Understanding Auto Body Paint Matching: Restoring Your Vehicle’s Factory Finish

The most popular vehicle paint colors are white (25%), black (20%), silver (14%), and blue (9%), but that doesn’t cover the entire spectrum. Plenty of new and used vehicles have custom paint jobs, smaller details, and unique colors. These colors cannot be remedied with a cheap “at-home” painting kit. If you want the best results, you need precision color match car paint. 

When you’re searching for a “body shop near me”, you want precision when it comes to matching and restoring your car’s paint job. At Atlanta Auto Collision, we restore your car’s beauty with professional care. We expertly match the original or custom colors and perform expert paint dent repair. As a local auto body shop based in Smyrna, GA, we know how important the look of the car can be. A professional paint job can keep its resale value or ease your peace of mind. 

Here are some quick insights into how our professional paint matching process works for all our clients in the Metro Atlanta area. 

What Is Paint Matching? 

The idea of paint matching is pretty straightforward. The auto body shop you select blends the analyzed paints together so they match the original color of your vehicle. You want a professional team with experience to perform this task because modern vehicle paints have layers of base coats, pearls, metallics, and finishes that take more work to match. 

There are also environmental considerations like sun exposure, age, wear and tear, and heavy snow or salt that impact car paint match. All of these will affect how long your paint lasts. Simply “finding the right color” is not going to be enough. The paint and body shop you work with must have technical expertise and a highly trained team to get the job done right. 

How Our Custom Paint Matching Works

Step 1: Identify Your Vehicle’s Paint Code

One thing people never consider when searching for “car body shop near me” in Smyrna is how crucial matching the factory-assigned paint code is to the car. You want the specific paint code from the manufacturer, which is usually located inside the driver’s side door or under the hood, to help vehicle recovery during collision repair. 

That code informs our expert team what original formula we need to work with. We use it to craft a baseline paint that can be adjusted according to your specific desires or environmental conditions. 

Step 2: Analyze the Existing Paint

Even when we know the original vehicle color code, we still want to analyze the paint in an area that isn’t damaged. Older vehicles that have been around enough to have age, sun, and wear impact the shade of the paint. 

Atlanta Auto Collision utilizes advanced spectrophotometers to find the precise paint color. We use a series of light spectrums and wavelengths so we can better match your specific color variation. If the automotive body shop you’re considering doesn’t have these tools, you may want to try somewhere different. 

Step 3: Formulate Your Specific Mix

Now that we have the spectrophotometer data and the color match car paint code in hand, we can mix the custom paint formula that best matches your particular vehicle. We use the latest software to make micro-adjustments (accounting for subtle differences). 

Everything is then mixed by our computers, so the premium paints we use last as long as possible. This helps not only with your confidence when driving around town, but also in keeping the car’s resale value. 

Step 4: Professional Paint Application

Time to get to work! We use both the time-tested techniques of our car paint pros and robotic arms to apply your specific paint mix. We work with all kinds of collisions and paint dent repair. Our facility is equipped with controlled rooms to prevent dust, moisture, or other contaminants from interfering with the painting process. 

You can count on our technicians to maintain consistent paint thickness, texture, and tone across all target surfaces and panels. Unlike a generalist auto body shop that will slap on a coat and hope for the best, we blend art and science to ensure everything from metallics to tri-coats looks fantastic. 

Step 5: Sealing & Finishing

After painting, we can apply an optional protective finish (clear coat) to seal in the paint better and preserve the finish you want. We also double-check the work under different lighting conditions (direct sun, shade, and artificial light) to ensure a consistent finish. These final touches are what set our paint and body shop apart from other Metro Atlanta options. 

Our technicians will inspect all surfaces for any flaws and insure the work before contacting you to come and pick it up. 

Looking For Professional Paint Matching? Call Us Today!

Professional paint matching is only one minor part of the collision repair process. With that being said, paint matching does directly impact how you feel about your ride and its long-term resale value. That is why working with an experienced and technically proficient auto body shop near me is so important. You want a team specializing in factory-grade paint restoration that can adjust to varying shades and custom requests. 

At Atlanta Auto Collision, we match your paint perfectly using high-end equipment and experienced human artwork. When you drive away, you’ll never notice where the damage, scratches, or fading were before. 

If you have a vehicle in the metro Atlanta area needing a fresh paint job, give our body shop a call. We are conveniently located in Smyrna and offer a precision restoration that will get your vehicle back to its original look. Contact Atlanta Auto Collision today, and let’s breathe new color into your favorite ride. 

Atl Auto Collision

FAQs

How do I get the exact paint to match my car?

  • You need advanced technology and tools like spectrophotometers and knowledge of the original manufacturer’s paint code to find the right mix that will match your car, SUV, truck, or other vehicle. 

Is there a way to find the exact paint code for my car?

  • You can usually find this code inside the driver’s side door, under the hood, or in the trunk. There will be a sticker somewhere, but we also have the code books and databases to confirm this paint. 

How can I match my car paint without a paint code?

  • Our team can use the tools in our auto body paint shop to match your vehicle’s color, details, and shade. We are able to do this even when the original paint code is not available. 

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