type of application the color is intended for and how it is used aids colorists it determining what pigments are appropriate and which will result in the best match and remain consistent during environmental exposure.

Base Resin System & Specific Grade

Some pigments are not compatible with all polymers and certain grades utilize processing parameters that can degrade many pigments.

Processing Method

Knowing whether injection, blow, compression, or rotational molding or profile, sheet, film, or fiber extrusion will be deployed helps us determine if appropriate dispersion will occur.

Type of Color Target

Knowledge of the material or parameters the color target is native to can boost our colorists’ confidence a quality match can be achieved.

Match Type

Whether an exact match, match & make, or straight shot is expected can impact what pigments or dyes are utilized to help control coloring costs.

Opacity

If the material needs to maintain transparency, translucency, or become opaque is an important factor in meeting a match criteria with many resin systems.

Part Thickness

How thick a part will be at various locations and still need to maintain the desired opacity, measurements can be provided in inches or millimeters.

Supply Method

How a processor wants their color delivered, whether in masterbatch, cube blend, or precolored form.

Regulatory Compliance

Meeting UL, NSF, FDA, CONEG (Council of Northeast Governors), California Proposition 65, EN 71 (European Norm), EU Food/BGA/LPF, heavy metal free, or cadmium free requirements can limit the selection of compatible pigments.