Welsh Color and Conservation Colors & Matching New Paints

HOW TO OBTAIN AN ACCURATELY
MATCHED PAINT COLOR
[USING OUR COLOR SAMPLES]
FOR ARCHITECTS AND CONTRACTORS

The color sample(s) that you purchase from Welsh Color & Conservation, Inc. typically are identified with two color reference values printed on the reverse. One is the Munsell Color notation and the other is the CIE LAB value. The CIE LAB: L*a*b* values are the ones which you and the paint company's technical labs need to use.

The L*a*b* values are obtained from our spectrophotometer when we match the color in our lab during the analysis of the historic paints and finishes. The numbers relate to the CIE LAB color space which is illustrated on the right.

paint_match_chart.gif (3108 bytes)

Go to the paint company store you are working with and explain that you have a special need to have accurate color matching done for your project. You must make it clear that you want to avoid any of their store's color matching services. This will be a signal to them that your need is not the typical one and that they need to communicate your needs directly to their color lab.

Give the color sample, along with the L*a*b* color reference values, to the paint company's representative and ask them to forward it to their color lab for accurate color matching in the product line that you require.

You must also provide the paint company representative with our sheet titled:

TECHNICAL INFORMATION FOR COLOR MATCHING -- FOR THE COLOR LAB. This sheet describes specifications that the paint company's color lab needs to know in order to efficiently and cost effectively provide you with the accurate color match you need.

Request them to provide you samples of their paint color match. These are called drawdowns. They show you their attempt to match the color in the product you want.

It is crucial that you send a drawdown of each color back to our lab so we can evaluate it both visually and spectrophotometrically. We will let you know whether or not it is an acceptable match. We will issue a certificate of color match based upon our evaluation. This eliminates any conflict of opinion between all parties by introducing an independent, quantified and certified assessment.

After the color match is accepted, it is then very wise to have a way to field check the color just before the painting project starts. Request the paint contractor to open the cans brought to the job and prepare for you a brush-out on a coated drawdown card (which the paint store can provide). Send the dried brush-out to us for one final step in this quality assurance process. We will check it once more and fax you our reply.

After following this procedure and obtaining a color that matches all of the original specifications, the painting process can begin. Although it may seem like a lengthy and involved procedure to get a paint that is an exact match, it is necessary for several important reasons:

1. If the paint applied to the building does not exactly match the color specified, it defeats the purpose of the care and detail put into the analysis of the historic paint color. The quality control safeguards the client's investment.

2. It is often important, especially on large jobs where there may be many subcontractors, that the color of the paints--supplied by different manufacturers-- match exactly. If not, the mismatch would be noticed.

3. Finally, when the exact color is used from the beginning, it will be much easier to get an accurate match if more paint is needed in the future.

If any project requires a more precise color match than outlined above, we can provide the way. We can work directly with your paint company and provide 16 point spectral data (if it has not already been provided in our report), which we gather by reading the color sample with our spectrophotometer. Using sophisticated software, together we can get an extremely fine color match, the best possible, without the paint company needing to see the actual color sample. We can do it all by the numbers. Inquire about this service and we will provide you with additional information. [See Finish Notes, Vol. 3, No. 1, Spring, 1995: "Color Matching by Numbers at Dulles International Airport".]

KEY WORDS TO REMEMBER:

Color sample, L*a*b* values, Technical Information for Color Matching, drawdowns, independent evaluation, certificate of color match, field check.

Color Match List - Back to the Top

COLOR MATCHING SPECIFICATIONS
FOR ARCHITECTS AND HISTORIC SITE ADMINISTRATORS

The present CSI specification format used by The American Institute of Architects (AIA) has painting in section 09990. All of the concerns on color matching can be entered in: Part I - General. Within this part there is a section on quality assurance and a section on submittals. The following are recommendations on how to specify color matching:

1.04 Quality Assurance

A. Colors

	1.	A microscopical finishes investigation has been conducted on this project. Great care has been taken in the analysis of paint colors. All findings have been presented in a report.

	2.	In the report of the paint analysis, a color is supplied. The contractor will obtain additional color samples from Welsh Color & Conservation, Inc., P.O. Box 767, Bryn Mawr, PA 19101. Telephone: 610-525-3564.

	3.	The report of the paint analysis provides scientific reference values in two color systems for each color match: 1) CIE LAB L* a* b, and 2) Munsell. The Lab values are tied in with the use of the spectrophotometer. The system allows more accuracy of color evaluation and specification. It enhances the ability to maintain quality control for assessment of color matches.

