Color Match?
 

NAPA took a picture of my car color with their special color ID camera. They mixed a can of one stage paint and the match is very poor. Now they claim they can mix a 2 stage paint plus using a clear coat and the match will be much better. Does this make sense or is it just a waste of $. Original color was garnet maroon but has probably faded some. What is best way to get a good color match to repair a small area? Jon Laing

Re: Color Match?
 

Rule one: NAPA's color meter is junk.
Rule two: Find a automotive finish paint store and have them do it.

Reasoning: $275 in test paint at NAPA and not even close. No charge at automotive finish paint store until you were satisfied.

Re: Color Match?
 

There is no best way. Color matching is all experimental. Sometimes the color scanning comes very close. Sometimes it provides a tintable match. Sometimes it isn't even close.
I'm working now with my PPG jobber to match 2 interior 68 Mustang colors. We looked through color books and found close existing colors and tinted to an acceptable side by side match for light aqua metallic. Dark aqua metallic is next.
Tint. Spray test panel. Tint. Spray test panel. So it goes.
Mixing 1/2 pint of acrylic enamel to test.
Blending base coat color into color and clear coating the panel is a common technique. It fools the eye. Done in late model collision repair every day.
Look at 70s 80s GM carmine.
Hibernia Auto Restoration or Fred Hirsch may have the formula.
Luck.

Re: Color Match?
 

Well, good luck. I damaged a fender skirt and tried to match the other one. Paint supplier used a computer to match it. It was very far off, after messing with the paint about 4 times they finally mixed a pint. It didn't match very good when painted but I just gave up. No one can see both sides at the same time but it doesn't match the fender very well.

Re: Color Match?
 

X2 on NAPA color matching. One a good note the guy running NAPA was a bud so no extra cost. The qts & the color never did match. Like nelsb01posts go to a automotive finishing store.
Back in the 50s I worked for a automotive supply store & sold ACME paint. One time I mixed about a gallon of GM really light green to even come close. Made many many tries & ended up[ with about a gallon of paint just for a touchup job. The paint dries darker & trying to get a wet match never worked. No fancy cameras then just eyeball it & mix in some toners.