While it personally annoys me that you stick so closely with the official colors names (I'm too used to the fan ones) I've found your reviews of the parts and colors to be very insightful, and really give us an idea of how they look and go together. Thanks a lot for putting all the effort into them! Also, congratulations on all your fame and fortune, don't let it go to your head!

While it personally annoys me that you stick so closely with the official colors names (I'm too used to the fan ones) I've found your reviews of the parts and colors to be very insightful, and really give us an idea of how they look and go together. Thanks a lot for putting all the effort into them! Also, congratulations on all your fame and fortune, don't let it go to your head!

 

On The New Elementary I use both the official names from the LEGO Group and the unofficial names from Bricklink, in that order. Most New Elementary posts do use both naming systems, but in the opposite order. The reason I prefer the official names is mainly because they tend to be the most authoritative. Too often, unofficial names tend to lump similar or even dissimilar colors together — so for instance, 315 Silver Metallic is a color that came out between 2010 and 2011, but its Bricklink counterpart — Flat Silver — can also refer to multiple older, discontinued colors which are often visibly lighter.

And fan names that aren't a part of a consistent naming system like Bricklink's can be even worse. For instance, some BIONICLE fans use "Trans-Ice Blue" to refer to Tr. Light Blue (a color that's been in use since the 1980s, and is used extensively in some of the new BIONICLE sets), while some people use it to refer to Tr. Fluorescent Blue (a color introduced in 2001, which has been used for parts like the original Kopaka's eyes, Glatorian heads, and the joints from Toa Inika Matoro). And I've seen "Trans-Lime" used to refer to both Tr. Fluorescent Green (Trans-Neon Green) and Tr. Bright Green. Using an established naming system, whether an official one like TLG's or an unofficial one like Bricklink's, means that people who don't know what you mean have a place where they can look it up (Brick Colorstream is a good reference source for official color names).

Look at that, you got me rambling about color names. Doesn't take much, I suppose. Glad you've enjoyed my articles!