A method for matching a reference color formulation to a defined color shade standard comprising: 1. Measuring a reflectance spectrum R ST of the color shade standard, 2. Identifying a recipe for the color shade standard from a database containing color recipes and the corresponding measured reflection spectra R PT, 3. Calculating the theoretical reflectance spectrum R RPT for the identified recipe, 4. Calculating the difference spectrum ΔR between the measured reflectance spectrum R PT and the calculated reflectance spectrum R RPT obtained in step 3, 5. Adjusting the reflectance spectrum R ST of the color shade standard with the difference spectrum ΔR obtained in step 4 and creating a modified reflectance spectrum R STM of the color shade standard, 6. Calculating a recipe on basis of the modified reflectance spectrum R STM, 7. Mixing a paint according to the recipe calculated in step 6 and applying the paint to a substrate; or, comprising: 1. Determining experimentally color coordinates C ST of the color shade standard, 2. Identifying a recipe for the color shade standard from a database containing color recipes and the corresponding experimentally determined color coordinates C PT, 3. Calculating the theoretical color coordinates C RPT for the identified recipe, 4. Calculating the difference ΔC between the experimentally determined color coordinates C PT corresponding to the identified recipe and the calculated color coordinates C RPT obtained in step 3, 5. Adjusting the color coordinates C ST of the color shade standard with the difference of the color coordinates ΔC obtained in step 4 and creating modified color coordinates C STM of the color shade standard, 6. Calculating a recipe on basis of the modified color coordinates C STM, 7. Mixing a paint according to the recipe calculated in step 6 and applying the paint to a substrate. 1. Measuring a reflectance spectrum R ST of the color shade standard, 2. Identifying a recipe for the color shade standard from a database containing color recipes and the corresponding measured reflection spectra R PT, 3. Calculating the theoretical reflectance spectrum R RPT for the identified recipe, 4. Calculating the difference spectrum ΔR between the measured reflectance spectrum R PT and the calculated reflectance spectrum R RPT obtained in step 3, 5. Adjusting the reflectance spectrum R ST of the color shade standard with the difference spectrum ΔR obtained in step 4 and creating a modified reflectance spectrum R STM of the color shade standard, 6. Calculating a recipe on basis of the modified reflectance spectrum R STM, 7. Mixing a paint according to the recipe calculated in step 6 and applying the paint to a substrate; or, comprising: 1. Determining experimentally color coordinates C ST of the color shade standard, 2. Identifying a recipe for the color shade standard from a database containing color recipes and the corresponding experimentally determined color coordinates C PT, 3. Calculating the theoretical color coordinates C RPT for the identified recipe, 4. Calculating the difference ΔC between the experimentally determined color coordinates C PT corresponding to the identified recipe and the calculated color coordinates C RPT obtained in step 3, 5. Adjusting the color coordinates C ST of the color shade standard with the difference of the color coordinates ΔC obtained in step 4 and creating modified color coordinates C STM of the color shade standard, 6. Calculating a recipe on basis of the modified color coordinates C STM, 7. Mixing a paint according to the recipe calculated in step 6 and applying the paint to a substrate. 1. Determining experimentally color coordinates C ST of the color shade standard, 2. Identifying a recipe for the color shade standard from a database containing color recipes and the corresponding experimentally determined color coordinates C PT, 3. Calculating the theoretical color coordinates C RPT for the identified recipe, 4. Calculating the difference ΔC between the experimentally determined color coordinates C PT corresponding to the identified recipe and the calculated color coordinates C RPT obtained in step 3, 5. Adjusting the color coordinates C ST of the color shade standard with the difference of the color coordinates ΔC obtained in step 4 and creating modified color coordinates C STM of the color shade standard, 6. Calculating a recipe on basis of the modified color coordinates C STM, 7. Mixing a paint according to the recipe calculated in step 6 and applying the paint to a substrate.