Poor Paint Match or being fussy?

[SiF]

The rear hatch on my 6 month old focus has been totally resprayed, through my insurance. But it doesn't appear to match very well. Is this the best that I can expect though?

I appreciate that photo angle, age, daylight, etc has an effect, and that plastic bumpers are difficult to match. But this is 2 pieces of metal, on a nearly new car, and the photo is taken on a flat section.

Thoughts welcomed having had few significant re-sprays.

[Plate spinner]

It’ll never be perfect, but that looks pretty poor.

I’d say I want it done again and see what the insurance company will do.

[dieseluser07]

How old is the car? I reckon the older panel just needs a polish and it should match the shinyness of the new one.

Colour looks fine its just the lacquer.

[Buggyjam]

Is that metallic red?

[Fermit The Krog and Sexy Sarah]

I colour match for a living (leather restoration)

Reds and browns are the hardest colours to match, but all the same that is not acceptable.

[kambites]

The one time I've needed paintwork via an insurance claim, the new pannel was blended into all of the adjacent panels so there is no appreciable "join" between new and old. I dare say you could pick it up by measuring paint thickness but to the naked eye it's the new panel is completely indistinguishable from the rest of the car.

[Plate spinner]

Buggyjam said:

Is that metallic red?

Looks like one is and the other is flat.

[Fermit The Krog and Sexy Sarah]

I'd say they're both metallic. The right panel needs a little more scarlet and a bit more gloss.

[SiF]

Thanks everyone.

It is a 6 months old car in Red Rush metallic, bought 2 weeks ago (dont ask!) from Ford. The original has very few metallic flecks, but the new has numerous, and is hence noticeable. And it just looks like a different shade.

Going back to the insurer to reject, but you have confirmed what I see.

[Buggyjam]

Metallics are known for being a pain in the arse. Not only do you have to match the colour as best you can in varying lighting temperatures you also have the prob with the metal within the paint. Often it’s a different density of “flakes” and they don’t lie in the same direction as the original paint. When light hits the flakes sitting in a different direction it can show up as a different shade.

That doesn’t look half close. I’d send it back for a better go. Be prepared it won’t match perfectly under all lighting. But hopefully they’ll get it close enough only you might notice (just because you know about it)

Edited by Buggyjam on Sunday 17th June 17:11

[SiF]

And yes, the gloss is interesting, as the original is more striking, and the new looks flatter. Accepting that angles, etc make a difference.

[Buggyjam]

SiF said:

And yes, the gloss is interesting, as the original is more striking, and the new looks flatter. Accepting that angles, etc make a difference.

Adding to the challenges is it’s a panel to panel match so they aren’t blending