A colour match can change when the viewing conditions change. Investigate the conditions before deciding that one photograph proves a supplier sent the wrong shade.
Coats describes metamerism as a colour phenomenon in which materials can appear to match under one condition and differ under another. Coats — Differentiating Metamerism and Illuminants.
Keep the comparison controlled
For an illustrative multi-material product, retain the actual references and note the viewing setup. Compare relevant materials together. A phone screenshot from another location is useful context but not a controlled physical comparison.
Agree the review conditions
Ask which illuminants or viewing method are relevant to the project and document that decision. Do not turn one general technical explanation into a universal tolerance or a guarantee that every material can match under every light.
The next action should address the observed difference with the right evidence. This gives design and technical teams a shared question without treating a changing visual impression as a complete material specification.
Source reviewed 25 October 2026. Practical interpretation and original illustrations by PLUSHIP / Qunhe; examples are illustrative.
Related reading
A Light Source and an Illuminant Are Not Interchangeable Terms
A Fibre Name Is Only One Part of a Material Selection
Two Design Factors Can Interact, So Test the Combination You Intend to Use