Vehicle Painting
How automotive colour matching actually works
Orewa Panel & Paint · 23 July 2026
Two cars with the same factory colour code can still look different. Here is how we match paint so a repaired panel disappears into the rest of your vehicle.
Your paint has aged
Sun, road grime and washing all shift a colour slightly over the years. Spraying straight from a factory code often leaves a visible difference.
Reading the vehicle, not just the code
We start with the paint code, then check the actual panels on your vehicle and mix and test until the finish matches what is really there.
Blending into adjacent panels
Where a colour is tricky - silvers, pearls and some reds especially - we blend the new paint out into the adjacent panel so there is no hard edge for your eye to catch.
Finishing
Once the clear coat has cured, the repair is polished so gloss and texture match the surrounding paint.