Patent ID: 7167246

Claim:
A method of color matching a metallic paint to match a target metallic color within a specified color tolerance, which process comprises: providing a computer data base with (i) a library comprising the spectral characteristics of at least one black colorant, at least one non-black colorant, and at least one metallic pigment; (ii) a paint manufacturing formula; (iii) the number of colorants to use from the selected library; and (iv) the allowable degree of color variation; analyzing a sample of the target metallic color to identify the type of metallic pigment present in the target metallic color; selecting a metallic pigment from the library which is closest to the type of metallic pigment present in the target metallic color; obtaining the spectral curve of the target metallic paint utilizing a spectrophotometer or colorimeter; determining the quantities of colorants and metallic pigments to be incorporated into the paint manufacturing formula intended to provide a spectral curve which matches the spectral curve of target color within the allowable variation of color; producing a metallic paint incorporating the determined quantities of colorants and metallic pigments according to the paint manufacturing formula; comparing the spectral curve of the produced paint with that of the target color to determine if it is within the allowed variation; if the comparison of the spectral curve of the produced paint indicates it is not within the allowed color variation, repeating the shading steps until it is.