Many vehicle owners will need auto paint at some point. Repair shops use computerized paint matching systems to fix scratches and make repairs that precisely match the current vehicle exterior. Below is more information on how this process works and why it’s necessary.

A Guide to Computerized Auto Paint Matching

What Is It?

Auto paint detailers use a spectrophotometer—a machine that analyzes color—if they don’t have information on the original hue of a vehicle. Many cars feature this information with their vehicle identification number (VIN), but custom jobs or updates may require a spectrophotometer.

This device works by illuminating the original paint with white light using a tungsten bulb or light-emitting diode (LED). The light reflects into a wheel in the machine that measures the visible light. This feature can establish the wavelength of the light spectrum by absorbing only the color of the auto paint and reflecting all other hues.

Fiber optics pick up on the color from the wheel and transmit it to a photodiode, which sends the color pigment information to a computer or print-out. Technicians can use this information to mix paint and create an exact match for repairs.

How Is It Beneficial?

Using this machine will allow an auto paint specialist to recreate the original car hue. They can fix scratches and paint over areas of the vehicle body that you must replace, giving the vehicle a uniform look. This process will make recent fixes invisible, ensuring your car looks fantastic, even if you were in an accident.

If you ever sell the vehicle, you’ll likely sell it faster and have more potential buyers when you use auto paint matching. This process hides the damage and improves the vehicle value so you can ask for a higher price.

If you’re interested in auto paint matching to preserve your vehicle, contact Jack Hart Body Shop in Hardin County, KY. The team has more than 50 years of experience and uses innovative technology to perform auto maintenance, paintless dent repair, and collision repair throughout Fort Knox and Elizabethtown. Call (270) 351-3637 or visit the website for information on their paint shop and to view before and after photos.