They color match the color but mix it into their own base, and different paint companies have different bases. I encountered this very issue today, albeit with two paint companies which are both lower-end than BM and SW. I liked Glidden "Shell White" - an excellent cream color. I searched high and low for a good cream color before settling on this one. I was actually going to buy it as Glidden, since in the days before I knew what paint companies were "good," I used to buy Glidden, and had no problems. I've actually found Glidden to go on easily, provide good coverage, and be durable and washable. But anyway, I was at Home Depot and was also buying a Behr paint, so the guy asked me if I wanted the Glidden to be color matched and mixed as Behr. I specifically asked him if there was any difference in the bases of the two companies, and he said no. In retrospect I don't think he was experienced enough to know. (He looked about early 20s.) I have since read that Behr has a much whiter base than most other companies.

Sure enough, I applied the paint today, and it is lighter than the chip. It's ALREADY a very light shade, so having it even lighter is not optimal, although I'm going to keep it. I don't even know why I agreed to have it mixed as Behr - I've never used the regular Behr paint (just the Ultra, on a cabinet project) but the Glidden is a known quantity, so I should have stuck with the Glidden. The Behr's a little more expensive than Glidden, but they're both cheapie paints, so I shouldn't have assumed the Behr would be any better than the Glidden. (Actually I found the Behr to be just fine, paint-wise... just not as a color match for another company's color.)

But there you have it. Some bases are supposedly more yellow-toned, some are more grey-toned, some are whiter, and they all affect the end result when you color match.

Or they might have messed up when they mixed it. If I am trying to color match, I usually take the chip with me and have them put a dot of the newly mixed paint onto the chip. Then I have them blow it dry. Dot should all but disappear.

Additionally--paint sheen can affect color appearance more than one would think...

Ditto msjee - when I have had colors matched, I take in the chip and have them blow dry it on. It literally disappears.

Paint sheen will indeed impact. And - how long ago did you paint the posterboard, and what color was it? Age, and base color, will also impact color differences.

They may also need to recalibrate the matching computer. I've run into that a few times. I was having something matched in a Behr base and we just weren't getting there. THe guy recalibrated the computer (just took a minute) and the next attempt was flawless.

Take a chip back in with you.

BTW, I have used SW Believable Buff (one up from Whole Wheat IIRC) and Camelback (one down). It's a great strip. Currently my primary house color is Camelback and I love it.

Thanks all.

I did bring in the SW paint chip with me, however, I didn't think to ask them to dot and dry it to verify the color match. The SW posterboard was painted about a week to week and a half ago. It appears lighter, clearer, and a bit more golden than the BM color match. In comparison with the SW color strip, the BM color appears to be somewhere between SW Whole Wheat and SW Camelback.

I could try the dot test on the SW strip myself, I guess.

It will probably be okay. Maybe I'm just obsessing over nothing - again.

Take it back and ask them to tweek it.

I had a BM chelsea gray matched in SW duration outdoor paint and it turned out a bit too green. There is a green undertone but I still think it was off. I took it back and they fixed it.

You bought at least a gallon size of Aura right? I'd take it back. It's great paint but expensive and I'd want to make sure there was no chance of me wishing later it would've been adjusted.

I usually always buy the sample and have them match and test right on the sample. A few times I had the person say how,"it's really close..." I still asked them to adjust it and it always ends up spot on. I didn't just buy that paint sample(s) for something to do, you know.

Hi Shee,

I am seriously considering taking it back for adjustment. Here's the really weird thing, though - the BM paint actually seems to match the SW color strip better than the SW paint matches it! When I chose the color, I was relying on the sample SW painted poster board. Ughhh . . . .

Here is a picture of the posterboards:

BM's version of Whole Wheat is on the left, and SW's Whole Wheat is on the right posterboard.

The paint strip shows Whole Wheat as the third color down.

That's why I stopped color matching. A color match will never ever be a 100% match. Even if you ask a paint store to color match their own color it will still be off. It probably won't be perceptible to most eyes but it will still be off.

Then off course like others mentioned there is the whole base thing.

Your color strip may be off too. The longer they set out the more they fade just like paint on walls.

