The Quest for a Quality Match

Jan. 1, 2020
Comebacks because of panels that don't match are costly in terms of reputation, time and money. But a quality paint match isn't out of the question when you are armed with a little knowledge, preparation and experience.
Comebacks because of panels that don't match are costly in terms of reputation, time and money. But a quality paint match isn't out of the question when you are armed with a little knowledge, preparation and experience.Is it an art or a talent one is born with? Or is it a skill that can be learned and repeated with accuracy? The task in question is color matching, and while it certainly helps to have a good eye, today's technology makes achieving a quality color match more the result of knowledge, preparation and experience.Poor color match is probably the most common reason for paint comebacks, and it can be very costly for a shop. It's a financial loss because of the wasted materials and the labor costs as well as the time and space consumed by the re-do. It can also mean a loss in future revenues because of a dissatisfied customer. For these reasons, it only makes sense for shop owners, managers and painters to take whatever steps they can to ensure a successful paint repair.Challenging CoatsThe first step in achieving a quality color match is to assess the type of finish that must be matched. Although this may seem obvious, it is worth mentioning because not everyone understands the nature of different colorcoats and the special steps that need to be taken to ensure a proper color match.Metallics are very popular with today's motorists. Because of this, an increasing number of late model vehicles with metallic finishes are finding their way into shops, which create the most problems for the painter when it comes to application and color matching. The nature of these coatings and the characteristics that make them so attractive is that they change appearance depending on the angle they are viewed from. Because light doesn't penetrate solid colors very deeply, it reflects off the vehicle in the normal way (See "Color Me Yellow"). But metallic paints usually contain aluminum particles and less pigment material. The aluminum particles reflect the light rays before they reach the primer and do so at different angles.The paint application affects the way the aluminum particles set up and reflect the light. A wet application that takes a long time to flash-off gives the aluminum time to settle to the bottom and assume an upright position that produces a deeper top tone and paler bottom tone. A dry application flashes off very quickly and causes the aluminum to remain fairly flat. This produces a paler, grayish top tone and a deeper bottom tone. The true color often isn't seen until the clear is applied to the metallic basecoat.Pearlescent or mica finishes present another type of color matching challenge. These achieve their optical effect by using transparent mica flakes whose surfaces are covered with a thin metallic oxide coating. The flakes change color according to the angle they are viewed from because the metallic oxide coatings reflect or suppress specific wavelengths--blue, red or yellow--depending on their thicknesses.Most vehicles using this type of coating are two-stage--basecoat and clearcoat. But a growing number are three-stage. The first is a specific color, often white, followed by a basecoat containing transparent or semi-transparent pearlescent pigments. Finally, a clearcoat is applied. (See Paint Shop on page 68 for additional information on metallic, pearl and mica finishes.) Jobbers and painters say that three-stage white pearls and the tan metallics are the most difficult to match.Before You MixThe No. 1 rule for accurate color matching is to compare the new paint with the original finish in daylight. If daylight is unavailable, the next best thing is to compare the paint and the original finish under daylight lamps.Before the painter mixes the paint, he or she must consider a number of items. First, the painter can't assume the formula for each make and model vehicle is going to be totally accurate. Colors can vary slightly from one vehicle assembly plant to another without the color code/number and name being changed. This can be because of alterations made to the finishes at the plants for technical or application reasons. Colors can also vary depending on the time of year the sheet metal was coated. The formula for a vehicle produced in January may be different from one painted in March. Paint manufacturers supply repair paint based on the latest color information they receive. In the case of large differences, they sometimes offer additional color variations. If that information is unavailable, the painter must calculate the adjustments.Weathering, age and general use almost always affect a vehicle's color and appearance. This is caused by absorption of dirt, exhaust fumes, industrial waste and so on. Compounding and polishing help remove most of this film, and this should be done before a color comparison is made.Another factor to consider is whether a tinted primer or undercoat was used because the color of the undercoat influences the final outcome. Look under the hood of the vehicle to determine this. Vehicle makers have been using tinted undercoats for some time now, and if your shop isn't already using them, you should consider doing so. By using a tinted primer, you need fewer colorcoats, which saves time and materials.Color Selection ToolsAnyone who has considered stepping up productivity in the shop knows the importance of reducing the time spent on each step of the repair process. The faster and easier it is for a painter to identify and correctly match color, the quicker the cars move through the shop and the opportunity to enhance profitability is increased. Paint manufacturers have done a good job developing technology and tools to help painters with the task of color matching. When selecting a paint system, consider the quality and cost as well as the types of tools and assistance the manufacturer offers.The most common tool is the paint chip. This comes in the form of color books that provide chips with approximate representations of manufacturers' colors and formulas, microfiche and color decks. Top-end paint chip systems consist of thousands of metallic and solid color chips grouped into color family decks. They are derived from actual car parts and not random shades that are created in a laboratory. They should include every OEM standard color as well as the variations discussed earlier.Another advantage to top-end systems is that the paint on the chip is actual refinish paint that was applied with spray equipment. Chips upon which color was applied with a printing process or on which the paint was scraped are not necessarily going to provide the best comparison. The method used to apply color to the chip is especially important when it comes to metallics, micas and pearls.A color-matching tool that has made a giant leap technology- and dollar-wise is the spectrophotometer. This scanning tool is placed on the area of the car you want to match. It can be used in any light condition because it has an internal light source, and its battery power source makes it portable.Spectrophotometers perform similar to your eyes. When the light