The RAL P2 Plastic Colour Sample Set is a professional colour communication tool for plastic materials, containing 200 selected RAL DESIGN SYSTEM plus colours as polypropylene plastic plates. Developed for industrial manufacturing, product development, industrial design, architecture, interiors, engineering, advertising and plastics-related colour specification, it provides binding plastic colour samples for colour matching, design decisions and quality control.
RAL DESIGN SYSTEM plus is one of the most precise colour systems for professional design work. It is based on the CIELab colour model and supports systematic colour communication through hue, lightness and chroma. The RAL P2 set translates selected colours from this system into real plastic material samples, giving designers and manufacturers a far more relevant reference than paint swatches when the final product is made of plastic.
The set contains 200 plastic colour plates in two protective cases. These include 160 opaque plates and 40 transparent plates. For each of the 39 colour groupings in the RAL DESIGN SYSTEM plus, plus greyscale, selected colours have been chosen to provide a practical and visually logical overview of plastic colour possibilities. The selection covers a wide range of contemporary colour directions, from cool petrol blues and lush greens to vibrant ochres, berry shades and soft lilacs.
Each colour plate is made from polypropylene, a widely used commodity plastic found in many finished products. Polypropylene was chosen because it is relevant to a broad range of industrial and product applications, offers good processing characteristics and provides a practical basis for translating colour into plastic material. For product designers and plastics processors, this makes RAL P2 a realistic tool for material-specific colour work.
Each plate measures 10.5 × 14.8 cm and has a maximum thickness of 0.3 cm. The A6 format gives users enough surface area to evaluate colour in a meaningful way, especially when compared with smaller chips or fan-deck swatches. A larger plastic plate makes it easier to judge colour depth, transparency, surface effect and light interaction.
One of the most important technical features of RAL P2 is the three-level thickness structure. Each plastic colour sample is divided into areas of 0.3 cm, 0.2 cm and 0.1 cm thickness. This allows users to see how colour changes as material thickness changes. In plastics, colour perception can shift significantly depending on wall thickness, opacity, light transmission and material density. RAL P2 makes these effects visible in a practical physical format.
The set also shows three different surface textures: high-gloss polished, VDI 24 and VDI 42. These surface zones demonstrate how texture and roughness influence the visual perception of colour. The same colour can appear brighter, deeper, softer, more technical or more muted depending on surface finish. For plastic product development, this is essential information because surface texture is often as important as colour itself.
The combination of opaque and transparent plates gives the set additional value. Opaque samples support decisions for solid plastic applications, while transparent samples reveal how colour behaves when light passes through the material. This is especially useful for packaging components, translucent product parts, lighting elements, displays, consumer goods, accessories, technical housings and design objects.
The RAL P2 plates include technical information such as reflectance curve, absolute values and colour distance from the original plastic sample. This makes the set relevant not only for creative colour selection, but also for technical colour communication and quality-control workflows. It supports discussions between design, plastics engineering, material suppliers, moulders, compounders, masterbatch producers and quality teams.
For industrial manufacturing, RAL P2 helps teams define colour for plastic components, housings, panels, trims, fittings, tools, appliances, electronics, furniture parts, mobility products and technical products. Physical plastic samples make colour conversations more precise because they show how a colour behaves in a material context closer to final production.
For product design and industrial design, the set supports the development of colour concepts for consumer goods, packaging, accessories, hardware, lifestyle products, display systems and plastic-based product families. Designers can compare opaque and transparent options, test how light affects a colour and evaluate how surface roughness changes the character of a shade.
For advertising, branding and visual communication, RAL P2 is useful when brand colour must be translated into physical plastic objects. Displays, signage components, retail fixtures, promotional objects, packaging and branded product details often require colour decisions that cannot be made accurately on screen. The P2 plates help connect visual identity with plastic material reality.
For architecture and interior design, the set is relevant when plastic materials are used for panels, fittings, translucent elements, furniture details, lighting components, decorative surfaces or technical interiors. The A6 plates can be compared with other materials such as metal, textile, glass, wood, coatings and laminates, supporting more confident material and colour combinations.
For plastics processors and colour consultants, RAL P2 reduces the gap between paint-based colour references and real plastic production. It helps avoid time-consuming and costly trial processes by providing a reliable physical starting point for colour translation into plastic materials. It also supports clearer communication with clients who need to understand how a colour will appear in the intended material.
Each plastic colour sample is supplied in a protective sleeve. The two protective cases keep the 200 plates organised and help protect them from dust, handling damage and external influences. For professional teams that use the set repeatedly in consultations, laboratories, design studios and production meetings, this protection supports long-term usability.
The RAL P2 set should be understood as a professional material-specific colour standard for plastics. For final production approval, additional application-specific trials may still be required, because final appearance can be influenced by resin, additives, pigments, wall thickness, processing method, mould texture, lighting and viewing conditions. RAL P2 provides a binding and highly practical reference, but production validation should always reflect the final material and process context.
For professionals working with colour in plastic products, RAL P2 is an essential tool. It brings colour, material, transparency, thickness and surface texture together in one system and supports more accurate decisions across design, engineering, plastics production, supplier communication and quality control.
Key Benefits
- Professional RAL PLASTICS P2 colour sample set
- 200 polypropylene plastic colour samples
- Selected RAL DESIGN SYSTEM plus colours
- 160 opaque plates
- 40 transparent plates
- Supplied in two protective cases
- A6 plate format, 10.5 × 14.8 cm
- Maximum plate thickness 0.3 cm
- Three thickness levels: 0.3 cm, 0.2 cm and 0.1 cm
- Three surface textures: high-gloss polished, VDI 24 and VDI 42
- Binding colour samples for plastics
- Includes reflectance curve information
- Includes absolute values and colour distance data
- Protective sleeve for each plastic plate
- Ideal for product design, plastics development and quality control
FAQ
What is the RAL P2 Plastic Colour Sample Set?
The RAL P2 set is a professional collection of 200 polypropylene plastic colour plates based on selected RAL DESIGN SYSTEM plus colours.
How many samples are included?
The set contains 200 plastic colour samples: 160 opaque plates and 40 transparent plates.
What material are the RAL P2 plates made from?
The plates are made from polypropylene, a widely used plastic material for industrial and product applications.
What size are the colour plates?
Each plate measures 10.5 × 14.8 cm and has three thickness levels: 0.3 cm, 0.2 cm and 0.1 cm.
Which surface textures are shown?
Each plate includes three surface textures: high-gloss polished, VDI 24 and VDI 42, allowing users to assess colour under different surface conditions.
Is RAL P2 suitable for final plastics colour control?
RAL P2 provides binding plastic colour samples and supports quality control. Final approval should still consider the specific resin, additives, processing method, texture and production conditions.