How can I fix a color difference between two sections of my car??
A vehicle color mismatch is a noticeable difference between the original finish of the car and a repainted section. Mild cases of color mismatch may be corrected by blending the new color into adjacent areas. A severe case will require you to re-tint the color and repaint the repaired area.
In this article, I’ll answer common questions about how to prevent a color mismatch and eliminate it when it happens.
- What is a color mismatch?
- What causes a color mismatch?
- How can I repair a color mismatch?
- How do I prevent a color mismatch?
What is a color mismatch?
A color mismatch is when the topcoat of a repainted section or panel of your car is not precisely the same shade as the adjacent area when viewed under the same light
What causes a color mismatch?
A color mismatch can be caused by many things, including mistakes made when formulating or applying the finish. Here are some reasons colors end up not matching:
- The original finish has changed from the manufacturer’s standard.
- The old finish has weathered and oxidized.
- The color is over or under-reduced.
- The paint was sprayed on incorrectly.
- The color has not been properly stirred or shaken. Check out our tips on properly stirring and shaking car paint and finishes.
- The spray gun was not set up correctly. Check your manufacturer’s directions to find out how to do it right.
- The wrong color formula was used.
- The panel was painted without blending the color properly.
- Selecting the new paint color wasn’t done under color-corrected or natural light.
- The color was changed before it was sprayed on, or the basecoat was altered before the clearcoat was applied.
How can I repair a color mismatch?
If color mismatch occurs, it can be repaired in one of two ways, depending upon the severity of the mismatch:
- If the color is close enough to blend:
- Prepare the adjacent panel(s) for blending.
- Blend the color into the adjacent panels.
- If the color must be tinted:
- Tint the color for a blendable match.
- Prepare the adjacent panel or panels for blending, then…
- Respray the repair, blending into the adjacent panel or panels
How do I prevent a color mismatch?
There are several ways to avoid color mismatching when painting your vehicle:
- Check an alternate color selector for differences. Choose the variant that provides a blendable match.
- Ensure all colors are being viewed under the same gloss finish. Compound or polish the all areas using the same products and technique.
- Always thin or reduce products according to the directions on the label.
- Follow the label directions to find out how to apply the color coat properly
- Stir or shake materials thoroughly to ensure all pigments and metallics are properly mixed.
- Check the product label or data sheet for the spray gun, fluid nozzle, and air cap to ensure you’re using them correctly.
- Recheck the color code, formula number, and formula weights before mixing colors.
Doing these things will prevent distracting color mismatches on your automotive finish.