Can You Match Paint Colors? Let's Review the Nix Mini Color Sensor! (2023)

FAQs

How do you match existing paint color? ›

To match a paint color, Mauro recommends cutting a small section of the paint away to create a chip to then bringing to a home center or paint store to be color matched. Utility knives can be found at home centers and almost every home center is capable of color matching a paint sample.

Introducing Project Color ™ by The Home Depot – an app that allows you to find the perfect paint color for your interior or exterior paint project. Browse colors right from your phone. Once you've found a color, see how it looks in a living room, bedroom, kitchen, bathroom or exterior space.

We care about color. We're passionate about discovering its DNA and we know you are, too. That's why we've developed the Nix mini Color Sensor. Scan any surface to find its closest paint match or find the digital values of any shade you stumble upon.

Even without using a color app, go ahead and take a picture with your phone (again, while the object or room is illuminated with natural light) and take that photo to your favorite paint store. They'll be able to match the color very closely with their in-store spectrophotometer.

1. Snap a Photo. One of the easiest (but also least accurate) options for color matching is to simply take a photo of the color in question using your smartphone. Then, take the picture to your local hardware store, where they can match the color using a color measurement device called a spectrophotometer.

You'll need a chip that's at least one-inch square for the best results. At the paint store, staff will use their spectrophotometer to analyze the chip and match it to their brand's closest color.

Paint company match databases are not accurate.

Many paint vendors have a database of competitor paint colors they use for a paint match. These databases are created from manual or spectrophotometer matches. At best, they have a 90% accuracy, if the operator has been properly trained.

It is important to know before starting out, however, that it is almost impossible to find an exact match for your existing paint. Even if you know how to paint a wall like an expert and how to prepare walls for painting, the results may not be the same.

If you have a physical sample that you can send to us, you can make use of our paint color matching services.

The Home Depot paint match is accurate but not always perfect. For example, if you have an older home and want to upgrade the look of your walls, you might not be able to get an exact match due to the age of the paint. Using the spectrophotometer, Home Depot can get at least a 90% accuracy on the color match.

Can Home Depot match Benjamin Moore paint colors? ›

Home Depot's computers have paint color libraries that allow them to mix the paint to match Benjamin Moore, Sherwin Williams and Farrow & Ball shades (in addition to colors from the brands Home Depot carries in store, Behr and Glidden).

The lightweight and professional-grade ColorReader and ColorReader Pro devices match any color to the Benjamin Moore paint color equivalent—with over 90% accuracy. While both pair with the Benjamin Moore Color Portfolio^® app via Bluetooth^®, the ColorReader Pro can also be used independently from the app.

Q: Will the color I choose appear lighter or darker than it does on the paper color swatch? A: The basic answer is neither. If mixed properly, the paint color applied to a surface should remain true to the color swatch.

Project Color by The Home Depot is a paint app allows you to “see” what a color will look like in the room you want to paint, or on an exterior surface, floor or furniture piece. Instead of painting swatches on a wall to try and judge a color throughout the day, the app does it all for you.

Paint Sample Boards. If you don't want to test paint directly on your walls, painting sample boards can be a wonderful alternative. A high-quality professional painting company will let you get free sample-size cans of paint colors from your neighborhood paint store to test your favorite hues.

As it turns out, finding a color match is harder than it sounds. You can't just pick up whatever color sample looks closest and start painting your wall. (Having just one small section of a slightly greener shade of blue would look so tacky!)

It is the job of the repair shop to make sure your car looks as good as new, and this is a challenge as paint matching is one of the most difficult skills to master. When your car was painted at the factory, the entire body is painted at the same time from the same batch of paint.

FREE to download on iPhone and Android devices. ColorSnap^® Visualizer for iPad lets you explore over 1,700 colors, find color inspiration from a photo or virtually paint your walls. All for FREE on your iPad. Our proprietary technology for delivering exceptional color accuracy and consistency in our paints.

