Matching Paint Colors: Extracting Shades From Photos

Finding the perfect paint colour can be a challenge, especially when you have a specific image in mind. While it may be difficult to find an exact match, there are several methods you can use to get as close as possible. From colour-matching apps and websites to portable scanners and colour pickers, you can identify and select the perfect paint colour from an image. This paragraph will explore the various tools and techniques available to help you achieve your desired paint colour.

Using a colour picker app

First, you will need to download and install a colour picker app on your device. There are several options available, such as ColorSlurp, FindPaintColor, and imagecolourpicker.com. These apps use different methods to identify colours, such as by analysing a photo with a specified white colour chip or by allowing you to hover over the colour in the image.

Once you have installed your chosen app, follow its specific instructions to identify the colour in your image. This may involve taking a photo within the app or hovering over the colour with a crosshair. Try to select an area of the image where the colour is uniform and not affected by shadow or bright light.

After you have identified the colour, the app will provide you with its hex code or RGB value. You can then use this information to find a matching paint colour. There are websites like Encycolorpedia where you can paste the hex code to get details about the colour, including matching paint options. Alternatively, you can use the RGB value to manually find a matching paint colour.

Keep in mind that factors such as lighting, camera settings, and image processing can affect the accuracy of colour identification. It is recommended to use natural lighting when taking photos for colour matching. You may also want to consider ordering paint samples to test how the colours look in your space before making a final decision.

Using a spectrophotometer

Spectrophotometers are often used in auto body repair shops to match the colour of a vehicle and repaint damaged portions without repainting the entire vehicle. The process involves cleaning the panel that needs to be colour-matched, as dust and dirt can interfere with the reading. The technician then takes several readings with the spectrophotometer to get a precise result on the paint colour.

The device illuminates the sample with white light and analyses the amount of light reflected at different wavelength intervals. This data is then used to determine the exact shade of the paint. Spectrophotometers can also be used to mix paint colours, even when the colour is no longer commercially available, making them useful for repairing antique vehicles.

Spectrophotometers provide accurate colour measurement, delivering quantifiable data for precise colour matching. They take the guesswork out of colour matching, ensuring that the finished product is in 'colour harmony'. This is especially important in the car manufacturing industry, where colour mismatches between components can be considered defective.

Overall, using a spectrophotometer is a highly effective way to find a paint colour from an image, providing accurate results and streamlining the colour-matching process.

Using a reverse image search

Reverse image search is a useful way to find a paint colour from an image. This method can be used on both desktop and mobile devices, with Google, Bing, and other search engines offering this functionality. On a desktop, Google's reverse image search can be accessed by going to images.google.com and clicking on the camera icon on the right of the search bar. From there, you can drag or upload the image and see the results. On mobile devices, Google Lens and Bing Visual Search offer similar capabilities, allowing you to search for images and identify colours within them.

There are also dedicated colour picker apps and tools available, such as ColorSlurp, which can be used to identify colours in images. These tools allow you to hover over a colour in a picture and obtain its hex code, a 6-digit combination identifying the colour. This can then be used to find matching paint colours. When using a colour picker, it is best to choose an area of the image that is uniform, consistent, and not in shadow or bright light.

Additionally, there are web-based programs and mobile apps that can help match paint colours to images. These tools enable you to create colour schemes and palettes based on inspirational images, such as those found on Pinterest or Instagram. Some apps, like ColorSnap, offer features to choose shades, complementary colours, and paint collections. Others, like Image Raider, can help identify images used without attribution, although this service comes at a cost.

It is worth noting that while these methods may not provide the exact paint colour used in an image, they can offer a close match and a great starting point for your paint selection process. By utilising reverse image search, colour picker apps, and dedicated paint colour matching apps, you can easily find the colours that inspire you and bring them into your home.

Using a colour matching app

Using a colour-matching app is a convenient way to find paint colours from an image. Several apps are available for this purpose, such as the Benjamin Moore Color Portfolio® app, which can be used on both iOS and Android devices. This app allows you to take a picture of anything and instantly find equivalent Benjamin Moore paint colours. You can then visualise these paint colours on different walls and surfaces within your space.

Another popular app for paint colour matching is FindPaintColor, which is highly ranked in the App Store Utilities category. This app works by taking new photos within the app, ensuring accuracy. It does not require a calibration process as the iPhone camera is factory-calibrated.

Once you've installed a colour picker app, you can hover over the colour in the image that you want to match and copy the hex code. It is recommended to choose an area of the image that is uniform, consistent, and not in shadow or bright light. You can then use websites like Encycolorpedia to paste your hex code and find more information about the colour, including paint options.

While these apps provide convenience, it is important to note that photos may not always accurately represent the true colour due to factors such as lighting, camera settings, and post-processing. Therefore, it is advisable to use paint samples to test the colours in your specific space.

Using a scanner

One way to use a scanner to find a paint colour is to use a spectrophotometer. This machine takes photos of the colour using several different light spectrums and then combines the images using software to give you a tint that you can add to a base colour to get your desired colour. However, this method requires you to remove a small flake of paint from the wall.

Another way to use a scanner to find a paint colour is to use a colour-matching app. One such app is FindPaintColor, which uses the iPhone camera and advanced image processing to find the best-match paint colours from major paint vendors. To use this app, you must take a photo of the unknown colour with a specified white colour chip available from a paint dealer. The photo must be taken in natural lighting. The app then analyses the photo and identifies the nearest few colour chips for your final match.

Other colour-matching apps include Color911, Color Portfolio, and Color Muse. Color Portfolio is Benjamin Moore's app, which allows you to scan a colour to find its closest match from their paint colours. Color Muse is a sophisticated app that allows you to scan and store inspiration paint colours using a Colorimeter. You can then create colour palettes, cross-reference and match to colour libraries from leading paint companies, and browse full-colour libraries of paint manufacturers.

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