Why doesn't my BM sample match the quart-sized sample?

16 years ago

I have been testing BM colors using their small sample sizes. When I find a color I like, I have a quart made so that I can see it over a larger area. (these are for the walls)

However, on more than one occassion, the quart-sized sample does not match the color that is in the small ounce bottles.

Is that because my quarts are in a matt or flat finish? Honestly, its not that the sheen is different, it is really a different shade.

It is sure making testing colors complicated, because I never know what color in the sample I am going to really get. Any advice?

Comments (5)

brutuses
16 years ago
A different sheen will give the impression it is off in color. I'd stick with the same sheen to ensure they match.
paintguy22
16 years ago
It's true that the sheen can contribute to the color looking off. Those sample jars are eggshell. But, a lot of people have complained since those jars came out that the colors are sometimes not perfect matches.
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Faron79
16 years ago
Yeah...sheen will slightly affect a color.

* The higher the sheen, the darker the color CAN seem.
* Another variable is the tinters themselves. Manually-operated types are harder to "fine-tune" small qtys. of colorant.
* Low-limits of manuals are usually a quarter-shot. Often, the operator has to make sure this actually "drops" into the paint!! Sometimes the droplet is small enough that it doesn't "release" from the port!
* Computer-tinters are more accurate, but have their limits too.
* The lighter the color, the harder the "scaling" of the formula becomes. Some colors just can't be tinted in small qty's. at store-level.
* Pump-driven tinters, like our COROB-tinter for C2, can accurately meter down to 1/384 of an ounce. Normally a "paint-ounce" (for tinting-use) = 48 shots. QUITE a difference!...especially for scaling of light colors.
* These tinters are uber-expensive...closer to $20g's. Smaller stores usually can't shell-out that kinda cash for one tinter.
* Normal computer tinters vary from $4k-$10k.

>>> Sorry! Lotsa "blah-blah" here...but all this can affect color-scaling for samples, if done at different retailers.

Faron
becoming-home
16 years ago
Paints are mixed by forumla, the base formula is for a gallon. Quart mixes are done (obviously) by dividing the formula by 4. If you have a gallon formula that's got a value of say 13, it doens't divide so well into four..plus, in a smaller size, the margin of error becomes much more obvious.

I imagine that to make the sample pots, they mix large amoutns of paint using the standard formula and then bottle them up so if I had to guess I'd say the sample pots that come right from BM are more accurate than the quart that was made at your local dealer using the calculation of 1/4 of the base formula.

HTH!

Why doesn't my BM sample match the quart-sized sample?

Comments (5)

brutuses

paintguy22

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patricianat

Faron79

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