reflects off the surface, the tool reads the wavelengths and sends that information to its computer for interpretation. All spectrophotometers measure three components of color. These include: the hue, whether it's red, blue, yellow, etc.; the chroma to determine the saturation, or intensity, of color; the degree of lightness or darkness.Some types measure a fourth component--the pitch and orientation of the aluminum and mica flakes in the finish, which enables the unit to more accurately identify metallics and pearls. Once the readings are taken, numerical values are assigned that correspond with the manufacturer's formula or paint code. These can then be entered into your computerized paint mixing system.While spectrophotometers are useful, they are also very expensive. The investment can usually only be justified for high-volume facilities. For this reason, many jobbers and paint sales reps have made the investment instead. Because the units are portable, they can be taken from shop to shop, assisting painters when they have a particular color-matching problem.One investment that should be considered is a computerized paint mixing system. These systems offer a number of advantages, including color formula retrieval and formula mixing. They provide step-by-step instructions for a proper mix, for making adjustments when there is an overpour and for proportional mixing when only a small amount is needed. Beyond that, different systems assist with job costing by tracking paint; paint-related materials such as primers, reducers, hardeners and clears; and non-paint related materials such as sandpaper and masking tape. Inventory control and analysis capabilities and volatile organic compound (VOC) tracking reports are additional features of these systems.Regardless of which systems you employ in your color-matching pursuit, always use the manufacturer's recommended mix ratios.Equipment ConsiderationsHow big is your air compressor? Can it meet all of the demands in your shop? If not, it could affect the quality of your paint job because the air pressure at the gun affects the amount of material applied: The higher the pressure, the lighter the colorcoat. If there is a drop in pressure in the middle of an application, a darker color could result. The two key elements of system demand are pressure and capacity. Any facility interested in improving its productivity and efficiency must have an understanding of the amount of air pressure and capacity that is required by its air-operated equipment. The financial costs for these machines cannot be compared to costs that result from defective paint finishes.It's also important for the painter to have the proper equipment for the application and that he or she knows how to use it. Everything from the type of gun to the size of the holes in the air cap affect the amount of colorcoat that is applied. The right nozzle must also be selected, and both the nozzles and the air caps must be kept clean. Otherwise, it is impossible to achieve an even spray pattern.Training ProgramsSometimes there is no way around it. No matter how well you try to match the original finish, blending onto adjacent panels may be your only option. Because this article isn't about technique, we'll save that discussion for another time. But recognize this: Blending, as well as the other procedures discussed in this article, require training and experience. This brings us to the final topic.The refinish world is in a constant state of change. New colors, applications, technology and regulations governing spraybooths, paint guns and the VOC content of coatings are realities the painter must deal with. Whether a painter is new to the job or has been at it for 20 years, training should be an ongoing aspect of his or her life.In addition to providing instructional booklets for the products they sell, many paint manufacturers offer training classes on all phases of the refinishing process, including prep work, spraygun techniques, color theory, and single-stage, two-stage and three-stage applications. Some programs are designed for technicians, while others are geared to body shop owners, managers and insurance personnel. After completing the courses, participants receive certificates that can be framed and mounted in the lobby of the shop for customers to view. To find out what is available for the paint system you use, contact the paint manufacturer or your supplier.I-CAR offers a finish matching course, which provides students with a systematic approach to matching the color, texture and durability of today's paint finishes. Topics include: factors that affect surface appearance and how to control them; color blending; methods for tinting metallics, solids and micas; color matching procedures for multistage finishes; waterborne and other low-VOC finishes; high-volume, low-pressure (HVLP) sprayguns; drying and curing methods.For more information on this and other I-CAR courses, visit the organization's Web site www.i-car.com or call (800) 422-7872.(Editor's Note: ABRN would like to thank the following for their assistance with this article: Tim Herrington, color director for Valspar; Luis Malpica, senior sales representative for BASF; and Greg Gunter, owner of Greg's Auto Body in Santa Fe Springs, Calif.; Akzo Nobel Coatings; DuPont; North American Standox; PPG Industries and Sherwin-Williams.)Kathy Forrey has worked as a journalist, publicist and editor for 16 years, 11 of which have been spent in the collision repair industry. She is the owner of Collision Business Network, a public relations and desktop publishing firm.Color Me Yellow
The human eye can see 7 million colors. Many of us take for granted the colors that surround us. Have you ever wondered why the leaves of a tree are green, why your dog is black, or why the door and quarter panel you just painted are two shades of red?
The colors we see depend on which colors are absorbed and reflected by an object. For example, an object that looks red absorbs all wavelengths--colors--except for the red one, which is reflected to your eye. All colors of the spectrum are present when white is seen, and a black object absorbs all of the wavelengths and essentially allows none to reflect.Not all colors are pleasant. Some cause fatigue and headaches. If stared at long enough, yellow is the worst offender. This is because bright colors reflect more light. One study concluded that babies cry more when they are in a yellow room and spouses fight more often. At the same time, yellow can be cheery in the right situation. And because it is the first color the human eye notices, it is an effective way to attract attention.The pigments, chemicals and minerals in an object can affect the light that is reflected to your eyes. Factors such as the amount of reducer, the primer color, the color of the original basecoat and the thickness of paint all affect a color-matching task.

About the Author

Kathy Forrey

Kathy Forrey has worked as a journalist, publicist, and editor for 16 years, 11 of which have been spent in the collision repair industry. She is the owner of Collision Business Network, a PR and desktop publishing firm whose clients have included national organizations such as CIC and SCRS as well as individual collision repair businesses.

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