Why a repainted panel has to be colour-matched

You have probably seen a car with a door or bumper in a slightly different shade from the rest. In some light it barely shows; in other light it stands out a mile. It is almost always a repair where the colour was not matched properly. Avoiding that is the job of colour matching.

The paint code is not enough

Every car has a factory paint code, usually on a label in the door frame, in the bonnet or in the paperwork. That code gives the original formula. The problem is that the car in front of you is no longer exactly the same as the one that left the factory, for several reasons:

• Production variation: the same code can show small differences in shade between batches or factories.
• Ageing: sun, rain, washing and time slightly change the look of the paint. In a climate with as much sunshine as Tenerife's, it shows.
• Previous repairs: if the car has been painted before, some areas may have a different tint.

How the colour is matched

The process combines measurement, experience and testing. Broadly speaking:

1. It starts from the paint code and its possible variants.
2. This is compared with the actual car, often with the help of measuring equipment and colour charts, and always in good light.
3. The mix is adjusted and a test card is sprayed and compared with the panel from several angles.
4. If needed, the formula is corrected until the shade matches.

Metallic and pearlescent paints are trickier

In metallic paint the colour contains tiny particles that reflect light. In pearlescent paint, the pigments give reflections that change with the viewing angle. With these finishes it is not only the shade that matters, but also how those particles lie, which depends on how the paint is applied. That is why a metallic panel can look right head-on and different from the side if it is not done carefully.

Blending

Even when the colour is well matched, the eye is very sensitive to sudden changes. So rather than painting only the damaged panel, the colour is often blended into the neighbouring panels. That makes the transition gradual, with no visible edge. It is a standard technique, especially with metallic and light colours, and it is why an estimate sometimes includes work on a panel that was not damaged.

Light matters too

The same colour can look different under workshop lighting, in the shade or in full sun. That is why comparisons are made in good light and, where possible, the result is checked in daylight. A well-equipped workshop, with a paint booth and proper lighting, can work with more confidence.

A well-matched colour is one nobody notices. If the customer cannot tell which panel was painted, the job has been done right.

At Green Car Service Tenerife we work with solid and metallic colours using eco-friendly «eco-balance» paint. Find out more about colours and finishes or ask for an estimate for your repair.