Why that colour?

VorpalRyu

Looking at some sets from time to time, I've found myself questioning why TLG went with some of the colours that they did, one of the biggest for me is the use of Translucent Light Blue over Translucent Fluorescent Blue (Translucent Medium Blue on BrickLink). Two of the places this stands out as the most noticeable to me is the Millennium Falcon engine port & the Iron Man armours arc reactors, both are a whitish blue hue, would make Trans Fluoro Blue the more appropriate colour choice as Trans Light Blue has a bit more of an aqua/cyan tint to it.

This has led me to wonder why TLG continues to use Tr Lt Blue instead of Tr Fl Blue for sets when the latter would be the better option. Could Trans Fluoro Blue cost more per part to produce, so Trans Light Blue is usually opted for to keep production costs down? Is there a dislike for Trans Fluoro Blue amongst the designer who have worked on these sets? Are there quality control issues with Tr Fl Blue with some part designs, so TLG preferences Tr Lt Blue? Or could it just be that the first sets used Trans Light Blue & TLG prefers that designers don't deviate from previous colour picks unless they can justify the changes?



Curious to know what anyone else thinks about this, or if anyone has any insight into? Are there are there any colour choices any of you have found somewhat questionable in sets?

Lyichir

I don’t think Transparent Fluorescent Blue costs significantly more than Trans. Light Blue. More likely factors might include the parts in question already being in production in Trans. Light Blue, the slightly higher opacity of Trans. Light Blue being preferred to the pale “glow” of Trans. Fluor. Blue, or Trans. Light Blue just testing better with kids.

VorpalRyu

I hadn't considered it the idea that it could be the result of test groups, but if that is the case, I think Lego might want to look further afield for testers, because a lot of the children in this neck of the woods seem hone in on the Tr Fl Blue parts when given access to both colours. James refers to it as arc reactor blue (tr blue is apparently police car blue & tr lt blue is water blue), he keeps trying to make off with my limited supply of it from my MOC parts.

Fauch

trans fluorescent blue may be the least represented trans color in my collection (among modern colors). if I'm not wrong, 2 or 3 cheese slopes in arkham asylum breakout, a crystal in cinderella's castle and a dozen 1x2 plates in ferris wheel. trans light blue is probably the most represented, they even put it where trans clear would work better.