White is notoriously one of the most difficult paint colors to choose on both interiors and exteriors.

Does Paint Dry Darker or Lighter? Paints typically dry darker, particularly oil, acrylic, and latex paints. However, that doesn't mean it will look different than what's on the paint swatch. If you mix the paint properly, it should look the same as the color you picked out once it dries.

Who has best paint matching? ›

Black is one of the toughest colors to paint. And believe me there are many shades of black. Black requires the bodywork and prep prior to paint to be nearly perfect because black will show every imperfection that exists.

Unfortunately, in most cases the answer is no. There are a few circumstances where it can be done with good results, but in most instances the touched up spot will not blend in, but rather result in a slightly different color that looks even worse than the original blemish.

Chances are, if your paint has been sitting for awhile, some of the water has evaporated, which contributes to the different shades of paint on the wall. Isolate a small amount of the paint, then add a single drop of water. You don't need much, and you want to be careful not to thin out the paint too much.

Color plays a part in revealing or concealing flaws as well. We all know that lighter colors emphasize imperfections while darker colors hide them. This also has to do with light and reflection. Lighter colors reflect more light while darker shades absorb it.

The more gloss present in the paint, the more durable it is. Gloss paint is indeed going to be the toughest, but bear in mind that it will also show the most imperfections. Unless you're truly looking for the shiniest finish you can find, you may be happier with semi-gloss.

Science helps to explain why colors seen at a paint store or on a paint chip can look so different at home. The size of a color sample, the lighting in which you view it, and the colors of other walls and objects nearby all have an effect, Fairchild said. “The two big issues are lighting and context,” he said.

At The Home Depot we're pouring more into paint so your color match is spot on. A color you discovered this morning; we'll match it. A color we mixed a decade ago; we'll match it. A color we didn't even mix; yep we'll match that too.

This fee generally starts at $175, but some specialty match situations can cost $400 or more. Note that we generally waive Matching Fees when paint purchases exceed a certain threshold.

Have something unique but can't match the color? No problem. Lowe's offers free computerized paint matching and custom color mixing.

How accurate is Lowes color match? ›

Lowes paint matching is an accurate process. Although the results depend on the samples you bring, the spectrophotometer will give you at least 90% accuracy, which is pretty decent. Lowes paint matching isn't only accurate but also relatively fast.

In comparing Sherwin and Behr, Sherwin Williams surpasses Behr products in terms of coverage, color consistency, in-store support, and long-term value, whereas Behr paints are cheaper and thicker.

Yes, any Behr color can be matched and made into a custom spray paint.

There may be slight differences in one product vs another, but only a professional painter can tell. The main difference is that Benjamin Moore stores are locally owned, while Sherwin Williams stores are corporate-owned. What it really comes down to is quality.

The Pantone Color Institute named Viva Magenta as its official color of the year for 2023 for its joyous yet powerful nature. A red with subtle notes of purple, magenta flawlessly complements many different color palettes from those on the richer, jewel-tone side of the spectrum to even a lighter, earthy palette.

Benjamin Moore Color Portfolio^® Mobile App

Apply paint color to photos of your space, access fan decks, match favorite hues to Benjamin Moore colors and more with the Benjamin Moore Color Portfolio^® app.

Once your home absorbs that energy, it transfers most of it as heat inside via conduction. So, yes, dark paint makes a house warmer while brighter and lighter colors will reflect more energy for less of an impact on the interior temperature.

'Contrary to traditional thinking, dark paint allows the room to appear larger and taller than it may be. Dark colors add depth, visually enlarge the space, and make a great statement,' says Lichelle Silvestry.

Painting an accent wall can also make a room appear larger and more spacious than it actually is. This can be a huge benefit if square footage is a concern of yours.

To match a paint color, Mauro recommends cutting a small section of the paint away to create a chip to then bringing to a home center or paint store to be color matched. Utility knives can be found at home centers and almost every home center is capable of color matching a paint sample.

