A computer-implemented method for matching and adjusting pigmentation of a target coating, the method comprising at least the steps of: a) retrieving from a formulation database which comprises formulas for coating compositions with different pigmentations, one preliminary matching formula; b) providing a match metric that describes a color difference and a spectral similarity between a remission curve given for the target coating and a remission curve determined for the preliminary matching formula; and by using one or more processors: c) calculating a match metric value for the preliminary matching formula based on the remission curve given for the target coating and the remission curve determined for the preliminary matching formula; d) adjusting the preliminary matching formula with respect to concentrations of included pigments in the way that the match metric is minimal; e) evaluating the match metric value of the adjusted preliminary matching formula; f) comparing the match metric value for the adjusted preliminary matching formula with a first threshold value wherein the adjusted preliminary matching formula is decided to be acceptable in the case that the match metric value is smaller or equal to the first threshold value, otherwise g) successively adding available pigments to the adjusted preliminary matching formula for further adjusting the adjusted preliminary matching formula to the target coating, each additional pigment being associated with a respective modified preliminary matching formula consisting of the adjusted pigmentation of the adjusted preliminary matching formula and the respective additional pigment; h) calculating, for each of the at least one additional pigment, a match metric value for the respective modified preliminary matching formula; i) adjusting the modified preliminary matching formula with respect to concentrations of the included pigments in the way that the match metric value is minimal; j) assigning each of the at least one additional pigment to the respective one match metric value which has been calculated for the respective adjusted modified preliminary matching formula, respectively; k) issuing, via an output device, a list of at least those additional pigments of the at least one additional pigment whose associated adjusted modified preliminary matching formula has a remission curve that is more similar to the remission curve of the target coating than the remission curve of the adjusted preliminary matching formula with respect to the match metric, respectively. a) retrieving from a formulation database which comprises formulas for coating compositions with different pigmentations, one preliminary matching formula; b) providing a match metric that describes a color difference and a spectral similarity between a remission curve given for the target coating and a remission curve determined for the preliminary matching formula; and c) calculating a match metric value for the preliminary matching formula based on the remission curve given for the target coating and the remission curve determined for the preliminary matching formula; d) adjusting the preliminary matching formula with respect to concentrations of included pigments in the way that the match metric is minimal; e) evaluating the match metric value of the adjusted preliminary matching formula; f) comparing the match metric value for the adjusted preliminary matching formula with a first threshold value wherein g) successively adding available pigments to the adjusted preliminary matching formula for further adjusting the adjusted preliminary matching formula to the target coating, each additional pigment being associated with a respective modified preliminary matching formula consisting of the adjusted pigmentation of the adjusted preliminary matching formula and the respective additional pigment; h) calculating, for each of the at least one additional pigment, a match metric value for the respective modified preliminary matching formula; i) adjusting the modified preliminary matching formula with respect to concentrations of the included pigments in the way that the match metric value is minimal; j) assigning each of the at least one additional pigment to the respective one match metric value which has been calculated for the respective adjusted modified preliminary matching formula, respectively; k) issuing, via an output device, a list of at least those additional pigments of the at least one additional pigment whose associated adjusted modified preliminary matching formula has a remission curve that is more similar to the remission curve of the target coating than the remission curve of the adjusted preliminary matching formula with respect to the match metric, respectively.