Guide: Multi-Color Vinyl Effects Explained

Considering combining two or more vinyl colors for your next release?

At Precision Record Pressing, we offer one of the largest selections of vinyl colors and effects in the industry. With so many options available, even experienced artists and labels can find it challenging to predict how color combinations will translate once pressed. This guide explains how each effect is made, which pairings work best, and how tools like the Vinyl Visualizer can help you plan more confidently.

Effect Categories

Our vinyl effects fall into two main categories: Automatic and Manual. Understanding the difference is key when planning timelines, budgets, and visual outcomes.

Automatic Effects

Automatic effects are produced on automatic presses and require fewer operator touchpoints. These effects are generally more consistent and well-suited for larger production runs.

• Galaxy (2 Color)
• Galaxy (3 Color)
• Blends (All)
• Eco Mix

Manual Effects

Manual effects require press operators to hand-stack vinyl pucks or apply additional material during the pressing process. Because these effects rely on human technique, each record will vary slightly, adding uniqueness but also requiring more planning.

• A Side B Side (2 Color)
• A Side B Side (3 Color)
• Half / Half (2 Color)
• Quad (2 Color)
• Quad (3 Color)
• Splatter (All)
• Color In Color (2 Color)
• Color In Color (3 Color)
• Ghostly
• Stripe (3 Color)
• Segment (3 Color)
• Cornetto

Effect and Color Codes

As you browse our effects using the Vinyl Visualizer, Projects Page, or Instagram, note that each effect and color has a corresponding code.

For example, the image below is a Color In Color effect featuring Spring Green (O12) and Lemonade (T7) or 2CCC-O12/T7. This code is essential to keep on hand when planning and placing a vinyl order with customizations, as it helps accurately communicate complex effects to our account managers and pressing team.

Blends

Blends are created by mixing multiple vinyl colors or compound types into a single puck. Because some vinyl compounds behave differently under heat and pressure, results can vary depending on the Blend type.

Precision Record Pressing has 8 different Blends to choose from, each with unique characteristics:

Standard

See all Standard Blends

Deluxe

Deluxe Blends incorporate Standard compounds with at least one Marble (M) compound. Marble compounds have a higher melting point and denser structure, producing bold, high-contrast ripples when pressed.

See all Deluxe Blends

Shimmer

Shimmer Blends produce Translucent vinyl records. They combine a Translucent base with a High Dispersion (H) compound. Each base color can be paired with Silver, Gold, or Copper shimmer, resulting in a softer, more controlled shimmer compared to the bolder, full-shine appearance of Metallic Blends.

See all Shimmer Blends

Metallic

Metallic Blends use High Dispersion (H) compounds to achieve a reflective, metallic finish across the entire surface of the record.

See all Metallic Blends

Smoke

Smoke Blends produces translucent records by combining a Translucent base compound with Recycled Black Vinyl (BKR). This combination creates a smoky, dusted look to the pressed record.

See all Smoke Blends

Double Double

Double Double Blends are created by mixing a Clear (T2) base and two Opaque compounds. This combination produces a soft, fluid ripple of color across a Translucent record.

See all Double Double Blends

Cream

Cream Blends are Opaque and achieve their bright, softened appearance by combining a lighter Opaque color with White (O2).

See all Cream Blends

Eco Mix

Eco Mix records are made from 100% recycled vinyl. Trim flash and rejected records are ground, sorted by color, and reprocessed into six Eco Mix options.

Eco Mix records match standard vinyl in sound quality, though slight variation in hue or brightness is expected. This small tolerance is the trade-off for a more sustainable pressing option.

See all Eco Mix Colors

Related Article: PRP Announces Eco Mix Made From 100% Recycled Vinyl

Glitter

Glitter records are created using a concentrated High Dispersion (H) compound that acts as a carrier for silver glitter particles. When pressed, glitter evenly distributes across the record. Glitter is not compatible with opaque colors, as the glitter requires light to pass through the vinyl to remain visible.

See all Glitter

Galaxy

Galaxy records are a manual effect that can be either translucent or opaque. This effect is created by mixing specific ratios of two or three vinyl compounds into a single, thoroughly blended puck. When pressed, it produces a liquid-like visual pattern with fewer ripples compared to blends, which offer much more pronounced visual patterning.

