# Color swatches on product packaging?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/color-swatches-on-product-packaging/673115
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [November 5, 2013, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/color-swatches-on-product-packaging/673115 "2013-11-05T02:29:56Z")
**Posts on this page:** 7
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)
#### Post date: [November 5, 2013, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/color-swatches-on-product-packaging/673115/1 "2013-11-05T02:29:56Z")
At the end of every product’s box is a cluster of color samples. I think it is some kind of color ink test to see how the color ink will actually appear on different cardboards or stock card (which can cause a color to dry lighter or darker than expected). If I am correct, how exactly does this work? And, if not, what purpose do these colors served/how are they used?
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### Author:  [@DataX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DataX)
#### Post date: [November 5, 2013, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/color-swatches-on-product-packaging/673115/2 "2013-11-05T02:49:20Z")
Well in theory it would allow anyone to easily compare the three/four boxes with a known sample to see if it rendered correctly. My printer (and I think everyone elses) has a test page that does this - and it makes it very easy to see if it is out of ink and which color.
My guess is this would allow anyone on the production line to yell “hey bob - looks like we are out of yellow!”
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### Author:  [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)
#### Post date: [November 5, 2013, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/color-swatches-on-product-packaging/673115/3 "2013-11-05T02:52:44Z")
Yes, it’s for running print checks. The press operator doesn’t have to know what the item is supposed to look like, he or she can look at those precise little squares and know if color, alignment, etc are all good.
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### Author:  [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)
#### Post date: [November 5, 2013, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/color-swatches-on-product-packaging/673115/4 "2013-11-05T03:00:15Z")
Ah! Thanks! Makes good sense!
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### Author:  [@Pork\_Rind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pork_Rind)
#### Post date: [November 5, 2013, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/color-swatches-on-product-packaging/673115/5 "2013-11-05T03:50:44Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#):
>
> Yes, it’s for running print checks. The press operator doesn’t have to know what the item is supposed to look like, he or she can look at those precise little squares and know if color, alignment, etc are all good.
Right. Everything that’s printed gets some kind of color bars for measurement and analysis. For things like magazines and flyers, they’re on part of the sheet that gets cut off and discarded. For boxes and things, those are often printed on pieces already cut to size or are fit so tightly onto the sheet there’s no room for the color bars. Then you print them in an inconspicuous place and call it good.
[http://the-print-guide.blogspot.com/2010/07/color-bar.html](http://the-print-guide.blogspot.com/2010/07/color-bar.html)
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### Author:  [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)
#### Post date: [November 5, 2013, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/color-swatches-on-product-packaging/673115/6 "2013-11-05T05:10:24Z")
There are also registration tests to check how the colors align with each other. Much less of an issue today than in years (decades) past.
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### Author:  [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)
#### Post date: [November 5, 2013, 7:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/color-swatches-on-product-packaging/673115/7 "2013-11-05T07:48:45Z")
> [@DataX](#):
>
> Well in theory it would allow anyone to easily compare the three/four boxes with a known sample to see if it rendered correctly. My printer (and I think everyone elses) has a test page that does this - and it makes it very easy to see if it is out of ink and which color.
>
> My guess is this would allow anyone on the production line to yell “hey bob - looks like we are out of yellow!”
Yes, but these days it’s all automated. Most tools have a camera fixed to where the swath appears. If it’s low on yellow, it sends off an alarm to the operator.