Methodology
How PatternWize Works
PatternWize independently organizes decorative surface materials using standardized color families, searchable design attributes, normalized product details, and concise descriptions. These classifications form a cross-brand research layer and may not appear in the original manufacturer catalogs.
The goal is not to reproduce a manufacturer library. It is to make material discovery and early comparison more consistent across Wilsonart, Formica, and Panolam while giving users practical tools for palette matching, shortlisting, sharing, and preserving links back to the original product sources.
Catalog Workflow
From source data to searchable material records
01
Collect source information
PatternWize gathers product names, codes, imagery, dimensions, finishes, collections, and other available details from supported manufacturer product pages and catalog exports.
02
Normalize catalog fields
Equivalent fields are cleaned and organized into shared structures so Wilsonart, Formica, and Panolam materials can be searched and reviewed with the same filters.
03
Add searchable classifications
PatternWize applies consistent color families, shades, design groups, material types, and related attributes. These classifications create a cross-brand search layer that may not appear in the original catalogs.
04
Build useful descriptions
When a usable source description is unavailable, PatternWize creates a concise description from structured attributes such as material name, surface type, design group, species, cut, match, color family, and shade.
05
Power the viewer tools
The viewer combines normalized fields, classifications, descriptions, imagery, and source links with table and gallery views, color scheme matching, custom color search, image palettes, saved personal schemes, and side-by-side comparison.
06
Maintain and correct
Catalog updates can be migrated safely, missing fields can be targeted for collection, and stored records can be reorganized as the taxonomy evolves. Reported corrections are reviewed against source material.
Viewer Tools
Current functionality in the PatternWize viewer
The viewer uses the standardized catalog layer to support practical discovery workflows: broad filtering, visual exploration, color-driven matching, saved personal palettes, and shareable comparison sets.
Shared search and filters
Search by product code, pattern name, or brand, then narrow the catalog with shared filters for material type, design group, color family, shade, finish, specialty feature, and image availability.
Table and gallery workflows
Use the row table for dense specification review, reorder table columns for the fields you care about, or switch to a gallery layout when color, texture, and pattern direction matter most.
Color scheme finder
Filter records by popular color schemes or choose a single swatch within a scheme to focus the table on close RGB matches while keeping the rest of your filters active.
Custom colors and saved schemes
Pick a color visually, enter a HEX or RGB value, save it as a personal scheme, or add it to an existing scheme. Saved schemes display their color swatches anywhere they appear in the picker.
Image palette matching
Drop or browse for a PNG, JPG, GIF, or WebP image and PatternWize extracts dominant colors so you can look for materials near an inspiration palette.
Compare and share
Add materials to the compare panel, reorder the shortlist, jump back to a selected row, clear the set when needed, and copy, forward, or save PNG share images for individual records or comparisons.
Original Contribution
How classifications and descriptions are created
Color families and shades
Color labels are standardized into shared families so similar terms can work together across brands. Available names, descriptions, existing metadata, and visual image checks can inform classification. Because screen color and product photography vary, tags are intended for discovery rather than final color approval.
PatternWize descriptions
Descriptions are cleaned for readability and tracked by source. Existing usable descriptions can be retained; missing descriptions can be generated from the record's structured characteristics. Generated text is descriptive catalog guidance, not a replacement for technical documentation.
Cross-brand taxonomy
Manufacturer terminology is mapped into shared fields for brand, surface, material type, design group, color, shade, finish, collection, dimensions, specialty features, and performance attributes. This allows one search to span otherwise separate product libraries.
Comparison and curation
PatternWize brings consistent attributes into a common interface so users can compare materials without translating every catalog independently. Shortlists, share images, saved color schemes, and palette matching are research aids; product suitability still depends on current manufacturer specifications.
Quality and Limitations
Use PatternWize for research, then verify
Material data changes, images display differently across screens, and automated normalization, RGB matching, and image palette extraction can occasionally produce an incomplete or imperfect classification. PatternWize welcomes corrections and updates records when issues are identified.
Before specifying or purchasing a material, confirm its current availability, physical color sample, finish, dimensions, certifications, fabrication guidance, and technical performance with the manufacturer or an authorized distributor.