How to find paint that matches your walls exactly?

Answer 1

For a time, in a younger time, I worked in a pigment plant for a couple different reasons. Knowing the properties of paint, being an Artist, and working in the Graphic Arts field.

After applying thousands of gallons of paint I know this much.

Colorations are blended in the pigment making process. They are churned in "vats" and eventually blended with neutral colors at your paint dealer. They are also produced in "Dye Lots" of varying weights/sizes etc. (quantities)
No two lots are ever exactly identical, nor is it likely that even the best "Tinting apparatus" at your local paint store, will never need recalibrating.
Certainly considering the age of computer technology, the process has become more refined than "eyeballing" in a trial and error method, but still the "base" of the color has more to do with how it looks on your wall, than does any technology.
In my experience, and knowing the customer is always "right" even when they aren't, If I was to "touch up" or "patch paint" a wall, I'd do so over the entire wall to a point at a corner, or a meeting of ceiling and wall, or a meeting of wall and molding.
The effect would "fool the eye", I promise, most especially if the matching was done in a decent, professional setting.

Steven Wolf
(The Rev.)

Answer 2

Even with today's technology you will never match an already painted wall EXACTLY. Even paint bought the same day, mixed the same day, in two different gallons will not match exact. My honest advice is to find another solution to cover where you left off or (i'm sorry to say) start over.
You will get very close, but if these two areas overlap you will see the difference.
If this is paint that has been on the wall for more than 2 weeks there will be a color variance due to elements. That will be virtually impossible to match.
Best of luck to you, let us know if you find a solution!
Happy Holidays!

Answer 3

It's really hard to match paint that is already on the walls. Even if you have the old can of paint, it's important to know that paint color changes as time goes by and if you go out and buy a new can, it might not match... you might find that once you put the new paint on the wall, it's darker than what's there already because paint is like any other color object and changes with time... sunlight, etc. affects it so you might be disappointed with the results if you are painting a spot on the already painted wall... You might have to repaint everything... sorry.

Answer 4

If you can get a sample of the paint, at least an inch square or so...you can take it in and it can be analyzed and match can be made. If the paint is a flat paint, this works best, but you can get very close with a semi-gloss or gloss paint...close enough so you can try a bit, and if you need to lighten or darken it they can add pigment a little at a time.
Menards, Home Depot and Lowe's all have the equipment to analyze and match the color.

Answer 5

It is to take a piece Of chip paint from your wall to a store were they sell paint. Ask one of the employees if they have that paint so it can match to your wall.

Answer 6

WET VS DRY??? Matching is VERY hard to the EXACT!! it has to be the SAME base.. Satin, Flat, Semi... Etc... get a chip of the paint.. (one that you like from the wall)... Have it matched. (Buy one of those TEST cans usually $3.00.) Check it out on the wall. THEN buy the stuff.. AND HOPEFULLY you will get it right. If NOT do like I do... Get one that is a tone DARKER and buy a gallon of white base and TINT it yourself. But that takes a LOT of good luck and guts.

Answer 7

That's gonna be hard. Go to the paint store and get some swatches of colors and try to match what you have. I paint all the time and I think this is all you can do.