Packaging approval worksheet

Tissue Pack Print Color Acceptance

Choose a physical color reference and an acceptance procedure before releasing printed tissue packaging. A color code identifies a starting target, but it does not by itself specify how ink will appear on the chosen board or film. Pantone's support guidance recommends recent, non-faded physical references and describes printing variables that influence appearance. Use the worksheet below to agree what will be compared, who will decide and how a revised print sample is released.

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Last reviewed: 11 October 2026
Reviewed by: VELUPLY editorial guidance
Evidence rule: SKU and market matched

BUYER CHECKLIST

Color acceptance record for a specific printed pack

Reference identity: Brand color name ___; reference system/code ___; coated or uncoated reference where relevant ___; physical reference ID and condition ___; reference owner ___. Record whether the printer will work from a commercial guide, a retained print or another agreed target. Do not let a photo of an old guide silently become the contractual color reference.
Production surface: Box or film specification ___; surface color ___; finish/coating ___; opaque or transparent construction ___; backing or filled-pack condition ___; proposed print process ___. Ask the printer which reference and proof route represent that construction. If a white underlayer is proposed on film, identify it as part of the print arrangement rather than an incidental layout detail.
Comparison conditions: Viewing arrangement ___; light source ___; background ___; reference/sample orientation ___; reviewer ___; comparison date ___. Keep the reference and sample in the same comparison conditions. State separately any additional shelf or use-environment check so a commercial appearance preference is not confused with a controlled approval observation.
Measurement agreement: Instrument and provider if used ___; measurement settings ___; agreed color-difference calculation ___; target and tolerance agreed by parties ___; reading locations ___; report reference ___. Ask the provider to define a compatible measurement setup. No universal color-difference limit is supplied here; a number without its calculation and conditions is an incomplete requirement.
Physical release: Printed sample ID ___; artwork revision ___; material revision ___; visual decision ___; instrumental decision if commissioned ___; unresolved concern ___; release authority/date ___. Attach the accepted physical sample or its controlled storage reference. Record whether approval covers a proof, a trial print or the proposed production construction.

BUYER CHECKLIST

Resolve disagreements by identifying the changed variable

Screen appears correct, print does not: Compare the printed sample with the agreed physical target before adjusting artwork to match one display. Record display-based comments as design feedback. Ask whether the printer used the proposed material and print route; a digital rendering and a printed package answer different approval questions.
Box and film look different: Identify whether the concern is individual target matching or visual harmony across the range. Review both on their actual surfaces and in an agreed assembled presentation. Ask for distinct achievable targets where appropriate, then record the buyer’s decision rather than demanding identical recipes on materials that behave differently.
Old and new references disagree: Check reference age, handling, storage and identification. Pantone describes aging and substrate-related variation in guides. Choose the authoritative reference in writing before asking the printer to correct color; otherwise different teams may make reasonable comparisons against different targets.

DECISION POINTS

What to align before the next commitment.

Illustrative decision: keep construction visible

Imagine a facial tissue box approved on a matte board proof, followed by a proposal for a coated finish. The buyer should review the changed surface and color appearance together before reusing the old sign-off. The example is a procurement decision, not evidence that a coating always improves or worsens any particular brand color.

Approve a range without averaging away a problem

If several panels or variants matter, record where the readings or visual observations came from. A summary average can hide a conspicuous mismatch on the shelf-facing panel. Ask the printer to propose inspection locations and a reporting format that preserve individual concerns alongside the overall decision.

Protect the reference during repeat orders

Store the accepted reference so later teams can retrieve it with its specification and date. If it becomes faded, dirty or damaged, arrange a replacement decision with the owner before judging a reorder. A new guide bought under the same product name should be identified rather than automatically substituted into the old approval record.

WORKING SEQUENCE

A clearer route from question to decision.

01
Agree the color reference, actual substrate and print construction with the printer. Resolve whether the target is individual color matching or coordinated appearance across different packs.
02
Write the viewing and optional measurement procedure, decision owner and acceptance basis before commissioning the sample. Keep proof scope and final construction scope explicit.
03
Compare the identified physical sample with the authoritative reference, document disagreements and request a correction tied to the changed variable. Save individual observations rather than an unexplained approval message.
04
Release the accepted material, artwork and sample versions together. Reopen color acceptance if the surface, print route, target reference or other appearance-relevant component changes.

DIRECT ANSWERS

Questions buyers ask before moving forward.

01Can a Pantone number guarantee the final tissue-box color?+

It provides a reference direction. Agree the physical reference, stock, finish and approval method for the actual print route. A color number alone does not document the appearance or acceptance of a particular box.

02Do we need instrument readings for every project?+

Agree that scope according to the brand requirement, printer capability and consequences of mismatch. A documented visual decision can be useful, but do not present it as an instrumental result. Retain the named sample and conditions either way.

03Can we copy Pantone’s own numerical tolerance?+

A tolerance described for a reference-guide production process is not automatically appropriate for your packaging contract. Agree the metric, instrument conditions and limit with the responsible parties for your specific construction.

SOURCES & LIMITS

Trace the question and the verification.

These are buyer commissioning and approval records, not VELUPLY production results. Source publications establish the referenced questions or method scope; actual sample results, acceptance criteria and supplier capability require matched evidence.

01
Pantone: Do I need physical color samples?
Technical verification · accessed 2026-10-11
02
Pantone: Printing process color variation
Technical verification · accessed 2026-10-11