That time a customer's complaint fixed my paint matching approach

Had a guy about six months ago come back furious because his driver's door didn't match the rest of his silver F-150. I was sure I blended it right, but he pointed it out under the lot lights at dusk. He said 'you need to check your colors under different light, not just the booth.' That stung, but he was right. Now I always do a quick walk-around under natural light, fluorescent, and even my phone's flashlight before calling a job done. Anyone else get handed a reality check from a customer that actually improved their work?

2 comments

2 Comments

rosep875d ago

Has anybody else noticed how much the environment around the car changes what you see? Like if you're parked next to a red brick wall or a green bush, it reflects off the paint and messes with your eyes. I started taking a picture of the car against a neutral background before I even mix the paint. Then I compare it to the same spot after I'm done. That way I'm not just checking different lights, I'm also making sure the color reads the same no matter what's sitting next to it.

miles5815d ago

Wait, you actually take a picture of the car against a neutral background before you start? That's wild, I never even thought of the environment changing how the color reads like that.