Color Study

My balloon bag has gotten to be like an overstuffed sock drawer.  There is no way I will use some of these, yet still I cram it and lug all that extra latex around.

Even if you could carry every color, there is no sense to it - not even for a balloon decorator.

I have been meaning to do this sort of analysis for a while.  Hopefully other people will find this useful as well.  Since this is an exercise to help me sort out what I think would be useful to keep in my kit, I will be listing things in three ways, colors to keep on hand, colors to have at home and colors I don't need.  It should be noted in all capital letters that THIS IS JUST MY OPINION, YOU REALLY SHOULD FORM YOUR OWN.

Initially I bought all Qualatex (Q), but based on a Scott Kazan video and a few lot of failings at building some of Sergey Loginov's amazing one balloon creations, I decided to go strictly with Betallatex (B) balloons.  They offered a consistency in length, and they seemed more forgiving to my twisting.  And the world was good.

But there are some differences in colors between the two brands as well that deserve attention, plus now that I use more Geos/Hearts/Quick Links/321/etc - I have a bit of a mish-mosh as I try to get matching color balloons for those.

Many of the differences in B and Q balloons have been noted before, but for the sake of completeness - it is generally accepted that B balloons are a bit thicker and consistently longer than Q.  Some people say that the quality control on Q is terrible, I've tried my own samples and every bag I've ever gotten has been at least full.  I have gotten a couple bags of thin Q of the time I've used them, but I've also gotten at least one bad B bag full of thin as well.  If anything, I would say that I've noticed more individual balloon defects in the Q brand over time - but there have always been a couple extra in the bag to make up for the conjoined balloon or one with a latex booger.

In my completely non-scientific test, I chose red - the basic balloon sizes are noticeable and there is a pointed tip to the B balloons (top).

I inflated both to the same "squishy feeling" while attempting not to over inflate.  I was noticed that the Q inflated slightly bigger, but slightly more bulbous at the nozzle and tip.  Hopefully that shows in the picture.

After stretching, neither of them reached the full 60" - both were about 58" (60 is the length of the white).

For sanity sake, I am going to divide things into groups of colors.  Reds, Yellows, Greens, Blues, Purples, Earth Tones, Others.

REDS:

This picture gives a pretty clear representation of the variance in the red color types, especially the Coral - which in B is almost red, but Q Coral might well deserve to be on the orange list! My personal opinion is that B kind of wins out on this one, the pink is more vibrant - the red is richer, and Fuschia vs. Wild Berry? fugeddaboutit. On Hand: Qualatex Red:  I don't want to give up my hearts matching, and the difference is pretty big.  Plus you can't really tell from these pictures, but even though B is darker, it's ever so slightly translucent. Betallatex Fuschia:  It's so fluffy Betallatex Bubble Gum Pink:  it matches the Q pink enough to be able to interchange hearts/QLs/etc At Home: Qualatex Wild Berry: Hot pink for the hearts/geos/etc. Qualatex Coral: only one if it's kind Qualatex Rose:  Darker pink Don't Buy: Betallatex Red:  doesnt match hearts, slightly transparent Betallatex Coral:  looks like Q red Qualatex Pink: looks washed out

Red	Brand	160	260	350/360	646/660	QL	Heart	321	Geo	BBH
Fashion Red	B	X	X	X	X	X	X			X
Standard Red	Q	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
Fashion Coral	B	X	X	X
Fashion Wild Berry	Q	X	X	X	X	X	X		X
Deluxe Fuschia	B	X	X	X	X		X			X
Fashion Coral	Q	X	X	X
Fashion Rose	Q	X	X	X		X	X		X
Fashion Bubble Gum Pink	B	X	X	X	X	X	X			X
Standard Pink	Q	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X

ORANGES/YELLOWS:

This time the choices were much more obvious. The oranges match almost exactly, as do the regular yellows and practically all three mid-yellows - even the two B brands are similar enough not to need both. Of the three yellow/orange - my favorite was marigold, the Q balloons look more transparent, so the B is offering a richer color. The only unique color in this bunch is peach blush, which almost made it into the earth/flesh tones section. On Hand: Betallatex Orange: Same color, less lumpy Qualatex Goldenrod: plain yellow looks bad for hair IMHO, the only one with 360s. Betallatex Yellow: The Q was a bit more transparent. At Home: Betallatex Peach Blush:  Another flesh color always welcome. Don't Buy: Qualatex Orange:  duplicate color Betallatex Marigold: duplicate color Betallatex Mango: duplicate color Qualatex Yellow: duplicate color

Orange/Yellow	Brand	160	260	350/360	646/660	QL	Heart	321	Geo	BBH
Standard Orange	Q	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	*
Fashion Orange	B	X	X	X	X				*	X
Deluxe Marigold	B	X	X
Fashion Goldenrod	Q	X	X	X		X
Deluxe Mango	B	X	X
Deluxe Peach Blush	B	X	X	X
Standard Yellow	Q	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
Fashion Yellow	B	X	X	X	X	X	X

* mandarin orange

GREENS:

I didn't think I had a preference for B vs. Q - but this deep into the comparisons, I would say "most" of the Q balloons are semi-transparent in comparison.  So between B Forest Green and Q Green, it's Forest even though there is a slight mismatch in the heart/etc. colors. Spring Green is the new hotness from Q, it's very lush - and I might end up with it eventually - but for now, B fashion green is still my good medium green.  Wintergreen seems really thin compared to the others, maybe mine is just a bad batch though. There is a vibrance that B balloons that makes some of these decisions easy.  You can see in the side by side comparison of lime how much richer the B is. On Hand: Betallatex Forest Green:  Nice solid dark green Betallatex Fashion Green:  Medium green, works great Betallatex Lime Green: so much richer than the Q counterpart At Home: Qualatex Spring Green:  Always good to have more nature colors Betallatex Turquois Green: Always good to have more nature colors. Don't Buy: Qualatex Green: Semi transparent Qualatex Wintergreen: thin and not different enough Qualatex Lime: not different enough

