Color Match: Blending And Tinting

Color sells! The vehicle color may provoke emotions or convey the personality of the owner. Vehicle makers utilize color to target specific demographics, follow trends, increase safety, and many other reasons.

The complexity of automotive colors is a daily challenge faced by collision repairers. Why does a shop have to color match? What tools and techniques do collision repair facilities have to address color challenges? What are the operations associated with color matching? If the color is tinted, does it need to be blended?

Color matching is done on every vehicle that comes into the collision repair facility. Yes, this includes black. There are multiple factors that explain why we must color match and why the standard formula is not always the answer. These factors include:

• Vehicle maker manufacturing variances during paint application
• Different production locations and different paint suppliers
• Color variancs not yet identified by the paint makers
• Weathering of the vehicle finish
• Previously repaired panels
• Pigment availability for vehicle makers vs. collision repairer facilities

Collision repair facilities have a few resources to aid in color matching; these include:

• Color chips arranged by color family or vehicle color code
• Spectrophotometer (color camera)
• User-created sprayout panels
• Paint maker or distributor technical reps

Color matching operations include:

• Blending: The technique of extending the basecoat color into an area or panel adjacent to the repair to allow some of the original vehicle color to show through the refinish color. Blending deceives the eye into seeing only one color rather than two separate colors.
• Tinting: Changing the appearance of a color by adding small amounts of toner, or toners, to the original formula.
• Drop coat, half-coat, or orientation coat: a light mist coat used when spraying metallics and pearls to ensure that the metallic or mica flakes are properly oriented.

Other considerations that may change color include:

• Spray gun technique and air pressure
• Basecoat mixing ratios and solvent selection
• Environmental - temperature or humidity

Blending can never take the place of tinting to correct for an unacceptable color match. There are reasons for doing each process, and one cannot substitute for the other.

At SEMA 2024, I-CAR hosted a Color Matching: Panel Discussion that included three paint makers representatives. The consensus was that if there is no blendable match with available color tools, tinting for a blendable match is the best option.

Per the SCRS Quick Tip: Tint To Blendable Match video, Mike Anderson, Collision Advice, states: "All major refinish brands recommend when you’re tinting, you’re tinting to achieve a blendable match."

The topic of color match is often subjective, and there is not one simple solution to guarantee a perfect match. A simple way to get in front of this challenge is to look at color early in the process. How early? During the blueprinting process, preferably. Some refinish challenges that can be addressed early in the repair process include:

• Radar-compliant color utilization
• Limited-use toner requirements and availability
• Adjustment to the repair plan to accommodate tinting or matte finishes
• Paint maker or distributor tech support scheduling

Getting the right color can be a challenge, but if you address it early, you can reduce many unforeseen delays. Always refer to OEM repair information and paint maker technical data sheets (TDS) prior to refinishing the vehicle.

Additional I-CAR Collision Repair News you may find helpful:

• Back-To-Basics: Environmental Considerations For Refinishing
• I-CAR Repairers Realm: Paint Color Matching Challenges - Now Available
• OEM ADAS Radar Optimized Color Resources
• Paint Maker ADAS Radar Optimized Color Resources
• Refinishing Park Assist Sensors

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Related I-CAR Courses

Course Basic Color Theory

Course Refinishing Application and Blending