Color variations vs. color tolerance

[Wisbeers]

I’ve always struggled with how much of a color difference constitutes a variation, and I just acquired something that provides some clarity. These approval plates document a “color tolerance” range for printing this label. I don’t know how well the colors show up in the images, but these are clearly intended to show the acceptable levels of lightness to darkness when printing this can. I don’t know how far back this practice goes, but doubt that it was a new concept in 1971. And maybe this is well-known or has been addressed here previously and is just new to me, but FYI if not.

[Conehead]

Very good information.

I have always been skeptical of the slight color variations as well.

Thanks for posting.

Jim

[menke]

And of top of that, fade issues. High grade cans that spend years in lit can rooms take a beating, and begin to look different. And paint darkening- many Crown cans with white paint begin to look cream and yellow after many years. Then you rub out a Wagner's and you see the original white, it's eye-opening. And quality control is never 100%, either.

[Can Dr.]

Interesting topic that I do not know if we will ever know. I know in the 90s while working for a beer distributor Coors was changing there Keystone label color from maroon to a lighter brown color. This was a major concern for Coors, all packaging, case cards, permanent p.o.s. had to be pulled from the market, anything maroon. Although it was from maroon to brown it really was not that big of a change.
However, these tolerance specks are fascinating. We know there are the silver, gray, and off white variants around WWII, but when you get post war cans with slight variations it becomes interesting. The Krueger ale oval is a great example with a cream shield, and a white shield. I also have three boldly different base greens like the early Kruegers from the 30s. I also agree with Matt on environmental changes.

[Carl S]

This can help explain why the Rainier Jubilee colors can be so confusing. Between American Can Co and Continental Can Co plus color tolerance, you end up with a wide spectrum of colors.

Thanks for sharing.

[Beverlx]

I am curious if other guys have color tolerance specs -- if so, let's open up a thread for these in the Reference forum eventually. @Rand, I see that you saw this thread, which seems a useful piece of reference down the road when someone comes on with an infinitesimal color difference.

Thanks to @Wisbeers.

[Rand]

I am curious if other guys have color tolerance specs -- if so, let's open up a thread for these in the Reference forum eventually. @Rand, I see that you saw this thread, which seems a useful piece of reference down the road when someone comes on with an infinitesimal color difference.

Thanks to @Wisbeers.

Thread isn't useful as reference, but the initial post is very useful. Can't figure out how to get just the one post forked off over to Reference, but leave all the random chit-chat here. Do you know?

Rand

[foreigncanman]

Some breweries seem to have more tolerance/less colour control than others. Moosehead cans of the 1950's seem notorious for this.Most are yellow but one is an orange cream. Tom Hoffman

[YooperAho]

eh!yooeraho here. At late Discussions. with the Kamsquare. Ponder that same ? And came up with this

It's only a Beer Can. NOT SOMETHING YOUR GOING TO KEEP FOR EVER. Where not Painting CAR'S Here.

[kruegerbock]

I generally don't consider a can to be different just because of color *unless* there is some other demonstrable difference, no matter how small, on the can. Could be a canning code. Notice that I said generally, as I have some Krueger cans that fail this test, yet I keep them just the same...

[idigrust]

I am curious if other guys have color tolerance specs -- if so, let's open up a thread for these in the Reference forum eventually. @Rand, I see that you saw this thread, which seems a useful piece of reference down the road when someone comes on with an infinitesimal color difference.

Thanks to @Wisbeers.

Thread isn't useful as reference, but the initial post is very useful. Can't figure out how to get just the one post forked off over to Reference, but leave all the random chit-chat here. Do you know?

Rand

Silly PHP folks forgot that one... you'll have to Copy the whole topic, then delete the other posts.

[Rand]

I am curious if other guys have color tolerance specs -- if so, let's open up a thread for these in the Reference forum eventually. @Rand, I see that you saw this thread, which seems a useful piece of reference down the road when someone comes on with an infinitesimal color difference.

Thanks to @Wisbeers.

Thread isn't useful as reference, but the initial post is very useful. Can't figure out how to get just the one post forked off over to Reference, but leave all the random chit-chat here. Do you know?

Rand

Silly PHP folks forgot that one... you'll have to Copy the whole topic, then delete the other posts.

Thanks....done

[Uncle Jackson]

In the Supplement, we are having the same problem - when is a color difference enough to support creating a separate entry. I agree with Al, it has to have some other difference before I would consider it a different can. Sometimes, it is only a change in can company as each has slightly different color formulations.

Also, in the Supplement, we are sometimes stuck with the original beer entries where we can only see very subtle differences in color. Those may only have been mistaken duplicates that slipped into the book.

Finally, it is amazing how differing lighting and equipment will change perceived colors. You really can only tell if you have the original items side by side.

Great thread. Thanx.

[jinsequa]

I have the color tolerance flat sheets in a book for Rainier Ale, Olympia and Olympia Gold.
Eric Palmer

[Rand]

I have the color tolerance flat sheets in a book for Rainier Ale, Olympia and Olympia Gold.
Eric Palmer

Ooooo.....cool.....any chance you could scan them and add them to the Reference section thread I started?

(or pass them to me and I'll post it)

Rand :-)

[jinsequa]

I have the color tolerance flat sheets in a book for Rainier Ale, Olympia and Olympia Gold.
Eric Palmer

Ooooo.....cool.....any chance you could scan them and add them to the Reference section thread I started?

(or pass them to me and I'll post it)

Rand :-)

I will see what I can do. My first foray to look for them was unsuccessful. I will try again tomorrow. I have this bad habit of tucking away things like flat can sheets into odd places like books, combined with I just have too much beer related crap in too many places.

Eric Palmer

[Rand]

I have the color tolerance flat sheets in a book for Rainier Ale, Olympia and Olympia Gold.
Eric Palmer

Ooooo.....cool.....any chance you could scan them and add them to the Reference section thread I started?

(or pass them to me and I'll post it)

Rand :-)

I will see what I can do. My first foray to look for them was unsuccessful. I will try again tomorrow. I have this bad habit of tucking away things like flat can sheets into odd places like books, combined with I just have too much beer related crap in too many places.

Eric Palmer

Thanks! I said "scan".....but pictures would work too. :-)

[jinsequa]

Finally found one of the color tolerance books I was looking for. This is the Olympia Gold from 1977.
It is not something I could really scan as the can sheets are attached to the folder, and getting a pic wasn’t easy with all that gold.

Eric Palmer