6 min read
Laminate Matching
A practical workflow for comparing Wilsonart, Formica, and Panolam alternatives by visual character, finish, material type, sheet size, and verification needs.
Color proximityFinish checksReplacement research
Read guideGuides
Surface material research guides
PatternWize combines a searchable catalog with original guidance for evaluating decorative surfaces. These guides focus on the decisions that usually happen between a first visual search and a final material submittal: color, finish, sheet size, product codes, alternates, and source verification. Several guides include examples pulled from the current PatternWize catalog so the advice is tied to real records, codes, finishes, colors, and sheet-size fields.
7 min read
Color and Finish
How to interpret color families, RGB similarity, pattern scale, gloss, texture, lighting, and samples when narrowing decorative surface options.
Color familiesFinish textureSample review
Read guide5 min read
Specification Checklist
A checklist for turning an early material shortlist into a review-ready specification package with codes, sources, sizes, finishes, and approval notes.
Product codesSubmittalsFinal verification
Read guide7 min read
Laminate vs TFL
A practical comparison of HPL laminate and thermally fused laminate for cabinetry, casework, furniture, budget review, durability, edges, and finish coordination.
HPL vs TFLCaseworkBudget planning
Read guide6 min read
Choosing Finishes
How matte, gloss, texture, embossed, linear, and specialty finishes affect glare, cleaning, fingerprints, color perception, and specification confidence.
Finish selectionGlare controlMaintenance
Read guide8 min read
Evaluate Substitutes
A project-focused workflow for judging replacement surfaces by design intent, availability, technical compatibility, finish, samples, and approval risk.
SubstitutionsRisk reviewApproval notes
Read guide7 min read
Woodgrain Matching
How to compare woodgrain laminates by color temperature, grain scale, contrast, direction, repeat, species cue, and panel layout before ordering samples.
WoodgrainPattern scalePanel layout
Read guide6 min read
Sample Approval
A repeatable sample-review workflow for documenting physical samples, finish choices, lighting checks, adjacent materials, approvers, and open decisions.
SamplesApproval recordsLighting checks
Read guide7 min read
Spec Mistakes
Common mistakes that weaken material schedules, including missing finish codes, outdated product links, ambiguous substitutions, and unverified sheet sizes.
Spec qualityFinish codesSource checks
Read guide5 min read
Codes and Links
A practical guide to recording pattern codes, finish codes, source links, review dates, and manufacturer names so surface decisions stay traceable.
Pattern codesFinish codesTraceability
Read guide6 min read
Sheet Size Planning
How to think about sheet dimensions, grain direction, seam placement, waste, panel layout, and alternate sizes before a surface gets approved.
Sheet sizesYieldSeams
Read guideEditorial Method
Why these guides sit next to the catalog
A catalog record can show a pattern code, image, finish, color family, and sheet size. A useful material decision also needs context: how close a match has to be, when a finish difference matters, what to confirm before approving a substitution, and how to document the source of each candidate. PatternWize uses its own normalized records as examples so these guides read like catalog review notes, not detached surface-material summaries.