Discussion

By Eddy Hagen on Dec 02, 2022

Thx Frank! Quite an interesting collection of color guides... :-)

What's unique about Project BBCG - A Better Brand Color Guide is that the basic definition of a brand color is based on the measurement of the chosen color. It is not based on any kind of proprietary color system. And by measuring the chosen color, you also avoid the deviations between printed color guides and the 'ideal' color, the 'master data'. Which in real life can be more than you would want... In the booklet are several real life examples.

Also, the Project BBCG methodology requires a little bit more effort to define derived colors, the CMYK combinations used for different groups of substrates. Since automatic color management often generates CMYK combinations that might be the closest match, but are not easy to print. Project BBCG opts for more 'print safe' CMYK combinations, by applying GCR, by trying to reduce the number of inks used and eliminating very low percentages, by rounding very high percentages to 100%.

And the 'Better Brand Color Guide' also adds information about e.g. finishing that could influence the brand color reproduction. If you want your brand color to be vibrant, you shouldn't use a matte coating or laminate...

The brand color exchange is via ASE files, which every designer can import in his Adobe CC tools. That way, the designer never needs to search in color libraries, just go to the specific brand library that was created by importing the ASE file and select the right color. Easier than the existing flow!

And above all: everything about Project BBCG is free... No fees, no plugins, it uses the tools you already have!

The tutorial can be downloaded for free from: https://www.projectbbcg.guide/
You can also download a sample 'better brand color guide' and an ASE file to play with.

The tutorial is available in English, Dutch and German at this moment. French, Italian, Turkish, Swedish, Japanese and Chinese translations are on their way. Portuguese and Spanish probably also.