Paint Matching for Rookies

[Daves69]

Q....Is it easier to match paint that's still in the can or on the car?
I'm a bit skeptical on those color cameras.
I tried (my first time) painting single stage on my '69 front clip recently. It didn't go as well as I had hoped.
Since my car was not drivable, I pulled the trunk lid and brought it to the paint shop to get the color I needed, allegedly B5 per their color match camera. Well, it came out too light. So back to the paint shop we go. The color match camera was tried again. It determines there's a hint of green so the Tech re-mixes it.
Hmmmm..........came out a touch dark this time..........but it is blue, and I still have more BW to do down the sides and I'll need more paint, hence the question.
TIA

 

[1MeanA]

The paint shop I use will do spray out cards to come up with a match after starting with a code. For a good job you really need to blend into the doors.

 

[andysauto1]

I've been painting cars and trucks for 52 years, you almost always have to blend into the next panel, especially with light colors with metallic. Really hard to do with single stage. Believe it or not , your blue is one of the toughest out there. Even white can be rough to hit straight up. Black and bright reds are the only ones I've ever felt good about.

 

[sireland67]

Blend it.
The last shop I worked at, we had our own PPG mixing station, you would not believe how many variances there is of any given color.
Just panel painting, you most likely will never get it right.

 

[cudascott]

Blue is tough to match as stated blending would be best

 

[340sFastback]

If one mix came out too light and one too dark maybe mix up a cup of 50/50 each and do a test spray out? Agree will need to blend into doors but looks like a better match is needed first.

I been told white, grey, or black primer underneath can influence it slightly.

 

[sireland67]

Under color greatly influences the outcome. It can lighten or darken the color.

 

[George Jets]

Get the custom mix color as close as possible, then paint to match.

Earlier days that ment painting the whole side when repainting the front, breaking the color off at the the upper body line peak.

Today's basecoat colors blend off nicely when fading them into the next panel, then clearcoat the whole panel to magically make the blend area disappear.


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