What is the best way to match a paint color?

Discussion in 'Materials' started by snowbirder, Jan 31, 2015.

  1. snowbirder

    snowbirder Previous Member

    Hi,

    I'm looking at getting paint and I'm not sure how to go about finding paint codes for a manufacturer such as DuPont to use to produce my paint.

    I want to color match this:


    [​IMG]

    How do I go about specifying this color to a paint manufacturer?
     
  2. AndySGray
    Joined: Jun 2014
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    AndySGray Senior Member

    If you have a physical sample - even getting a photo print of the above - most paint specialists have a machine which can scan a small point and get you a breakdown /match of the colours (technically a spectro photometer).

    A good photo-shop program will also give you the colour value as an RGB (Red Green Blue) which you may also be able to use.
    The downside to the latter is that all monitors / screens are different and colours on screen are not as true and your match may look very different in daylight.

    You might also be able to get dupont to email a colour chart, though the problem above still persists. ;)
     
  3. Saqa
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    Saqa Senior Member

    Sometimes you can look up the code of a standard factory color and give that code to the paint specialist to match. I did that very similar bright green color on my boat like, the car to match was the new ford falcon typhoon
     
  4. gonzo
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    gonzo Senior Member

    Go to any place they sell automotive paint and give them the make, model and year. They have the formulas for every production car and truck. If it is not a factory color, you can print the color you want, then they'll scan and mix a match.
     
  5. michael pierzga
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    michael pierzga Senior Member

    Many paint suppliers have a machine. You give them a sample of the colour, they scan it with their machine and out comes the formula for mixing your colour.

    Talk to a custom auto body shop. They can direct you to the correct supplier.
     
  6. WestVanHan
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    WestVanHan Not a Senior Member

    I don't think they're even on the market or very few of them have been sold.
    And that colour may be a one-off and exclusive to the E cell show car so I doubt MBZ has the paint codes, but you can check.


    Lamborghini has a very similar Verde Ithaca,or just go to any autobody supply company and show them this picture.
     
  7. Mr Efficiency
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    Mr Efficiency Senior Member

    If it's for the baby's high chair, an alkyd enamel (white) with primrose yellow tint, and a touch of thalo green tint. Otherwise, talk to an auto paint retailer. What do you call this colour ? Bilious green ?
     
  8. SukiSolo
    Joined: Dec 2012
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    SukiSolo Senior Member

    Most Auto paint and Industrial paint manufacturers have the catalogs and specifications for mixing many car, Pantone, Corporate, BS, AFNOR, RAL standard colours. There are a couple of things to watch out for though, some paints like part fluorescent only last for 3 to 6 months at full brightness then require repainting, such as helicopter noses. So for some 'Show' cars this technique or type of formula could be used but be pretty dissappointing a year down the line. Some of the RAL colours I believe are like this. Also there is/are 'luminous' additives, partly pearlescent used in paint and gelcoat colouring, and these may not give quite the same effect in gelcoat and in paint.

    As per WestVanHan, Lamborghini have a bright lime green as standard, a pretty punchy orange too.....and being VW the white version will be 'Candy white' as used on Skoda, Seat etc...;)

    This kind of green (some bright yellows too) is quite hard to use with other colours, so highlights tend to be black, silver and maybe white, pretty neutral as the colour is so strong. It requires careful thinking of the whole scheme to make it work well.
     
  9. Mr Efficiency
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    Mr Efficiency Senior Member

    It crossed my mind it could be flouro, which is great for advertising signs, while it lasts !
     
  10. WestVanHan
    Joined: Aug 2009
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    WestVanHan Not a Senior Member

    ...out walking,a very neon lime green car went by,and was wrapped.
    Stop by one of those auto wrap places,buy apiece,and have it scanned.
     
  11. michael pierzga
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    michael pierzga Senior Member

    Yup...most of the wild looking cars around my town are wraped.

    Seems to be plenty durable and when done by a pro its hard to tell that its not paint.
     
  12. WestVanHan
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    WestVanHan Not a Senior Member

    Looks a similar shade as Borat's thong
     
  13. snowbirder

    snowbirder Previous Member

    Thanks, everyone. I'll try the various suggestions. Wrapping the boat was considered, but the vinyl wrap people all ran away when they learned the details of the project. Nobody wants to vinyl wrap a 50ft cat for some reason.

    It's really only for topsides and a few accents so maybe wrapping is the way to go.

    Any thoughts there, since the original question was answered well already?
     
  14. michael pierzga
    Joined: Dec 2008
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    michael pierzga Senior Member

    Wrapping the topsides of a boat is easy...no skill needed. The local boat wrap guys work with a joint in one hand. Not sure about the US but the local supplier over here only has wrap that is 1200 mm wide. The only complication with most topside wraps is the joint at 1200 mm. Hiding the joint at a cove stripe is common. If your transom has a lot of detail it can be tediuos to wrap. Google the maker of the film...cant remember the name...and they have a good tutorial and tool,description .

    Some wraps are pliable and very easy to lay...some are stiff like mylar are require more skill.

    One problem with wrap is that it is soft. Be careful with your topsides...no chafe

    Oh...there is a new wrap on the market...you spray it on . This solves the joint issue . Google it
     

  15. PAR
    Joined: Nov 2003
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    PAR Yacht Designer/Builder

    The mix formula for that electric AMG-SLS is very probably available. This code can be had by any reputable automotive paint supplier. In fact, they'll likely be able to tell you it a specific green from a specific paint manufacture and if not the actual paint code, then one that's so close you wouldn't be able to tell the difference. The car is a 1/2 a million bucks, so you can bet someone has the paint code, hoping to get lucky. Don't be surprised if it's $800 a gallon.
     
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