List the steps of color plotting and explain the process.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Though there are other methods of evaluating and adjusting paint when tinting, the color plotting method is the one most often taught in paint manufacturers' schools. To color plot, a technician will need the formula, a manufacturer's color wheel, and a color
plotting chart.
When tinting, one of the technician's most common mistakes is to look at the new color and say, “as compared to the vehicle, it needs more blue,” go to the tinting bank, grab a blue, and add it to the formula. Paint manufacturers have gone to a great deal of trouble
to make a formula that is as close to the standard as possible, and if after all the other variables have been checked (see Tech Tip Color variables) and confirmed that they are not the cause of the color mismatch, then the painter should tint. If tinting is chosen, the only colors that should be considered when tinting are the colors within the formula!
If all the paint color mismatch possibilities have been evaluated and found not to be the cause, the painter should then consider tinting.
To tint, the painter must first write out the formula and the amounts. Then the lightness and darkness should be evaluated by looking at the formula.
When plotting the formula, first evaluate its lightness or darkness, or its value. If the formula has more white than color (by adding up the amounts) then its value should be plotted above the centerline on the value bar. Black should be considered a color when evaluating value. Use an F, signifying formula, when plotting the formula on the value bar.
If there is more color (including black) than white, the value should be plotted below the center line on the value bar.
Next, the hue should be plotted by looking at the formula. In the case of Porsche red, the formula is red, or red with slight blue cast; or it is red with slight yellowish cast.
Remember that the color can only move right or left from the dimension (red in this case). It cannot move across the wheel, which would muddy the color.
When plotting the formula's value, hue, or chroma, use an F to indicate where the formula should be represented on the three bars.
Next, the chroma or intensity should be plotted: when plotting the formula's chroma at this point, plot it in the middle, which will allow for change later.
When a formula and vehicle has metallic or mica in it, the flop value and flop hue should be evaluated, and the results should be entered at the bottom of the chart.
After the formula has been evaluated, the sprayout panel (formula) should be evaluated.
That is, it should be compared to the vehicle in the order of value, hue, then chroma, and finally flop.
If the vehicle is lighter than the sprayout panel, the vehicle should be plotted above the F in the value bar (use a V for vehicle). Then evaluate the vehicle's color or hue, and place a V where it should be, then the chroma. (Is the vehicle's red, in this case, more intense
than the formula? If so, the V should be placed right of the formula on the chroma bar.)
If the vehicle has metallic or mica in it, the bottom section should be filled in after comparing the vehicle to the formula at front and side, viewing in color corrected light.
With this information gathered, the tinting adjustments can begin.