Does Home Depot color match for free? ›

The Home Depot Pro Xtra Paint Rewards program offers more convenient benefits just for members: Free Job-Site Delivery. We deliver paint orders to Pro Xtra Paint Rewards members at no cost – and as soon as the next day. Free Tinting & Color Matching.

Introducing Project Color ™ by The Home Depot – an app that allows you to find the perfect paint color for your interior or exterior paint project. Browse colors right from your phone. Once you've found a color, see how it looks in a living room, bedroom, kitchen, bathroom or exterior space.

To sum up, generally speaking, darker colors and flat finishes can hide wall marks while lighter colors and glossy finishes can expose them. Of course, for most homeowners, concealing imperfections is just one factor informing their decision.

For most cases, your paint code can be found inside the driver's door jam. Two types of paint codes are listed — one is for the exterior paint, the other is for the cabin or interior color.

After your first coat of paint is dry, it's safe to recoat typically after four to six hours. A good rule of thumb is to wait at least three hours to recoat your paint or primer if it's water-based. Waiting 24 hours is best for oil-based paint and primer.

The most common method would be a visual color comparison by looking at two physical color samples side by side under a light source. Color is very relative, so you can compare colors in terms of the other color across dimensions such as hue, lightness and saturation (brightness).

Rub the damp cotton ball/pad or cotton swab over a small area on the surface. If the paint does not rub off, it is oil-based paint and you will need to prime the surface. If the paint comes off, it is a water or latex-based paint and you can proceed by painting over the surface with any type of paint.

Applying a light coat of interior-grade latex primer can help the touch-up paint blend into the surrounding wall, and will promote better paint adhesion. Use a small brush to prime the area you prepped in the previous step and be careful not to paint too far past the area you're touching up.

Home Depot can match any paint you need. To have your paint matched at Home Depot, bring a paint sample, an empty can of the paint, a piece of fabric, or a phone image of the color you need to match. You can also use Home Depot's Project Color app to compare and match paints from your smartphone.

Does Benjamin Moore do color match? ›

Benjamin Moore ColorReader: This version of the device offers you precise paint color matches in seconds. See color matches conveniently on your mobile phone via the Benjamin Moore Color Portfolio^® app.

This is one of the most commonly asked questions by homeowners. "Will the color I choose appear lighter or darker than it does on the paper color swatch?" The answer is: if the paint is mixed properly, the color should remain true to the color swatch when applied to a surface.

Does Paint Dry Darker or Lighter? Paints typically dry darker, particularly oil, acrylic, and latex paints. However, that doesn't mean it will look different than what's on the paint swatch. If you mix the paint properly, it should look the same as the color you picked out once it dries.

Satin: Satin finishes are the most common interior paint finish. They have a velvety sheen and are easier to clean than flat and eggshell paints, which makes them a great choice for high-traffic areas like kitchens, playrooms, family rooms, bathrooms, and laundry rooms.

In general, if the damage to walls is small and contained or the paint is less than a year old, you should be able to just touch up the small area rather than repainting the whole wall or room.

Use a roller, if possible — A roller will give you better quality and blending than a brush. The preferred roller is a "weenie" roller with a good, quality synthetic cover. Choose a nap thickness of ¼ - to ½ inch. Use less paint — When loading the roller, use the least amount of paint necessary.

Paint should always be stirred before use. This recombines any components that have separated, and ensures the coloring is evenly distributed throughout the paint. It should also be professionally shaken at the store, but you do not need to re-shake the paint directly before use. This is the official answer.

What is this? Home Depot's computers have paint color libraries that allow them to mix the paint to match Benjamin Moore, Sherwin Williams and Farrow & Ball shades (in addition to colors from the brands Home Depot carries in store, Behr and Glidden).

Project Color also allows you to match a favorite color from a photo on your mobile device, or a photo you've just taken. You click on a color in the image and the app provides the closest paint or stain colors available at The Home Depot.