Reorders

Dye lot. Run Number. Batch Number, Lot – What Is it?

"Dye lot," "run number," "batch number," and "lot number" are all terms used interchangeably in the world of wallpaper production to signify when a particular batch of wallpaper was manufactured.

In a wallpaper factory, a crucial role is held by the color matcher, whose responsibility is to ensure the correct colors are used and that each new production of wallpaper closely matches the previous one. Despite efforts to replicate the exact ink ratios used previously, achieving identical results is not always guaranteed.

When a wallpaper pattern is run through the printing machine, it is assigned a unique identifier, which can be referred to as a dye lot, run number, batch number, or lot number, depending on the context. Regardless of the term used, they all denote the same thing.

Understanding these terms is crucial because even for the same pattern, two rolls from different production runs can exhibit slight variations in shading. This can range from barely noticeable differences to appearances almost resembling different patterns altogether.

Therefore, when ordering wallpaper or needing to re-order due to insufficient quantities, it's essential to ensure that the new order matches the original run.

How To Make a Wallpaper Re-Order?

To make a wallpaper re-order, check the packaging of a received roll and note down the run number, which may also be labeled as dye lot, batch, or lot. If the packaging is unavailable, contacting customer service with your previous order numbers and they can locate it.

When placing the re-order, it's advisable to specify the lot number or indicate it as a re-order in the checkout instructions, providing an additional prompt for order processing personnel to match the runs accurately.

What If My Run Isn’t Available Anymore?

This is the worst-case scenario and why ordering a little bit more than you need is always recommended. It’s ALWAYS better to have more than you need than to get to the end of the wall and not have enough.

What’s more, it can be several weeks or months before and installer comes out to hang your wallpaper and, in that time, all the wallpaper from that particular run might be gone.

If the wall is segmented by a partition, using two different runs may be acceptable as the wall area is not continuous. However, for continuous walls, mismatched runs could result in noticeable inconsistencies ranging from minor blemishes to significant disparities. Lighter colors, such as whites, beiges, and greys, tend to exhibit more variance than darker colors.