GB2058387A - Colour Matching - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention is aimed at the problem of matching the colour of new paint to that of an existing painted area, particularly when repairing and repainting car bodywork. A series of filters of different colours and different intensities of those colours is provided. A test sample from a bulk supply of paint of approximately the correct colour is prepared, and this sample is placed alongside the existing paintwork. A filter is then found, by a process of trial and error, which when placed over the sample provides a resultant colour which is seen to match that of the existing paintwork. The colour of the filter is that colour of paint which needs to be added to the bulk supply in order to correct its colour. The filters may be calibrated to indicate the quantity of additional paint which needs to be added to the bulk supply.

Description

SPECIFICATION Colour Matching A problem arises in re-painting (commonly, respraying) damaged areas of vehicle bodywork in matching the colour of the newly-applied paint with existing paint on surrounding body areas.

The term "paint" is used herein to mean any colouring material which can be applied to surface to coat that surface, specifically to include all colouring materials suitable for use in providing paintwork on a vehicle body.

For effecting vehicle body re-sprays, an operator may be in possession of around 24 to 30 paints of different standard colours. It is not necessarily at all apparent to the operator how paints from the paints of different standard colours should be selected and mixed, in order to provide a paint of a colour that will match with the colour of existing paintwork on a vehicle body to be sprayed.

According to the invention there is provided a method of matching paint colours in which the colour of a first area of paint is visually compared with the colour of a second area of paint in combination with the colour or colours of one or more colour filters, the colour filters each corresponding with a standard paint colour so that the paint or paints that must be selected from paints of the standard paint colours, and be mixed with paint of the colour of said second area to provide a paint of a colour which matches the colour of said first area, can be determined.

In performance of the invention an operator is equipped with at least one colour filter corresponding with each standard paint colour The relative quantities of paints of different standard colours to be mixed together, to achieve a paint of a desired colour to match with existing paint, may be determined by the operator from his skill and experience. However, the operator is preferably provided with several colour filters corresponding with each standard paint colour, the filters each being of a different colour intensity so as to indicate the required quantity to be used of that standard colour. The several filters could, for example, be mounted on a common holder, and instructions be provided to indicate the relative quantities required, in mixing the paints of standard colours, to achieve paint of the desired colour.The filters could be in the form of photographic colour transparencies, and several filters could be mounted on a single card bearing printed instructions as to the quantities of paints required.

The combination of the colours of the second area of paint and the one or more filters can be achieved either by viewing the second area through the one or more filters, or by projecting the colour of the filter or filters on to the second area by means of a "daylight" colour matching lamp and observing the second area directly.

Claims

1. A method of matching paint colours in which the colour of a first area of paint is visually compared with the colour of a second area of paint in combination with the colour or colours of one or more colour filters, the colour filters each corresponding with a standard paint colour so that the paint or paints that must be selected from paints of the standard colours, and be mixed with paint of the colour of said second area to provide a paint of a colour which matches the colour of said first area, can be determined.

2. A method of matching paint colours substantially as described.

3. A colour filter or set of coloured filters with accompanying instructions for using the colour filter/s to perform the method as defined in Claim 1 or Claim 2.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (3)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Colour Matching A problem arises in re-painting (commonly, respraying) damaged areas of vehicle bodywork in matching the colour of the newly-applied paint with existing paint on surrounding body areas. The term "paint" is used herein to mean any colouring material which can be applied to surface to coat that surface, specifically to include all colouring materials suitable for use in providing paintwork on a vehicle body. For effecting vehicle body re-sprays, an operator may be in possession of around 24 to 30 paints of different standard colours. It is not necessarily at all apparent to the operator how paints from the paints of different standard colours should be selected and mixed, in order to provide a paint of a colour that will match with the colour of existing paintwork on a vehicle body to be sprayed. According to the invention there is provided a method of matching paint colours in which the colour of a first area of paint is visually compared with the colour of a second area of paint in combination with the colour or colours of one or more colour filters, the colour filters each corresponding with a standard paint colour so that the paint or paints that must be selected from paints of the standard paint colours, and be mixed with paint of the colour of said second area to provide a paint of a colour which matches the colour of said first area, can be determined. In performance of the invention an operator is equipped with at least one colour filter corresponding with each standard paint colour The relative quantities of paints of different standard colours to be mixed together, to achieve a paint of a desired colour to match with existing paint, may be determined by the operator from his skill and experience. However, the operator is preferably provided with several colour filters corresponding with each standard paint colour, the filters each being of a different colour intensity so as to indicate the required quantity to be used of that standard colour. The several filters could, for example, be mounted on a common holder, and instructions be provided to indicate the relative quantities required, in mixing the paints of standard colours, to achieve paint of the desired colour.The filters could be in the form of photographic colour transparencies, and several filters could be mounted on a single card bearing printed instructions as to the quantities of paints required. The combination of the colours of the second area of paint and the one or more filters can be achieved either by viewing the second area through the one or more filters, or by projecting the colour of the filter or filters on to the second area by means of a "daylight" colour matching lamp and observing the second area directly. Claims

1. A method of matching paint colours in which the colour of a first area of paint is visually compared with the colour of a second area of paint in combination with the colour or colours of one or more colour filters, the colour filters each corresponding with a standard paint colour so that the paint or paints that must be selected from paints of the standard colours, and be mixed with paint of the colour of said second area to provide a paint of a colour which matches the colour of said first area, can be determined.

2. A method of matching paint colours substantially as described.

3. A colour filter or set of coloured filters with accompanying instructions for using the colour filter/s to perform the method as defined in Claim 1 or Claim 2.