I wonder if it's the site I'm thinking of ?
Colorcharts.org ?
It's gone now :(

Lori aka funcolors mentioned this site...
I don't know if I'm on the right track for you.https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/paint-pro-by-fig-8/id457252008?mt=8

? apps - sherwin williams color snap, behr color smart, ppg voice of color, glidden color concept

I'm not sure which one allowed you to select and compare colors.

However, this is absolutely the very best one: http://www.easyrgb.com/new/en/similar/

I know how they measure color and it's a quality process. EasyRGB has an older site to, easyrgb.com, it does the same things just with a different user interface. The new site was designed to be easier to use and it is, IMO.

DO NOT use encycolorpedia. There isn't a single pixel of info on that site that anyone should be using - for anything EVER!

colorcharts.org is indeed gone. I know the creators of colorcharts.org and the virtual paint program CBN, color by numbers, software. By providing colorcharts for free, they assumed people would then by the CBN program. And that didn't happen. People just used colorcharts without buying so they took it down. Even if you buy the CBN program, you don't get access to the colorcharts data base. Which is unfortunate because they too offered quality data.

I do recommend the Paint Pro app. Again, I know where their data came from and I know it's good.

The paint manufacturer apps have a single, specific purpose. They are not color tools in any way shape or form.

Their function is marketing and intended to get you into a store where they can sell you something. I believe every single one has a "helpful map" within the app so you can find the nearest store. Handy, right? ;) One reason (there are several) why they are not color tools, is because some of them - not necessarily all of them - use the same sRGB values from their websites for their app swatches. sRGB is a very small color space and accommodates digital, online color reproduction. It is not applicable to our analog, in real life world.

In other words, sRGB value is perfect for making color swatches for apps and websites, but that's all it's good for. So even if the paint manufacturer apps offered a function to compare colors to other brands, you have to ask what was the app comparing? sRGB values? Which would be totally useless.

I was in the SW store the other day and a mom and her daughter were sitting at the design table with an iPad and a tablet of paper. They had listed all the paint colors they were considering and were looking up the RGB values for each one the SW website. They were convinced that by looking at the RGB values for each paint color, they would be able to determine "undertones" for the colors.

As most of you already know, I think the whole "undertones" thing is ridiculous. Undertones are totally subjective and not a measurable color attribute. There are only three key color attributes, hue, value, and chroma.

Those women had been sitting at that table for over an hour writing down RGB values and chasing down imaginary undertones - a sad waste of time.

I did mention to them that there was a better way to go about it and why.

But when people believe something about color, it's hard to change their minds. You can have all the science, facts and data the universe has to offer and it won't help.

• Which is why people still go to the encycolorpedia website to look at crap color information written in color space values they don't understand how to read.
• Which is why people still believe they can look at digital color swatches online and see true, analog color characteristics.
• Which is why people keep believing undertones are a real thing and not purely subjective. i.e. remember #thedress from a few weeks back.

All I can do is keep preaching the facts. Some people listen. Some people don't. {shrug}

Thanks for the new site. I'm happy to stop using encycolorpedia, if I understood what the issue was. Is not easyrgb also using the sRGB values that you say are not helpful to our real world? From their site: Each color swatch will be clearly identified by the corresponding sRGB values, ΔE, code/name and reference to the collections it belongs.

I'm guessing what I was looking for may well be the colorcharts site. It's frustrating that the comparison tool is not widely available, given its' utility. Thanks Lori and everyone! 4boys and mdln, apps looks interesting, but I'm still behind the times and don't have an ipad or iphone, etc.

If you explore the easyrgb link, you'll see they automatically give you the 13 closest "matches" from all the brands in their database along the with Delta E difference for each.

I'm trying to locate an app/website that will take SW colors and give me closest match to a Pittsburgh paint color. Anyone know of such a beast?

@Michelle the old easyrgb.com website has PPG The Voice of Color colors.

No Pittsburgh Paints on the new easyrgb site. I'll email easyRGB and ask about adding PPG.

For a lot other brands, however, the new easyrgb link above will do that. I believe you select the color brand/name you want to "match" on the first page and then on the second page there's a drop down menu where you can specify the brand you want it matched in.

Again, it gives you the delta E so you know how close or not close.

Lori, I know this is a very old thread, but your advice is still so helpful. Is there a delta number that would make the difference in paint brands almost undetectable? I need to hire a painter for some interior spaces, rooms that are too complicated for us to take on, although we’re happy with those we’ve done on our own so far. The problem is that none of the painters want to use the BM Regal Select that we prefer. The brands in their estimates are BM Ultra Spec (no way!), a top of the line Behr, and Florida Paints, which is totally new to me and no comparison seems to be available. I think Behr’s eggshell is super shiny, not a look I like, and we already painted an adjoining room BM. I am waiting to hear back about who will use the BM and I know it will cost more, but in the meantime I considered giving the other brands a fair shot and testing samples IF the delta number is close.

Wow. This is an old thread, lol!

As an update, we sent EasyRGB the PPG colors as well as several other collections, by the way.

Is there a delta number that would make the difference in paint brands almost undetectable?

Between paint brands, no. Between colors, yes.

Just to clarify what we're talking about is measuring for CIELAB values, notating the difference with Delta E is how we compare colors.

0.0 to 0.2 delta E between two colors is undetectable IMO.

0.5 ish only people who know what they're looking for can pick up color appearance differences.

0.5+ any with a good eye for color could notice a difference.

Ultra Spec is awesome if you're painting to sell the house because it does touch up beautifully. It will need repainted, however, sooner than later.