How To Control The Color Difference of Cosmetic Packaging? —The Factory Quality Control Process Revealed

In the cosmetics industry, a product must not only be "easy to use" but also "good-looking". Packaging not only carries the brand image, but also determines the consumer's first impression. However, many practitioners know that controlling packaging color difference is a very challenging task. Especially in mass production, if there is a slight color difference in the same lipstick shell, eye shadow palette, and foundation bottle, it may cause customer complaints and even lead to returns. Today, let's take a look at it: How does the factory control the color difference of cosmetic packaging?

1. Color number management: unify from the source

The first step to control color difference is to establish a standard color card. When confirming the packaging color, the brand usually provides a color plate or Pantone color number. The factory makes a master sample based on this standard and strictly compares it in the subsequent production process. When each batch of materials enters the factory, the quality inspector will use a spectrophotometer to perform numerical calibration to ensure that the color value deviation is controlled within ±0.5.

2. Material differences affect color rendering

Different materials have different absorption and reflection abilities for colors. For example, there are natural differences in the performance of the same color on plastic and aluminum alloy, glass and paper. Therefore, in actual production, the factory will prepare exclusive inks or spraying solutions for different materials. For example, UV spraying is often used on the surface of ABS plastic, while metal parts may be anodized or painted. Every step must ensure the stability of the color.

3. Small batch trial production: find problems in advance

Before formal mass production, the factory will arrange small batch trial production, which is an important part of controlling color difference. The trial production samples will be double-tested by manual and instrument, including visual inspection, standard light source comparison, aging test, etc., to ensure that the color is still consistent under different light sources. If deviations are found, the color scheme will be adjusted in time to avoid large batch waste.

4. Batch management: avoid the problem of "same color, different batches"

Even if the same set of processes are used, slight differences in raw material batches will cause inconsistent colors. To this end, the factory will establish a detailed batch management system to number and archive each batch of raw materials, inks, and molded parts for easy traceability. Once a color difference problem is found, the source can be quickly located.

5. Human-machine combined quality inspection process

Modern factories usually use a "human-machine combination" approach to ensure color difference control. Manual inspection can detect extremely subtle changes in color mood, while machine inspection provides data support. Multiple quality inspection processes ensure that each package can maintain consistency in color and meet the high standards of the brand.

Conclusion:

Color difference control, although seemingly simple, is actually an important part of quality management. An excellent cosmetics packaging production factory often achieves perfection in countless tiny details. It is this precise control of color that creates the "visual enjoyment" in the hands of consumers.

If you are looking for a high-standard cosmetics packaging supplier, you might as well start with their color difference management process.