Color Selection for Injection Molded Parts
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Why Color Selection is So Important for Injection Molding
Color selection directly impacts both the appearance and performance of a molded plastic part. The right color can strengthen product branding, improve customer perception and help products stand out in the market.
Choosing molded-in color early in the design process can reduce the need for secondary finishing like painting, resulting in more durable, consistent parts and a more efficient manufacturing workflow.
Why Does Color Choice Matter?
Color choice matters because it influences brand identity, product appeal and how customers perceive quality. Selecting the right molded-in color early can also improve durability and reduce the need for secondary finishing processes.
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Strengthens brand recognition and visual differentiation
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Enhances perceived product quality and market appeal
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Eliminates chipping or peeling associated with painted finishes
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Wide range of molded-in color options including PMS color matching
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Durable, long-lasting color throughout the part
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Streamlines production by reducing extra finishing steps
Considerations for Picking the Perfect Molding Color
At Fathom, we help you choose the right molded-in color to match your brand, improve product appeal and deliver consistent results from the start.
Speak with your experts before starting your next injection molding project to select the perfect molded-in color for your parts. Here are a few facts to keep in mind:
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Molded-in color is not guaranteed to be an exact match. You are responsible for verifying that the test parts meet your desired color requirements.
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Some colorants may not be compatible with the plastic base resin selected.
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Adding a colorant to base resin may alter its properties, which could affect any or all of the following ratings: Food and Drug Administration (FDA), International Organization for Standardization (ISO), US Pharmacopeia (USP) and Underwriters Laboratories (UL).
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You are responsible for ensuring that the colorant/resin combination selected meets your performance requirements.
Standard colors are shown below. The appearance of the colors may vary depending on the display calibration of your device or monitor.
Color Selection
Mold in color plastic is an excellent way to ensure long lasting, unfading color that is more than skin deep. The final appearance of your injection molded part is important. The correct color will help with branding and attracting the attention of consumers. Fathom offers a variety of secondary processes to ensure the correct color, including painting and plating. However, these secondary processes can be costly and add extra days or weeks to the project time line. Paint is only a surface treatment, susceptible to chips, scratches, and chemicals. Mold in color plastic will have a uniform color throughout the part. The color will not chip or fade away as it would when the paint layer fails.
Fathom offers the list of standard colors for plastic parts shown below. The appearance of these colors on the screen may vary depending on the color calibration of your device. Pantone Matching System, or PMS, codes can be used for more accurate molding color.
Advantages of Mold in Color Plastic:
- Solid coloring all the way through the part.
- Mold-in-Color will not chip or fade like paint.
- Accurate color matching with our plastic color code system.
The experts at Fathom can help you select the perfect molding color. Here are a few facts to keep in mind:
- Mold in color plastic is not guaranteed to be an exact match. Customers are responsible for verifying that the test parts meet the desired color requirements.
- Some colorants may not be compatible with the plastic base resin selected.
- Adding a colorant to base resin may alter the resin property. The altered properties could affect any or all of the following ratings: Food and
- Drug Administration (FDA), International Organization for Standardization (ISO) US Pharmacopeia (USP), Underwriters Laboratories (UL).
- Customers are responsible for ensuring that the colorant/resin combination selected meets their requirements.
Speak with the experts at Fathom before starting your next injection-molding project to select the perfect molding color. Standard colors are shown below. The appearance of the colors shown below may vary depending on the display calibration of your device or monitor.
| Color | PMS Color Code | Color Name | |
|---|---|---|---|
| PMS-None | White | ||
| PMS-Black | Black | ||
| PMS-7436 | Pale Pink | ||
| PMS-172 | Orange | ||
| PMS-809 | Safety Green | ||
| PMS-2915 | Aquatic Blue | ||
| PMS Light Blue | Light Blue | ||
| PMS-465 | Pebble | ||
| PMS Cool Gray 6 | Ice Gray | ||
| PMS-211 | Pink | ||
| PMS-804 | Safety Orange | ||
| PMS-367 | Lime | ||
| PMS-279 | Carolina Blue | ||
| PMS-5425 | Stonewashed Blue | ||
| PMS-468 | Natural | ||
| PMS-5635 | Stonewashed Green | ||
| PMS-430 | Graphite | ||
| PMS-213 | Wow Pink | ||
| PMS-1585 | Athletic Orange | ||
| PMS-347 | Shamrock Green | ||
| PMS-660 | Palace Blue | ||
| PMS-646 | Denim Blue | ||
| PMS-Warm Gray 3 | Sand | ||
| PMS-5815 | Fatigue Green | ||
| PMS-Cool Gray 11 | Smoke Gray | ||
| PMS-207 | Deep Red | ||
| PMS-106 | Yellow | ||
| PMS-340 | Kelly Green | ||
| PMS-640 | Sapphire | ||
| PMS-281 | Twilight Blue | ||
| PMS-7533 | Dark Chocolate | ||
| PMS-5535 | Deep Forest | ||
| PMS-208 | Cardinal | ||
| PMS-1205 | Daffodil Yellow | ||
| PMS-3282 | Jade | ||
| PMS-633 | Teal | ||
| PMS-662 | Deep Royal | ||
| PMS-505 | Maroon | ||
| PMS-137 | Gold | ||
| PMS-2635 | lavender | ||
| PMS-2685 | Purple | ||
| PMS-289 | Navy | ||
| PMS-470 | Texas Orange | ||
| PMS-7403 | Gold Nugget | ||
| PMS-7452 | Violet | ||
| PMS-2623 | Winterberry | ||
| PMS-7457 | Deep Navy |
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