Originally Posted by Joliet John

I sold automotive paint for many, many years. Every manufacturer's version of the "Standard" formula varies. The automotive manufacture may us paint from on company for a while, then paint from another company. The auto manufacturer pretty much just paints the metal parts of the car. Second tier manufacturers make, and paint, plastic pieces like bumper covers, door handles, mirrors, trim pieces, etc. which is why those parts often don't match the rest of the car.

Additionally, with metallics, the paint sometimes travels through pipes for miles from the storage facility to the paint facility. Along the way, the size of the flakes can be changed, every time the paint hits a 90° bend, meaning the paint on the car doesn't match the standard.

For those an other reasons, aside from the standard, pretty much every car paint has some number of variants seen most frequently on production vehicles. Silver and white colors usually have the greatest number of variants.

As such, the painters job is to do the final color match. He starts by choosing the standard or one of the variant formulas, whichever is closest. BUT, he then *still* has to adjust that if needed in order to match what is on the vehicle. In addition to matching when viewed straight on, there are side tones he has to look at as well. A dead on gray metallic might look perfect straight on, but one has a green side tone and the other more blue.

and lighting ... all of this has to be done in sunlight. It is the only thing that gives you the correct/true colors.

and application ... you can significantly change the match in how you apply it.

and forget 3 stage paints like pearl whites ... those are brutal to color match.

and yes, base/clear applications are significantly more durable than single stage paints, although, putting too many coats of clear can possibly make it less durable, oddly enough.

But, for a serious deep gloss black, I like to shoot a black single stage, then a couple of coats of clear over it! : D