HOW TO MATCH BACKPACK PANEL COLOURS BEFORE CUTTING

Choose the reference and lights before the rolls arrive

Put the shade master ID on the purchase order. Ask the brand which viewing lights govern acceptance and whether both panels must also match each other. The Brilliant-Tex equipment list identifies D65, TL84 and UV settings on the photographed cabinet. Agree which settings the project needs. A photograph can help identify the correct swatches when arranging a review, but a buyer needs the physical pair to judge the shade.

Recreate the seam the customer will see

For a pocket that sits on the front of the pack, mark the face and top edge of each swatch. Place the pocket swatch over the body swatch with the actual edges together. Keep their orientation fixed as you change the light. If rotating one piece changes its appearance under the same light, flag the cutting direction separately. A directional difference and a change caused by switching lights call for different follow-up decisions.

• Label the master, model, colour, roll and face on the reverse of each swatch.
• Keep a second labelled pair for the cutting room when the buyer retains the master.

Record a separate decision for each light

A useful review note might read “Body roll A / pocket roll B. Pair accepted under D65. Pocket appears greener under TL84. Hold this pairing for buyer review.” This is an example of how to write the decision. If both lights are mandatory, a single tick marked “colour OK” loses the information the cutter needs. If an exception is approved, record who released it and which panels and roll IDs it covers.

• For each agreed light, record the visible difference and the decision.
• Release the identified pair, request a different pairing or retain it for review.

Choose the actual finished fabrics for the review

Two Rockdura references illustrate what to send when a design pairs different ripstop grids. K21/JUBODI has a 7 × 7 mm grid. KR01/JUOO6O has a 4 × 4 mm grid. Both product pages list backpack uses. Identify the intended panel for each reference and send a swatch from each offered lot, with the grid running in the planned direction. The catalogue photographs show the materials. The match decision belongs to the physical pair in the requested colour.

Request the evidence the specification calls for

AATCC EP9 covers visual comparison of a textile specimen with a reference. ASTM D4086 covers visual evaluation of metamerism and excludes materials whose apparent colour changes with viewing angle. Ask the laboratory to confirm the agreed procedure suits both surfaces. If a tender also requires a numerical colour difference, request the separate instrument report with its stated conditions and tolerance. The cabinet observation gives a visual judgement only.

Send a brief the supplier can act on

Attach a sketch showing where the panels touch. Specify the two fabric references, colour master revision, required lights, delivery lot and your deadline for cutting approval. Ask for a labelled swatch pair and the observation under each light. For a repeat order, name the retained production reference and flag any new lot, finish or cutting direction before carrying the previous decision forward.