What should you approve on a brush-set colour and finish sample?
Turn a colour direction into an approval record for each handle, ferrule and pack component, without treating a screen mock-up as a physical match.
| Sample approval record |
|---|
| Brush reference and component identification |
| Material confirmed or explicitly undecided |
| Colour reference and finish description |
| Physical sample revision and agreed comparison conditions |
| Accepted, revise or not checked for each component |
| Separate appearance, logo and performance decisions |
| Reviewer, date and changes that require another approval |
Start with a component map
A coordinated brush set can combine painted handles, metallic ferrules, printed marks and a fabric or paper pack. List each component separately before asking for a match. State which surfaces should match closely and which should complement one another. A gold-tone ferrule and a navy handle are two approval decisions, even when they belong to the same visual direction.
For each brush, record the reference, component, proposed material, colour reference and finish description. Mark unknown materials as unconfirmed. A colour name such as ivory is a starting point for a conversation, not a complete production specification. Browse brush-set references →
Choose a reference that represents the intended surface
Agree which physical reference the supplier will use and record its identification. If using a colour-system code, include the system and edition or reference details. Keep the finish description alongside it: gloss, matt, texture and metallic appearance can affect the comparison. Do not assume one printed swatch establishes an identical appearance on every material.
Screen images are useful for explaining a direction. Ask for a physical sample on the proposed component before signing off appearance. A render, edited photograph or logo visualisation should remain labelled as such. Prepare logo artwork for the selected finish →
Review the complete set in agreed conditions
Place the proposed brushes together with the reference and packaging sample. Agree the lighting and viewing method with the supplier, then record them so another reviewer can repeat the comparison. If the set will be evaluated under more than one relevant light source, record each result separately. Avoid approving one component in daylight and another from a phone photograph without a shared comparison.
Inspect one brush at a time, then look across the set. Check whether the intended relationship between handles, ferrules and packaging remains clear. A matching colour code alone does not establish an acceptable assembled appearance; agree project-specific acceptance criteria rather than copying a universal numerical tolerance. Check packaging fit separately →
Separate appearance from performance
A good-looking finish does not demonstrate resistance to wear, cleaning products or corrosion. List any required performance checks separately and ask which method, sample and acceptance criteria will be used. Keep those results distinct from colour approval. Do not turn an unchecked property into a product claim.
Review the logo on the selected finish as a separate step. Confirm contrast, position and legibility on the physical component, then keep the approved artwork revision with the sample record. Review the complete brush sample →
Write an approval that can be reused
For a hypothetical navy-and-gold set, the record might name handle sample H-A, ferrule sample F-B and case sample C-A. These are example identifiers, not PRETTY product specifications. Mark each accepted, revise or not checked. Add the review date, reviewer, reference used and a short description of any disagreement.
Keep an identified approved sample with agreed storage and replacement arrangements. If the component material, finish process, reference or artwork changes, reopen the affected checks. Approval of the handle should not silently approve a changed ferrule or packaging material. Discuss my brush-set samples →
Technical references & scope
Sources & scope
Industry references inform this guide; they do not certify a PRETTY product or imply a partnership. Confirm product-specific specifications and claims through your project.
- Physical reference selection, surface representation, agreed tolerances and care; not a claim about PRETTY equipment. ↗
- Controlled lighting and visual evaluation complement measurement; no universal tolerance adopted. ↗
- Public supplier evidence that handle, ferrule and decoration are separate customisation decisions; supplier capabilities and prices are not PRETTY facts. ↗
Plan your next step
Ready to discuss your project?
Tell us which brushes you want to develop, how they will be used and what you would like to customise. Add the points from this guide to your enquiry so we can review the specification and sample requirements with you.
Send your set reference and colour direction. We can review the sample requirements with you; exact materials, finish options and acceptance criteria need project-specific confirmation.
Discuss my brush-set samples →Browse brush-set referencesApply this to your product brief.
For a hypothetical navy-and-gold set, the record might name handle sample H-A, ferrule sample F-B and case sample C-A. These are example identifiers, not PRETTY product specifications. Mark each accepted, revise or not checked. Add the review date, reviewer, reference used and a short description of any disagreement.