Coarser metallic makes the paint look darker, while a finer metallic makes the paint look lighter. You can actually have a paint color match, but it’ll appear differently than the car because of a mis-matched metallic. When matching metallic colors, always be sure that the metallic flake is the proper size. See the box called, “I Don’t Like My People Green” for detailed information on the three dimensions of color and how to adjust them correctly.Ĭhoose the right size metallic flakes. To do this, you’ll have to evaluate the three dimensions of color: chroma, hue and value. It’s time to evaluate the differences in the vehicle finish and your paint formula. Although this effect is used in custom painting, it’s not a desirable thing to have when trying to match a factory finish.Įvaluate the three dimensions of color. The biggest problem when using tints outside of the original formula is that they tend to cause “metamerism.” This is the term used in the paint industry to describe a finish that changes color, or hue, under different lighting conditions. A lot of tints aren’t designed to be used with each other, and some tints cannot be used in metallics. Never use tints outside of the formula unless your paint supplier has told you that it’s compatible. When tinting your paint, always use tints that are in the original formula. When all else fails (you’ve chosen the proper alternate and are using the proper reducer and gun technique), you’ll need to tint a color to create a match. Color-corrective lighting, a type of light that mimics daylight, will help ensure that you have the proper cast on the vehicle when trying to evaluate a match. Incandescent lights tend to give off a red cast, and fluorescent lights can give off a yellow or blue cast. Many times, a color will appear to match in your shop, but it won’t match in the daylight. You should evaluate all colors in natural daylight. The last variable to consider before attempting to tint a color is your shop’s lighting. If you don’t have enough paint on the vehicle, it won’t match.Įvaluate the color in the right light. A lot of today’s paints are very poor hiders and require a color-keyed ground coat. (Lower pressure = darker bigger nozzle = darker.) The rule of thumb is that if the coats of paint are heavier, the color will appear darker.Īpply enough color use a ground coat when needed. Conversely, if you apply your paint in lighter coats, the paint will appear lighter.Īir pressure and gun nozzle size will give the same result. Heavier coats of paint allow the metallic to sink to the bottom, giving the paint a darker appearance. If you’re spraying a metallic, the heavier you apply your paint, the darker it will appear. Gun technique also determines if you have a match. When spraying a metallic color, a slower-drying reducer will create a darker-looking finish. This ensures that all the tints have been mixed properly.Ĭhoose the right reducer for the air temperature and application. Did you mix all the paint as directed from the manufacturer? Make sure there’s no metallic or pearl left in the bottom of the can.Īgitate the paint for at least five minutes. Mix the proper alternate per the paint manufacturer’s recommendations. These alternate formulas give you a starting point for mixing the proper color.Īre you trying to match a vehicle that’s faded over time? To find out, polish the adjacent panels to make sure they haven’t faded. Most paint companies today offer more than one formula for the same paint code. More than one painter has discovered that he’s mixed the wrong formula, and sometimes this is just a case of reading the paint code wrong. When evaluating a match, make sure you have the right paint formula. So, without any further ado, let’s get started. Whatever the reason for the differences at the factory level, it’s your job to make sure your paint matches as closely as possible to the actual paint on the vehicle. And these smaller flakes reflect less light, giving the paint a darker appearance. The constant motion causes the metallic and pearl flakes to collide, causing some to get broken into smaller pieces. This is typically caused by the constant agitation of the paint at the factory. More than likely, you’ve come across vehicles built at the same plant with the same paint code that didn’t match each other or the color chip standard – usually metallic or pearl colors.
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