Paint matching tool / scanner

[Dionk]

Any recommendations on a tool to use so I can accurately match my paint color! There some paint color scanners on amazon. Not sure.

Thanks

[esty]

i don't think you can online...take a part with the pint to an auto paint store

[Tsingtao_1903]

Color measurement/matching is one of the harder things we do at work.  We use the Konica Minolta FD-7 and Konica CM-700d.  "Accurate" is a very relative term.  It depends on surface gloss, texture, and opaqueness of the paint.  

[TobyB]

Quote

"Accurate" is a very relative term

 

Heh.  

Yeah.

 

 So the guy I bought the race car from had painted it with DelStar.

Good choice for a race car- cheap, fast drying, relatively abrasion resistant.

So the first time I fixed it, the paint shop color matched it.

It came out lighter.

The second time I fixed it, the paint shop color matched the new color

It came out even lighter.

 

So far, there hasn't been a third time- I found some green gaff tape that was a- 

 

wait for it-

 

little lighter.

 

heh

 

t

 

[zinz]

Hey, Tobe... Tractor Supply carries John Deere green... ?

['76mintgrün'02]

that'd be waaaay lighter green

[TobyB]

That looks to be circa 2006- it got at least one more shade lighter after that...

 

t

 

[jgerock]

4 hours ago, '76mintgrun'02 said:

that'd be waaaay lighter green

Wait- is this Toby's car?  Don't think I've seen it posted...

['76mintgrün'02]

1 minute ago, jgerock said:

Don't think I've seen it posted...

 

(I hope I am not in Trubble)

[dang]

9 hours ago, Tsingtao_1903 said:

Color measurement/matching is one of the harder things we do at work.  We use the Konica Minolta FD-7 and Konica CM-700d.  "Accurate" is a very relative term.  It depends on surface gloss, texture, and opaqueness of the paint.  

 

+1

 

A friend has been painting for 30 years and helped me paint the hood and bumper on my e46 M3 last year.  The factory color wasn't even close so we used a match camera.  It said the closest color was an Acura, which was pretty close, but we ended up using about 20% of the flake that it called out for.  In the end it was close but noticeable to those who knew it has been painted, and a blend would've helped, but you should never expect color (or clear) to match.

[bobthomas]

I had some touch-ups done on my Anthracite car a few years ago.  On advice of painter I took the car to NAPA for a match.  NAPA guy used some sort of device to "look at" the paint on the car & did a perfect match.

[Dionk]

17 hours ago, esty said:

take a part with the pint to an auto paint store

Thanks- the only paint still original is under the decals in the engine bay. I may have to get the car road worthy and drive it there.  

[2002Scoob]

Like everyone has said, go to a pro paint-shop and they'll have much higher quality methods and tools to match paint colors than you'll find on Amazon.

 

And even then, those tools are just to get in the ballpark.

 

There's so many variables in mixing a proper paint match, it's more skill and experience. They'll probably do some sample-mixes, spray some test panels, let them cure, and use those to gauge what is, and isn't, a match. (depending of the paint/shade, typically colors dry a shade or two darker than when wet.)   And even then for perfect 'factory finish' matches it even comes down to the application process. You can have a perfect paint match, but if the surface texture/level of orange peel isn't perfect, the level of surface finish can dictate how light presents the color. so in the case of spraying individual panels you have to match not only color, but surface finish.

 

But shouldn't you be able to source a paint-code as a starting point by just knowing what your paint is? (Bristol, yah?) Maybe a better question is 'Has anyone had success matching 'X' paint color, and if so, How/Where/What?'

Edited February 2, 2018 by 2002Scoob

[Dionk]

Derby is the color. Have seen a few threads (dasfroggers in particular) on it and even pictures of paint cans. I'll get some samples and do some test sprays.

[venoak]

Try this Link as starting point for your color code options. 

 

http://paintref.com/cgi-bin/colorcodedisplaym.cgi?year=1974&make=BMW&model=All&color=All&action=Get+Paint+Codes

 

Also the FAQ has a list of codes but not manufacturers in the resources area.