Have you ever picked out a shade of grey paint that seemed neutral, but after painting the wall in your living room, it looked purple? Or maybe it looked green. Or maybe you used it another room and it looked just fine.

When colors, especially neutral tones like taupe or grey or tan, are exposed to different lighting, environmental warmth of color, and even wavelengths, the eye perceives the color differently than it may have done before. This is called metamerism.

Color is vital when creating brand collateral, signage, wallpaper - everything really. Your deep blue may look blue on-screen, but could end up feeling more indigo or violet once it gets into your space. You can calibrate your computer and printers all day long, but your eyes will interpret color based on more than a singular environment. Even custom framing can be tricky because of how a mat will look in one space compared to another.

Because of metamerism, we suggest matching a printed or physical proof to your space before committing to a large project. Grayscale images are particularly challenging so if you’re designing a wall mural, large banner, or any other type of large-scale installation, order a swatch first and check the color onsite.

Despite the challenges of metamerism, one thing is for certain, our team of color experts handles the variance of perceived color every day and will help you achieve the finish you’re looking for.