Custom Medal Colors: Pantone, RGB, CMYK & Sample Approval

Five green swatches helped a brand choose with confidence.

A Swiss organic tea-drink brand ordered medals to recognize its top-performing distributors at its annual awards. The initial reference was a phone screenshot of a promotional PDF showing the brand’s deep green, without a standard physical swatch.

We arranged a soft-enamel pre-production sample based on that screenshot and sent it to the client. On arrival, the green appeared too dark and muted—blackish rather than the fresh, softer deep green in the brand identity.

The sample exposed a gap in the approval process: both sides were discussing “the same green” without a shared physical reference.

We requested the official Pantone information and brand specifications, then offered five physical color swatches in the same green family, ranging from a brighter green to a deep green. The client compared them in natural daylight and signed the selected swatch.

That approved physical swatch became the reference for the revised sample and production color checks. The revised sample was accepted, and the bulk order was delivered. At the brand event, the medals coordinated well with the packaging and posters.

What do RGB, CMYK and Pantone tell the factory?

These references have different jobs. Preserve the original design information, then agree how it will become a physical result.

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RGB and CMYK values remain useful. Their interpretation depends on color spaces and output conditions, so send original artwork and profiles where available rather than only a screenshot. Adobe’s color-profile guidance explains this distinction.

Apply the reference to the actual part.

• Solid color fills: for soft enamel or polished imitation enamel, use the complete Pantone physical reference or an agreed swatch as the target, then approve the actual filled sample. Retain the full designation when the brand specifies a system such as PMS Solid Coated.
• Printed medal graphics and printed ribbons: gradients, photographs and complex shading need the supplier’s print-file requirements. CMYK values and complete Pantone information can both support communication; the result must be checked on the actual material. Do not convert every source file to one mode without reviewing the workflow.
• Woven or jacquard ribbons: the design is formed with yarn. Check yarn colors and the woven sample rather than applying a printed-ribbon approval method automatically.

The “C” does not mean coated metal.

In the Pantone Graphics system, C and U describe color appearance on coated and uncoated paper. They do not specify a medal coating or provide a ready-made enamel formula. Pantone explains the paper-based suffixes here.

Send the complete reference. If the brand manual specifies another Pantone system, share it rather than dropping the suffix or substituting a converter’s nearby result.

Why can the physical medal look different?

1. Check the source information.

Original files and screenshots may carry different information, and devices or applications may use different color settings. One dark sample does not prove that compression, a particular phone or a single color value caused the difference.

2. Check the color with its structure and finish.

A filled color area is not an isolated flat patch. With recessed soft enamel, raised metal lines can cast local shadows at some lighting angles. The brightness and reflections of adjacent metal also influence how the fill appears.

A deep green or navy area may look darker than a flat swatch when viewed only in a small recess or at a strongly reflective angle. That depends on geometry, light and angle; a particular plating does not universally make every color darker. Turn the item slowly and compare it alongside the reference. X-Rite discusses surface appearance and perceived color.

A clear domed or protective coating can also affect gloss and reflections. If it is part of the order, approve a sample that includes it. Review the appearance again if the coating changes.

Specify the medal fill, local printing and ribbon colors separately, then check the combination. Approving the green on the medal does not automatically approve the printed or woven parts.

3. Check the viewing conditions.

Compare the sample and reference together under consistent, agreed conditions, including viewing angle where reflections matter. That is clearer than comparing photographs taken separately and viewed on different phones.

The Swiss client selected the swatch in natural daylight. That was the selection setting for this order, not a universal daylight acceptance rule. Agree on the comparison conditions for the brand and use. X-Rite’s viewing-light guidance explains why lighting matters.

No Pantone code? You can still start.

A brand illustration, previous package or medal can start the discussion. Identify the colors that are critical, the supporting colors with more flexibility, and which existing reference best represents the intended result.

The supplier can then assess whether to propose a physical reference or prepare comparison samples. Once a color is selected, check it in the complete medal with the artwork, metal borders, other fills and ribbon.

If the medal needs to coordinate with a gift box, packaging or event posters, compare those items together. The aim is a coherent brand presentation, not just several colors that look similar on a phone.

Copy a color brief into your inquiry.

Use the template below in an email or inquiry. Write “To be confirmed” for anything you do not know; you do not need to master every process term before getting in touch.

Order / artwork revision: [project or file ID]
Quantity and latest arrival date: [ ]
Critical brand-color areas: [e.g. front outer ring or central logo lettering]
Available color reference: [full Pantone system/code/suffix / original artwork / previous medal or physical swatch / reference image only]
Finish and process combination: [metal finish + soft enamel / polished imitation enamel / printing; any clear coating]
Coordinating items: [ribbon, box or backing card]
Preferred next step: [initial swatch-photo review / physical color comparisons / pre-production sample / supplier recommendation]
Approved reference and open points: [swatch ID or “Not selected”; list what still needs confirmation]

Photographs can help with an initial shortlist. Agree how critical colors will receive final approval. At that stage, record the sample ID, approval date and approver, plus viewing and sample-retention arrangements. If instrumental measurements are needed, agree on the method and acceptance criteria as well.

For a repeat order, identify the previous approved sample and compare it with this order’s specifications, including finish and process changes. Reconfirm the reference if it is faded, damaged or its condition is uncertain.

Common color-approval questions