Getting Your Color
Matching Your Paint Color
 This
is always one of the most critical steps in the restoration process and
often the first thing most people notice when picking up their vehicle.
Color matching used to be done exclusively "by eye" in a time-consuming
trial and error process. The skill (and eyesight!) of the paint finishing
technician were the crucial factors in ensuring that there was no visible
difference between the repaired section(s) and the rest of your vehicle.
However, like everything else, technology has changed this.
Computerized Color Matching
We use a highly effective combination of systems from DuPont Automotive Finishes.
The
VINdicator™ computerized paint formula retrieval system, ChromaVision® computerized
paint mixing system and the ChromaVision® colorimeter. These combined systems
take much of the guesswork out of precisely matching your vehicles paint color
and help
us to deliver a superior quality finish for you - often in less time.
VINdicator™
 Your
vehicles' 17 digit VIN (vehicle identification number) includes a great deal
of information that helps to automate getting a perfect color match for most
newer vehicles. Once provided with the VIN, our system can determine factors
such
as where your vehicle was  manufactured, the date of manufacturer
and the paint formula used on that date. In fact, this system provides superior
color matches
for some 98 percent of all
vehicles
sold in
the United
States
since 1997.
ChromaVision® Colorimeter
 After
the VINdicator system has pinpointed the best paint formula match for your
vehicle, the ChromaVision® colorimeter helps us to further adjust and fine
tune the formula. This hand-held device is particularly useful in helping
us determine
the exact color(s) of your vehicles finish today as opposed
to when it left the factory. This additional fine tuning helps us produce superior
blends (where new paint is blended with existing paint) on your vehicles finish.
 ChromaVision®
Computerized Paint Mixing System
When the formula has been fine tuned, the last step is to realize the
formula by mixing the paint.
 The
photo (above) of our mixing room shows a large rack of color tints that
are used in creating a very broad spectrum of paint colors. Each of these
containers is directly connected to dedicated lines within the rack (photo
at left). Under computer control, the mixing system blends the exact amount
of the specific tints necessary to produce your paint formula as determined
in the earlier steps.
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