In the world of acoustic treatment, foam panels and other products are popular not only for their performance, but because of the aesthetic customization they offer. A room that sounds good and is enjoyable to work in is one that will produce the best mixes, since it satisfies the needs of the music and those working on it.
In addition to the patterns that are available in foam sound treatment products, the range of colors customers have to choose from is expansive. Rooms that have themes often place a premium on a positive aesthetic experience in addition to the sound, and colored foam can provide that. Whether going with a single dominant color, or mixing and matching for a unique motif, colored foam makes a huge difference in a room.
It is important though, to know what to look for when purchasing colored foam. This is because there is a right way to make these products, and a shortcut doesn’t come close to producing the same quality and performance. Genuine colored acoustic foam is colored 100 percent of the way through the material. This is because dyes are added to the material in its rawest liquid form, before it ever expands to its fluffy, foamy state. This means when new, colored foam is sliced, it is the exact same color in the middle of its form as it is on the outside. And because the dyes are added during formulation, the foam physically feels no different than a non-colored foam; soft, squishy, and dense.
Low-quality colored foam is sometimes painted after it is formed. This results in a hardened exterior where paint has dried, which, in-turn, reduces acoustical performance. It also makes the material more fragile and less durable. So before you make a purchase of a colored foam product, whether for crafts or acoustics, keep in mind what makes colored foam a quality foam and purchase accordingly.