Color Match Issue

[Steven S.]

Re: Color Match Issue

Even the metal standards used by the plant can be an issue. The paint company keeps the "official" standards in a fridge, in the dark to keep the color from moving. The stardards today are compared to readings off a color computer to check and see if they are still valid. The computer readings do not move so are the most accurate. Once a standard has been deemed to have moved out of spec, a new standard is created to meet the color spec and replaces the old standard at the plant that is used for QC checks. So, the metal panels that are floating around may or may not be a good color match to what was the original color. They will be close but not perfect i.e. a Delta E reading of .5 or less by the color computer. Anything over a .5 is a visible difference to the human eye. Problem in matching colors for 50's, 60's and 70's cars is the leaded prigments that were used then and not available now. The color can be matched sometimes close enough with modern pigments but other times the color will match under say daylight and look completly different at an indoor meet. You see cars are meets all the time that are supposed to be the same color but look completely different. Pull them outside or inside and all of the sudden they look alike. This is due to arriving at the "same" color using different pigments.

Steve

[Terry M.]

[Erik S.]

Re: Color Match Issue

yes, getting it right seems a lot of fun. Well, let's see what his response is - maybe not Gary but he may have a referral at the same time. Good thing is that in Europe one should not worry too much of having two same color bronze cars on a judging field with shade differences

[Steven S.]

Re: Color Match Issue

Thanks Terry, My eye is probably much more critical than the average bear since I started my paint career color matching in 1972 before color computers. I remember a frost white we had for GM that we had 6 matches for depending on what supplier/plant we were sending paint to. Each had their own standard we were to match and none were the same.

[Terry M.]

[Dennis D.]

Re: Color Match Issue

I was fortunate to get one of these a few years back for my donnybrook 70. I've taken it to NCRS events. The printed dealer cards are not even close. I checked my sample against an LT1 that SF owned. He told me the jambs were original paint, and my sample was right on. I'm sure I kept the contact for the color plates. I'll try to dig up the info....

[Dallas K.]

Re: Color Match Issue

That's what my color standard looks like, but for laguna gray. Yes, they scaned it, but they can not seem to get it right.

[Tom L.]

Re: Color Match Issue

Dallas,

I'd be curious to see how my test panel does against your color standard before I paint. Maybe I could Fed Ex it to you. Is you standard buffed out?

Tom

[Terry M.]

Re: Color Match Issue

There is a note on the back of the "standards" I have seen that says "do not buff or oil" or some words close to that. Of course, I suppose not everyone reads or pays attention to instructions.

[Steven S.]

Re: Color Match Issue

When they scanned your panel, the color computer can only use the pigments/bases they have programmed in it. Therefore, the match can be close numerically but look terrible. If they can, they may have to use the color computer to get in the ball park then the old fashion method of matching by eye to get the rest of the way there.

[John H.]

Re: Color Match Issue

There is a note on the back of the "standards" I have seen that says "do not buff or oil" or some words close to that.

Terry -

That's correct - in the "old days" in the steel car plants, I carried lots of those color standards to regular screaming matches between Fisher Body and Chevrolet Chief Inspectors for the daily "discussions" over color and gloss match (when Fisher painted the body from the firewall back and Chevrolet painted the hood, fenders, and header panel).

[Dennis D.]

Re: Color Match Issue

There is a note on the back of the "standards" I have seen that says "do not buff or oil" or some words close to that. Of course, I suppose not everyone reads or pays attention to instructions.

In big red letters no less.......

[Paul O.]

Re: Color Match Issue

Just to add some information I have about 75% of the paint standards for 70-71 no Laguna Gray. The one that I have 2 of is 71-72 Ontario Orange one is painted late 70 and the other late 71 there is a noticeable difference in shade between the 2 when put next to each other but show them one at a time its harder to tell . I would expect the differences due to the mix and the condition of the day when they were painted. With that said most Exterior judges look for the shade to be close not a 100% because through out the year the shade would have a slight change as Steven has said less then .5 difference would be acceptable. Paul 18046

[Tom L.]

Re: Color Match Issue

Thanks Paul. You just answered my question. My current paint mix is nearly exact when compared to the bow tie car. By nearly exact, I mean that if you parked the two cars next to each other, they'd look the same. But if you did a spot repair on the bow tie car with my current mix, I think you would be able to identify the repair.

I've been contemplating whether I should keep tinkering around with the formula, at $75 per pint, to make it absolutely perfect, if that's even possible. But if the color standards don't even match each other, what's the point. I think I'll go get a gallon of my latest formula today and move on.

[Paul O.]

Re: Color Match Issue

Tom make sure that the flake is the correct size if it is larger then the original size that will change your shade. Also do a test panel paint the whole panel then mask off a section the repaint the panel. Do this 5 or 6 times till the last section is painted has 6 coats and the first has one. This should help you get close to the amount of coats it will take. Make sure you primer the panel with the same primer that you will use on the car. The primer can also change the shade slightly. Paul 18046