Missfarging

Missfarging is a term used in some Scandinavian languages to describe an undesired color change or discoloration of a material, resulting from the introduction of unintended colorants or chemical reactions that alter the original hue. The concept is relevant across several industries, including textiles, wood finishing, paints and coatings, plastics, and food processing, where consistent color is part of quality and branding.

Causes of missfarging can be varied. Common factors include dye migration or bleeding, contamination by stray pigments, oxidation, photochemical reactions from light exposure, heat, moisture, and pH changes. In textiles, for example, colors may bleed between fabrics or during washing. In coatings and plastics, pigments can migrate between layers or interact with binders, leading to shifts in tone or patchy appearances. In foods, enzymatic browning, oxidation, or reactions with metal ions can produce unintended colors.

Detection and quality control rely on visual inspection complemented by instrumental methods such as colorimetry or spectroscopy to quantify deviations from target colors. Standardized color tolerances are often used to judge acceptability, and aging or stress testing can reveal potential missfarging under expected use conditions.

Prevention and remediation focus on selecting colorfast materials, stabilized dyes and pigments, and compatible binders and additives. Controlling storage conditions, limiting exposure to light and moisture, and applying barrier layers can reduce risk. When missfarging occurs, corrective actions may include reworking the material, recoloring, or adjusting processing parameters to minimize color changes in the future.