Where do cake decorators get color palette ideas?
Every Spring it seems as though all of the wedding cake designers across the country receive the same memo in which a collection of trendy color palettes are explained. Have you ever wondered how these seemingly universal accords on what colors are “in” this season are reached? We know that many cake designs are inspired by haute couture and interior designs, but taking it a step further, where do these color trends originate?
In 1963, Lawrence Herbert, , the founder of Pantone, created an innovative system for identifying, matching and communicating colors. His idea that the color spectrum is interpreted differently by each individual led to the innovation of the PANTONE® MATCHING SYSTEM® (PMS). You, no doubt, have see this book of standardized colors (nearly 2,000 of them) in fan format. Since its inception, PMS has since expanded its color matching system concept to other industries in which color is critical, including fashion which directly then influences the cake world.
Cake decorators in the know often turn directly to the PMS color reports to get a handle on what color schemes will be popular in upcoming seasons or years in order to plan new designs for wedding and party cakes. For example, Spring 2010 will bring splashes of sunshine to the fashion world, so expect to see cakes with turquoise-based color palettes; turquoise is a color that evokes tranquility and escape–perfect for destination weddings. Violet’s purplish hue lends itself to romance and will figure largely in Spring fashion. In cake it will translate to sugar violets as side designs, color bases for bows, and linens for table scaping. Other colors to be on the lookout for in cakes in 2010 are pink champagne and coral.
Pantone color reports do more than simplify identify color trends though…colors are explained. In reading the reports, a better understanding of how certain colors correspond to different types of events and to various personalities as well as reactions that specific colors tend to evoke can be grasped. This level of understanding can help a cake decorator develop a broader sense of style vis-a-vis colors and be better suited to guide his/her client through the cake selection & design process.
If this is your first time hearing about color reports, read one. It is just like learning a new word that suddendly everyone around you is using. Read the report and watch the whole world glow.