Hello everyone,
I've been lurking in the background and read with interest the message about
an on-line color card. My company manufactures color cards (on paper), and
for the past year I've been developing a set of color guides for Jaguar,
Austin-Healey, MG, and Triumph. So far I have established a color database
with associated ICI paint codes and done sprayouts of a bit over half of the
400 colors. It may surprise some of you to know that ICI has nearly all the
historic colors available in a modern urethane paint, and what's more, the
colors carry the same paint codes as the cars did when new.
The idea of an online color chart is great in theory but limited in
practice. One of the best uses of the web in portraying color is on Roger
Los's Healey site. (http://austinhealey.com/big.html) It features an
interactive color chart. This site allows the viewer to get a feel for how
a color will look on the car and is very engaging.
It's important to understand that the colors on the web are made from a much
more limited pallette than actual paint and consequently, the accuracy of
the color is compromised. Metallics are particularly tricky. This is not a
terrible thing depending on what you're trying to accomplish with the page.
Obviously, the first step in your project is to define a set of color
standards. In my opinion, the better choice would be to use a period chip
chart rather than owner photographs. (To establish color standard for my
books, I am mixing and spraying ICI "2K" onto metal sample panels.)
The problem you will run into with the photos is twofold: lack of color
consistency from one vehicle to another and color accuracy of the
photograph. The latter problem is not trivial, ask a professional
photographer. (I have and he told me that cars are one of the most
difficult things to photograph)
I hope this helps steer you to a successful result and look forward to
seeing the fruits of your labor.
Best of luck,
Don Pikovnik
Coloramic Process, Inc.
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