Color Mismatch
Cause
- Original finish has "drifted" from manufacturer's standard.
- Old finish weathered and oxidized.
- Color over or under reduced.
- Improper spray procedures.
- Color not properly stirred or shaken.
- Improper spray gun set up.
- Inaccurate mixing of the color formula.
- "Panel" painting instead of blending.
- Evaluating color under a light source other than "color corrected" lighting or natural light.
- Adjusting a color before it has been sprayed, or adjusting a basecoat before applying clearcoat.
Repair
If color is close enough to blend:
- prepare adjacent panel(s) for blending, then
- blend color into adjacent panels.
If color must be tinted:
- tint the color for a blendable match,
- prepare adjacent panel(s) for blending, then
- respray the repair, blending into the adjacent panel(s).
Prevention
- Check alternate color selector for variances. Choose the alternate that provides a blendable match.
- All color must be viewed under equal gloss; compound or polish the area to be matched.
- Thin/reduce according to label direction.
- Follow label directions for proper application of color coat.
- Stir or shake materials thoroughly to be sure all pigments and metallics are in solution and suspension.
- Refer to product label or data sheet for spray gun, fluid nozzle, and air cap recommendations.
- Recheck color code, formula number, formula weights before mixing colors.
- Spray a test panel prior to application to determine if blending or tinting is necessary.
- Always use natural daylight or color corrected lights to make color matching decisions.
- All color must be sprayed out for an accurate evaluation. Basecoats must have clearcoat applied. Check color from all angles, face (90 degrees) and side tone (20-60 degrees).