Swatches

Swatches are small samples of color, fabric, or material used to represent a larger product. They enable designers, manufacturers, and buyers to compare options, assess appearance, and make informed selections without handling full-scale items. Swatches are common in fashion, interior design, printing, painting, and product development.

Physical swatches include fabric swatches, paint chips, and material cards. They are typically bound in swatch books or arranged on sample cards, and they usually include identifiers such as color codes, names, fabric composition, and care instructions.

Digital swatches refer to color palettes stored in software or on the web. They use color models such as RGB, CMYK, or Pantone equivalents and are transmitted via design files or CSS. While convenient, color on screen may differ from printed or textile color due to device calibration and viewing conditions.

Standards and terminology: Many industries use standardized color systems, such as Pantone or Munsell, to improve cross-media replication. Lighting conditions and the substrate material affect perceived color, so swatches are typically viewed under neutral, standardized lighting.

Use and impact: Swatches shorten decision cycles, reduce waste, and communicate specifications among designers, suppliers, and clients. They support quality control by providing tangible references for color, texture, and finish before production.