A method for identifying one or more matching formulas for matching color and appearance of a target coating containing effect pigments, said method comprising the steps of: a) obtaining color data of the target coating using a color measurement device; b) obtaining one or more target images of the target coating at one or more pre-set illumination intensities using an imaging device; c) measuring characteristics of said target coating from said target images to generate appearance data; d) comparing the color data and the appearance data to color characteristics and appearance characteristics stored in a coating database, said appearance data are compared to each individual appearance characteristic stored in the coating database by calculating differences between individual target feature values and individual alternate feature values; and e) selecting from the coating database, one or more said matching formulas, wherein said matching formulas have color characteristics that match the color data and appearance characteristics that match the appearance data, wherein the step b) comprises: i) providing illuminations to the target coating at a fixed illumination angle and at said pre-set illumination intensities; ii) selecting an effective illumination of an effective intensity under which the effect pigments of the target coating exhibit varying brightness; iii) directing a reflection of said effective illumination from the target coating to the imaging device to capture at least one image of the target coating; and wherein said matching formulas are selected by selecting and ranking alternate coatings from said coatings database based on the color difference, ranking said alternate coatings based on the feature distances to produce an initial appearance ranking list adjusting said initial appearance ranking list based on said appearance data, wherein a number of extra large sparkle objects is considered so that coatings with a high number of extra large sparkle objects resulting in a coarser coating compared to the target coating are moved down said initial appearance ranking list to generate a refined appearance ranking list, and selecting said matching formulas based on top ranked coatings in said refined appearance ranking list. a) obtaining color data of the target coating using a color measurement device; b) obtaining one or more target images of the target coating at one or more pre-set illumination intensities using an imaging device; c) measuring characteristics of said target coating from said target images to generate appearance data; d) comparing the color data and the appearance data to color characteristics and appearance characteristics stored in a coating database, said appearance data are compared to each individual appearance characteristic stored in the coating database by calculating differences between individual target feature values and individual alternate feature values; and e) selecting from the coating database, one or more said matching formulas, wherein said matching formulas have color characteristics that match the color data and appearance characteristics that match the appearance data, wherein the step b) comprises: i) providing illuminations to the target coating at a fixed illumination angle and at said pre-set illumination intensities; ii) selecting an effective illumination of an effective intensity under which the effect pigments of the target coating exhibit varying brightness; iii) directing a reflection of said effective illumination from the target coating to the imaging device to capture at least one image of the target coating; and i) providing illuminations to the target coating at a fixed illumination angle and at said pre-set illumination intensities; ii) selecting an effective illumination of an effective intensity under which the effect pigments of the target coating exhibit varying brightness; iii) directing a reflection of said effective illumination from the target coating to the imaging device to capture at least one image of the target coating; and