If I'm looking for a particular color now I prefer to use the colorcharts.org site and find the color closest to it in the paint brand that I want to use. At least I will know exactly the color I am getting and will not be let down by not having my 'color match' not match.

There are a fair amount of people who think that I'm too picky or don't know what I'm talking about when I say that I won't color match anymore but the fact of the matter os that the only way to get the color that you want 100% is to get that exact color in that exact paint brand & manufacturer. I can see the subtle differences in the colors that I've color matched over the years and bagged it awhile ago.

Jan - even though I mentioned the base thing, your colors seem way off, so I am thinking it's not just the difference in base colors. But actually, looking at the paint chip strip... I am wondering if they color matched the next color down? It looks a lot like that one. I also think the paint chip might be faded since the SW sample doesn't look like the chip, but that doesn't appear to have any bearing on this particular problem.

From that photo I'd say they matched the wrong color on the paintstrip. They matched the fourth color down. If they marked the can with what they were SUPPOSED to match you should be golden. Take the can and the strip back and tell them you want a new gallon. They'll put the mis-mixed gallon in their "oops" bin.

Even if they DIDN'T write what they were supposed to be matching you are probably fine. My store would give me a new gallon, no questions asked.

I want to make sure that I'm looking at the right colors:

Who made up the darker color on the upright poster board?

I'm getting my military left and right confused!

ttodd - BM is the dark on the left

My hubby and son are on their way to the paint store now, bless their hearts! The cans were marked "match" and "SW 6121", which is the Whole Wheat color. I don't like to complain, but . . . the BM Aura paint is very expensive and if the store claims they can color "match", they should match it much better than that! Otherwise, I would have just gone to the SW store for the paint in the first place.

Jan, the BM definitely isn't a match! It is so much darker and on my monitor it matches the fourth color down. I hope they are able to get a better match for you.

Yep! They def. botched that!

Thanks, joshuasmah, I sure hope so too. The picture is a pretty accurate representation of what it looks like in real life. I'm so frustrated because, color differences are a big deal when taken on all four walls in a room. I agree the shade looks closer to the next one down the strip.

I love the poster board on the right so much and it looks a little darker and prettier than the strip you have of the color. The BM color definitely looks like it matches the fourth color down, Camelback and is not a great match for the third color or what you expected on your sample board. So glad you are bringing the paint back rather than accept a color that you are not happy with. Thanks for sharing.

Well, hubby called back and said they are modifying the cans we had, so I sure hope they turn out right this time. If not, I think I'll head to the SW store and demand a refund from BM. What a hassle, as we live in rural WI, and it's over an hour drive to the paint store and back.

Am I clueless or would it be nearly impossible to modify a dark tint to match the lighter color you want? Is that what they are trying to do? Surely they are just mixing a new batch, right?

Draw-down card.

Most professional real-deal paint stores have pre-printed draw-down cards. Usually with their store name and logo,blanks for misc information, etc. If they don't, they should. Or at the very least they have *something* prepared for use as a draw-down card.

For every single gallon of paint for every single one of my clients, I make the store personnel make a draw-down card and tape it to the actual can.

Every single gallon.

A draw-down card is typically the size of an index card. It's not just a dot on the lid or lable. They have to brush out the card. They often will use a disposable shop cloth to swipe the color from the can on to the card.

Just once is enough to get a read on if the gallon was mixed to match the chip.

If there is any question about the match, we do a second coat on the draw-down card, dry it and take a look - usually outside.

If it doesn't match to the point I say it's a match, the can is reworked, remixed or I don't buy it.

The truth is there are some paint colors that simply do not cross brands successfully. Despite effort upon effort, it just doesn't work.

Many of the factors influencing quality of a *color match* have already been pointed out. And there is no industry standard that officially qualifies what is a match and what is not.

So, it's up to you. You're kinda on your own. Just remember you're the customer and you walked into the paint store to get what you want - not what they want to give you.

Well, the store guy apologized and acknowledged that the paint wasn't a good match at all. He remixed our existing cans, and tested it on the strip. It definitely looks better. It's going to have to be okay now, but I've learned my lesson about the color matching. Thanks for the help and information everyone.

Wish you would've brought it to ME!!

I'd have nailed it after a couple tweaks.
Some colors can be a little stubborn, but these are easy to match....for ME anyway!

Faron