Greens	Brand	160	260	350/360	646/660	QL	Heart	321	Geo	BBH
Forest Green	B	X	X	X	X				*
Standard Green	Q	X	X	X	X	X	X		*
Fashion Spring Green	Q	X	X	X	X	X
Turquoise Green	B	X	X	X
Fashion Wintergreen	Q	X	X	X	X
Fashion Green	B	X	X	X	X
Lime	B	X	X	X	X		X			X
Fashion Lime	Q	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X

* emerald green

BLUES:

There is a good variety to blue colors, but unless we are trying to match a paticular color we really only need the archetypes of dark, light, medium. Looking at the two dark side by side, I would say B Royal Blue is a nicer color. There aren't many choices for a good solid mid-tone blue, periwinkle is a little weird/gray - the choice is definitely fashion blue.  But with fashion blue as the mid, pale blue just doesn't seem exciting enough of an alternate. On Hand: Betallatex Royal Blue: Nice full rich blue, should match hearts Betallatex Fashion Blue: really the only choice IMHO Qualatex Carribean Blue: a good accent color blue for the others, plus it comes with hearts/QLs/etc. At home (blue accents): Qualatex Tropical Teal: Qualatex Robin's Egg: Qualatex Pale Blue: Don't Buy: Qualatex Dark Blue: too similar to B Qualatex Periwinkle:  gray blue makes me sad Qualatex Turqouise Blue:  very similar to Carribean Blue

Blues	Brand	160	260	350/360	646/660	QL	Heart	321	Geo	BBH
Standard Dark Blue	Q	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
Fashion Royal Blue	B	X	X	X	X					X
Fashion Periwinkle	Q	X	X	X
Fashion Blue	B	X	X	X	X	X
Fashion Tropical Teal	Q	X	X	X		X
Fashion Robin's Egg Blue	Q	X	X	X	X	X
Deluxe Turquoise Blue	B	X	X	X	X
Fashion Carribbean Blue	Q	X	X	X	X	X
Standard Pale Blue	Q	X	X	X	X	X	X

PURPLES:

I knew my answer to this one before I took the pictures.  That lilac is one of the reasons I started using B balloons.  It looks just bad in comparison, not even purple - like a dirty drunken grimace. The violet seem to match perfectly. On Hand: Betallatex Violet:  Rich vibrant Betallatex Lilac: there is no other choice At Home: Don't Buy: Qualatex Purple Violet: Qualatex Lilac:

Purples	Brand	160	260	350/360	646/660	QL	Heart	321	Geo	BBH
Fashion Violet	B	X	X	X	X
Fashion Purple Violet	Q	X	X	X	X	X	X		X
Fashion Spring Lilac	Q	X	X	X		X			X
Deluxe Lilac	B	X	X	X	X		X			X

EARTH TONES:

This one breaks my heart.  I really really like the B versions of these colors, especially the chocolate, but these flesh tones are the most used of my alternate balloon types. Q chocolate filled is semi-tranpsarent, I've accidently had these jumbled up in a kit and it was a mess. Toffee is a great flesh tone, but without the support balloons .. I stick with blush/mocha almost primarily. On Hand: Betallatex Chocolate Brown:  Because it's too good Qualatex Mocha: need to match Qualatex Blush: need to match Qualatex Ivory Silk: dirty teeth At Home: Qualatex Chocolate Brown Betallatex Toffee Don't Buy: Betallatex Caramel

Earth Tones	Brand	160	260	350/360	646/660	QL	Heart	321	Geo	BBH
Deluxe Chocolate Brown	B	X	X	X	X
Fashion Chocolate Brown	Q	X	X	X	X	X				X
Deluxe Caramel	B	X	X	X	X
Fashion Mocha	Q	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
Deluxe Toffee	B	X	X	X						X
Fashion Blush	Q	X	X	X	X	X	X
Fashion Ivory Silk	Q	X	X				X		X

OTHER:

When deflated, the B gold and silver look much more exciting.  But inflated Q really shines for the metallic. Also, side by side gray I would say I prefer the Q.  Clear .. they are the same .. though (unscientifically) Q did feel stretchier. I was also surprised to notice how muted out the Q white was. On Hand: Qualatex Gold:  best looking metal Qualatex Silver: best looking metal Qualatex Gray: Darker grey Qualatex Clear: Betallatex Black:  longer length(?), can't tell difference Betallatex White:  semi transparent Q Don't Buy: Betallatex Gold Betallatex Silver Betallatex Gray Betallatex Clear Qualatex Black Qualatex White

Others	Brand	160	260	350/360	646/660	QL	Heart	321	Geo	BBH
Metallic Gold	B	X	X	X	X	X
Metallic Gold	Q	X	X	X
Metallic Silver	B	X	X	X	X	X
Metallic Silver	Q	X	X	X		X	X
Fashion Gray	Q	X	X	X	X	X
Deluxe Gray	B	X	X	X	X					X
Crystal Clear	B	X	X	X		X
Jewel Clear	Q	X	X	X	X	X			X
Fashion Black	Q	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
Deluxe Black	B	X	X	X	X	X	X			X
Standard White	Q	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
Fashion White	B	X	X	X	X	X	X			X

I'll stop there.  Not going to go through the metallics and jewel and etc ... 

Corrections?  Opinions?

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