i bought a quart of paint,aand it says add color (pigment). i thought this was something already done in the s

Answer 1

Many paint formulations, even within the same "species" and brand name are sold as TINT BASES...usually brand specific in some formulation of White Pigment. It may be that on the same shelves are sold "Standard" most popular OTHER colors, pre- tinted.

Obviously if you've been in a paint dept. of a store that sells paint; you've seen the GAZILLIONS of color chip examples. NO company on this planet could or would PRE mix that many colors and shades and stay in business very long.

The computer at a work station will show a formula for a specific color, usually pulled from a bar code on a color chip,,,OR if the store has the sophisication it can Match, or attempt to match a chip/sample YOU bring in.

Certainly; hopefully; you understand the logic.

TINTING is usually a FREEBIE. If not; smile, set the can down; and find another dealer.

Steven Wolf
Thousands of gallons of paint applied

Answer 2

If the paint is white (and I mean pure white), it doesn't get pigment added to it. Otherwise, except for some standard colors that come pre-mixed, paint stores add pigment to the white base to get all those colors you see on the sample cards.

Answer 3

You purchased a tintable base paint. If you wanted white you should purchase a finishing white.