See all Galaxy (2 Color)

See all Galaxy (3 Color)

Splatter

Splatter is a manual effect where vinyl compound is applied directly to the puck before pressing, creating organic streaks and splashes of color.

Splatter Customization Options

There are three ways to customize splatter to achieve a specific look:

Standard Splatter

Standard Splatter produces medium streaks of color with a balanced level of concentration and intensity.

See all Standard Splatter

Dot Splatter

Dot Splatter features thicker streaks and dot-like splashes, creating the highest color concentration and the most visually intense result.

See all Dot Splatter

Burst Splatter

Burst Splatter uses ground vinyl to create soft, radial streaks. The result is a more subtle and diffused color application compared to Dot and Standard Splatter.

See all Burst Splatter

Best Practices:

• Opaque Splatter on clear bases for maximum visibility
• Translucent Splatter works best on very light base colors
• Splatter on White (O2) can appear softer or slightly washed out
• Splatter on Black (BK) is rarely visible and is not recommended. Black Ice (T15) is a recommended base substitution.

A Side B Side

This is a manual effect created by pressing two or three stacked vinyl pucks. Press operators can adjust the size of each puck to manipulate how prominent each color appears. This results in a unique color arrangement on each side of the record.

See all A Side B Side (2 Color)

See all A Side B Side (3 Color)

Things to Note:

• Each record will vary naturally due to the manual puck stacking process
• Pairing two translucent colors is not recommended
• Splatter can be added in any configuration (Standard, Dot, or Burst)
• Opaque compounds will offer the most contrast

Color In Color

Color In Color is a manual effect created with two or more colors. Press operators stack the vinyl pucks of different sizes. When the pucks are pressed, it creates a circular color arrangement around the center label.

See all Color In Color (2 Color)

See all Color In Color (3 Color)

Things to Note:

• Two opaque colors cannot be used in a 2 color configuration
• When using two translucent colors, recommend using a darker color for the center
• Splatter can be added in any configuration (Standard, Dot, or Burst)

Ghostly

Ghostly is a translucent manual effect. The result is a record with a drifting wave pattern that closely resembles a ghost.

To achieve a Ghostly effect, our operator combines the following:

• One Translucent or Neon base (no opaque colors)
• A transparent or neon accent color
• Splatter

See all Ghostly

Half / Half

Half / Half is a manual effect created by shaping two vinyl pucks of equal height, positioned side by side before pressing. When pressed, the pucks push against each other, creating a clean split between the two colors.

See all Half / Half

Things to Note:

• Subtle blending can appear where the colors meet
• Splatter can be added in any configuration (Standard, Dot, or Burst)
• There are no color restrictions for this effect

Segment

Segment is a three colored manual effect, created by arranging the puck before pressing. The result is three equal sections of color across the record.

See all Segment

Things to Note:

• Subtle blending can appear where the colors meet
• Splatter can be added in any configuration (Standard, Dot, or Burst)
• There are no color restrictions for this effect

Stripe

Stripe is a three colored manual effect. It's created by aligning the vinyl pucks in a row before pressing. This precise alignment results in equal-sized stripes across the finished record.

See all Stripe

Things to Note:

• Subtle blending can appear where the colors meet
• Splatter can be added in any configuration (Standard, Dot, or Burst)
• There are no color restrictions for this effect

Quad

Quad is a manual effect that can be produced using two or three colors. Four pucks are loaded into the press in a two-by-two arrangement, resulting in four distinct color sections once pressed.

See all Quad (2 Color)

See all Quad (3 Color)

Things to Note:

• Subtle blending can appear where the colors meet
• Splatter can be added in any configuration (Standard, Dot, or Burst)
• There are no color restrictions for this effect

Cornetto

Cornetto is a two colored manual effect consisting of a base color and a secondary color. The pucks are cut and arranged so that, when pressed, the record displays up to 12 alternating color sections. Due to the precision cutting required, Cornetto is one of the most labor-intensive effects.

The base color must be translucent enough to allow the secondary color to remain visible. Dark or Black (BK) base colors are not recommended unless a very subtle effect is intended.

See all Cornetto

Final Thoughts

Multi-color vinyl effects balance material science, press technique, and creative intent. While experimentation is encouraged, understanding how each effect behaves during pressing is key to achieving predictable, high-quality results. For press samples, color compatibility, and planning support, the Vinyl Visualizer and our account team remain the best place to start.