Who says plastic is doomed to be ordinary? With the subtle use of CMF (Color, Material, Finish) design, plastics have long since broken free of their stereotypes. Plastic can also display a rich expressive power and high-class texture comparable to that of metal, gemstones and natural materials. The colors of life are like a treasure trove of magic. If designers can master these “magic”, they can give products a unique visual language, tactile experience and even interactive fun.
Metal Texture Series
Let us say goodbye to the stereotype of “plastic = cheap”! Through special pigment, plating or texture process, plastic can present a sense of metal that can be mistaken for real, injecting a sense of technology and high-end temperament into the product.
In fact, this so-called metallic effect can be divided into the following three types from the point of view of appearance:
l Metallic Appearance: Simulating the luster and color of various metals (such as stainless steel, aluminum, brass), to create a solid, sophisticated, modern visual experience.
l Diamond Appearance: Utilizing high refractive index pigments or pearlescent powders to create a brilliant, sparkling shine like a diamond, enhancing the sense of luxury.
l Iridescent: A rainbow of colors that change with the angle of view or light, for a dynamic, dreamy, futuristic look.
These types provide rich color effects, such as the product examples below:
Satin Silver: The soft silver luster flows like silk, giving the product a delicate and elegant metallic flavor, showing low-key luxury.
Aurora Purple Mist: deep purple base, light and shadow flow through the unpredictable color levels, as if capturing the polar night sky in the mysterious aurora borealis, full of cosmic depth.
Floating Point Texture Series
Plastics are not only “hard as steel” but also “soft as velvet”. Through the subtle surface treatment of plastic, floating point and flocking effect can be realized, they cleverly simulate the touch and vision of fine particles or velvet, bringing warmth, comfort and natural experience.
Let's take a look at the floating point texture of the product case:
Elegant Cloud Velvet: Pure milky white base, subtle integration of gray-brown delicate floating points, like soft floating clouds, creating a soft, warm, close to the natural texture of the atmosphere.
Color Changing Texture Series
Color changes can makes products “alive”! The color change effect gives the plastic the ability to perceive the environment, and the color changes with external conditions (light, temperature), creating interesting, functional and personalized signs.
Color change texture mainly consists of translucent, temperature-sensitive and light-sensitive effects
Translucent: Translucent or special structural plastics, under backlighting or sidelighting, show the visual effect of internal light and shadow changes or uniform luminous effect.
Temperature-sensitive: Reversible changes in material color as temperature increases or decreases, often used to indicate temperature status or to add interesting interaction.
Light-sensitive: material color changes under ultraviolet light or strong visible light, and returns to its original color when the light source is removed, often used for sun protection tips or dynamic decoration.
Color change texture reveals the color can be felt through the following lava heart:
Lava Heart: deep red base in a particular light or temperature, as if there is a hot lava flow inside, transmitting a deep and full of power, symbolizing the core of the earth's never-extinguished energy.
Water Glass Texture Series
Water glass design shows fresh, through the natural vitality. It’s suitable for creating a quiet and comfortable space atmosphere, it is refreshing.
“Water glass” effect will be based on the visual distance and light intensity, to produce a certain “color flow”, so you can not use a single color to define it, water glass is only a color effect that can be presented.
1 If you use the metallic illusion effect, it may be like this:
2. “Water glass” can also be “diamond effect” “floating point effect” “translucent effect” and so on. Effect" etc.
If using a metallic look, it might look like this:
If using a diamond effect, it might look like this:
If using a float effect, it might look like this:
If using a translucent effect, it might look like this:
Regardless of the material used, a successful “water glass” effect aims to evoke in the viewer the purity, transparency, fluidity and vitality of water, creating an atmosphere of freshness, tranquility and natural vitality.
The Infinite Canvas of CMF Design
Plastic, a seemingly basic “canvas”, can blossom into an unprecedented brilliance under the skillful hands of CMF designers. From the fake metal texture, warm and skin-friendly velvet touch, to the intelligent and dynamic color change interaction, and even the indescribable beauty of the flow of “water glass”. However, designers should not forget the feasibility of plastic manufacturing process and surface treatment on the way of exploration. Aesthetically pleasing and practical products have the highest value.
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