Alright, so here's what we're facing.
Timeline:
- During the IC, I ordered RAL samples well in advance to make sure they're with me before GB starts to make sure everything is OK. Unfortunately, they were on a "back order", which means they place an order with their supplier after the customer places the order, and it took a long time to get to me. Essentially, the GB was starting when I had them in hand, so it was too late for me to change the renders. I could've cancelled the GB and postponed, but I liked the date as it wasn't dracula territory etc.
- The RALs don't look like I expected them to, none of the 4. This makes it difficult for me to ask GMK to colormatch, as I have nothing physical to present them in terms of what I want.
- I receive the first samples, and they're matched the RALs damn near perfectly - which doesn't help us, as the RALs are not what we want.
The main gripe I got is with RAL 5011, it is simply too dark. In bright sunlight it does resemble what we are after, but in normal indoors lighting it is very dark, near black. Basically, imagine GMK Phantom base purple, that's what's happening with that color. The other colors are passable, but I still want to change the peach too, to a more saturated peach. The light blue and purple complement each other well, while not being exact matches to the expected color. For now I am keeping the lighter blue and purple, they are good colors and close.
We are working with GMK now to sort out how we can move forward with the sampling process in the best way. I am committed and dedicated to delivering a set which is to my expectation, even though the situation to do so isn't the best.
I don't want to compromise for my own sake, but first and foremost I don't want to let anyone else down either. This means it might take a little while to get the colors down, but we will get there one way or another.
Basically a rookie mistake not having RALs in hand (even prior to IC, let alone GB). Take notes and learn from my mistake, upcoming designers.
The next set I launch will have cleared color samples before I even post an IC.