B. Color Matching

	1.	Illumination: All color matching should be done in standard conditions of illumination. Illumination will be average daylight and tungsten light (3000K) for visual evaluation and will be illuminate/observer C2, specular component excluded (SCE), for any spectrophotometric measurement. Do not use fluorescent illumination in the color matching process.

	2.	Drawdowns of each color match must be prepared as specified in section 1.05: submittals.

	3.	Submit a drawdown of each color match to Welsh Color & Conservation, Inc. for approval of the color match and obtain a report to certify the approval of each color match.

C. Color Measurement and Evaluation

	1.	Each drawdown submitted to Welsh Color & Conservation, Inc. for approval will be evaluated both visually and instrumentally with a spectrophotometer. The standard conditions of illumination will apply - average daylight and tungsten light (3000K) for visual evaluation, and illuminate/observer C2, specular component excluded (SCE), for spectrophotometric measurement.

	2.	Tolerances: The tolerancing method used will be L* a* b* and the limits on each color match will be 1 unit for L, a and b*. The delta E will not exceed 1. With prior approval, however, we will allow exceptions to this for dark and very saturated colors. In such cases we may increase the tolerances to 2 units or less.

	3.	Certification: All color matches must be certified. Each report of certification must be accompanied by a print-out of the spectral data obtained by the spectrophotometric measurement.

D. Final Acceptance

	1.	The final acceptance of all samples for color and appearance will be from job applied samples. Provide a brush-out (drawdown) of each color of paint brought to the job. Present the dried brush-out to the architect for their visual comparison with the approved submittal, then send the brush-out to Welsh Color & Conservation, Inc. for a final quality control check to verify that the paint on the job is identical to the approved drawdown.

	2.	Provide final paint and color formulation on each color in a letter to the architect along with a copy to Welsh Color & Conservation, Inc. This information will be used for any maintenance painting in the near term. Color Match List - Back to the Top

TECHNICAL INFORMATION FOR COLOR MATCHING
[USING OUR COLOR SAMPLES]
FOR THE COLOR LAB

Thank you for your help in matching the historic paint color(s) for this project.

The samples provided to you are supplied by Welsh Color & Conservation, Inc. Most of our color samples are supplied in a matte finish; however, some are provided in a gloss finish.

Each color is identified by two color systems: Munsell and CIE LAB -- L*a*b*. When you match your paint, use the color sample and our L*a*b* values as the color and color reference standards. These are the numbers which we will use to assess your color match.

Our L*a*b* reference values are obtained from our X-Rite^(r) 968 spectrophotometer: 0 - 45� geometry. Please note the illuminant/observer - we typically use C2. The specular component is excluded.

To make our instruments agree more, set your unit with the specular component excluded (SCE). This will help if you are supplied with a matte finish color sample, yet are asked to supply a gloss finish paint.

We ask that your color match be a good visual match as well as a good match by the numbers. We are aware of the visual differences between colors with different gloss levels.

The color differences (tolerances) should not exceed one (1) unit and should be as tight as possible. The total difference (delta E) should never exceed one (1), except with the very dark and the very saturated colors, especially where there is a gloss difference between the sample and the paint. In such circumstances, the tolerances can exceed one (1) but can not exceed two (2) units.

Please prepare several drawdowns of your color match and submit them to your client so they can forward one to Welsh Color & Conservation, Inc. for measurement. We will issue a certificate of color match based upon our evaluation.

If you have any questions in the process of matching the color(s), please don't hesitate to call us at 610-525-3564.
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WHAT IS A CERTIFICATE OF COLOR MATCH?
FOR: ARCHITECTS AND CONTRACTORS

When you receive the drawdowns of the matched paint colors from your selected paint company they need to be evaluated to determine whether or not the match is acceptable. We provide a professional service as an independent testing lab to assess the colors and to report on the color difference. This assessment is done both visually and instrumentally with our spectrophotometer. We measure and evaluate the color matches against the color standards and reference values that we provided to you. We report our findings as a "Certificate of Color Match"--an example of which you will see below:

Certificate of Color Match

Date:	Client:

Project:	Paint Co:

Tolerances: CIE LAB: 1 unit or less for L* a* b* -- C� (SCE)

• Color No. 1:

Spectrophotometric data:

Standard:	Submittal:	Delta Value
L* =	L* =
a* =	a* =
b* =	b* =

Comments: This sample is an acceptable match both visually and instrumentally.

Certified by: _______________________________________

This certificate verifies the quality and acceptability of the match of the submitted sample. It eliminates any conflict of opinion between all parties by relying upon an independent and quantified color assessment.

As a final step in the quality control process when the matched paint is made up and brought to the job, send us a dried brush-out for a quick check and verification. We'll fax you our reply.

Color Match List - Back to the Top

Email: fswelsh@welshcolor.com

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