PSC15 – Colour Match a Product

Simon Greenway

Indestructible Paint Ltd

College ID: GRE12204025

BCF Number: 1575

Simon Greenway Diploma in Production of Coatings Kevan Butcher

Contents
1. Know why coatings products may be subject to colour matching procedures ......................... 2
1.1 Explain using examples, the factors which influence the colour of in-process coatings
products ................................................................................................................................. 2
1.2 Explain the term ‘colour standard’ as applied to coatings products ................................... 2
1.3 Explain, using examples, why the actual colour of the processed coatings products must
match, within specified tolerances, the given standard ........................................................... 2
2. Understand the contents of, and the importance of, process documentation .......................... 2
2.2 Explain, using examples, why contents of product process documents are so important .. 2
3. Conduct Colour matching procedures safely .......................................................................... 3
3.6. Explain how to report potentially unsafe working areas, equipment, materials or incidents
to the appropriate persons ...................................................................................................... 3
4. Be able to conduct colour evaluation procedures according to given standards ..................... 3
4.5. Explain why colour evaluation equipment must be maintained and calibrated properly.... 3
4.7. Explain how to ensure product samples are fully representative of the batch. ................. 3
5. Interpret colour evaluation results. ......................................................................................... 3
5.5. Explain how to refer rogue colour evaluations, indicative of process anomalies to an
appropriate person. ................................................................................................................ 3
6. Adjust colour of product batch to match given standard ......................................................... 4
6.2. Explain why different types of colour concentrates exist. ................................................. 4
6.3. Explain why colour concentrates may require conditioning before use. ........................... 4
8. Record specified information and explains its significance. .................................................... 4
8.4. Explain why process and material usage records are important. ..................................... 4

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Simon Greenway Diploma in Production of Coatings Kevan Butcher

1. Know why coatings products may be subject to colour matching

procedures
1.1 Explain using examples, the factors which influence the colour of in-
process coatings products
Lighting affects the way in which a colour is perceived. Differences in light would show different
colours. Gloss level could also affect the way a colour comes across. Matt would make the
colour look lighter. Contamination of equipment, if there is a small trace of certain colours such
as red or black, they can have an effect on pastel or light colour shades. Inaccurate
measurements could affect the colours, therefore must be within specified tolerances.

1.2 Explain the term ‘colour standard’ as applied to coatings products

A colour standard is a specific coded colour or a component that our colour would need to
match to. This could be RAL shade, or BS281c shade from colour standard books. Or it could
be a customer’s own house colour. Something that they have always used but have not given a
specific code to.

1.3 Explain, using examples, why the actual colour of the processed
coatings products must match, within specified tolerances, the given
standard
A standard is given by a customer, and requested a match. This could be used as a touch up to
coat damaged areas of body work, therefore the colour would need to be within a tolerance.

2. Understand the contents of, and the importance of, process

documentation
2.2 Explain, using examples, why contents of product process documents
are so important
A product process document would tell production staffs how they are meant to tint a specific
job to a colour. What tinters they can use and the appropriate mixers. The document would also
include what colour standard, gloss measurement and mixing ratios are required for the product.
All are important otherwise the product will not meet the required specifications.

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Simon Greenway Diploma in Production of Coatings Kevan Butcher

3. Conduct Colour matching procedures safely

3.6. Explain how to report potentially unsafe working areas, equipment,

materials or incidents to the appropriate persons
If there is a spill in an area, and the area is seen to be potentially unsafe, then this would need
to be reported. This could be done by noting the area seen as unsafe, and reporting it to
engineering maintenance, or your line manager, depending on the seriousness of the unsafe
area. Or the area could be blocked of by you until it is seen as safe to re-enter the area. This
would also apply to malfunctioning equipment, the engineering department would need to be
informed, and the area might be cordoned off, or equipment removed until malfunction can be
corrected, depending on the seriousness of the malfunction. E.g. sparking, overheating, or gas
leaking on specific equipment.

4. Be able to conduct colour evaluation procedures according to

given standards
4.5. Explain why colour evaluation equipment must be maintained and
calibrated properly.
Colour matching at indestructible paint is done by eye using a calibrated light box. In order to
achieve similar colours from production these lights have to be changed regularly, and have to
be specially manufactured bulbs. If a colour computer is used, then the computer would need to
be regularly calibrated and properly maintained to ensure the same matches are coming out
each time.

4.7. Explain how to ensure product samples are fully representative of the
batch.
To ensure a sample is representative of a batch, the whole batch would need to be thoroughly
mixed before a sample is taken from the batch. This is to ensure uniformity and to give an
accurate test result.

5. Interpret colour evaluation results.

5.5. Explain how to refer rogue colour evaluations, indicative of process
anomalies to an appropriate person.
Any unexpected or rogue colour evaluation results would have to be investigated and would be
reported to laboratory manager. This would involve examining the sample, and the batch
together with the batch card to check for errors.

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Simon Greenway Diploma in Production of Coatings Kevan Butcher

6. Adjust colour of product batch to match given standard

6.2. Explain why different types of colour concentrates exist.
Different types of colour concentrates exist because of the wide variety of paint types. For
example, there are water based paints, PU paints, Epoxy paints, Acrylic paints, and the list goes
on. All of these have to have their own colour concentrates to ensure compatibility.

6.3. Explain why colour concentrates may require conditioning before use.
Colour concentrates would be loaded with pigments, and specific ratios for the best colour. This
pigment would be the solids content of the concentrate, and would settle at the bottom of the
container. Therefore to ensure we gets the best colour possible, the colour concentrate would
need to be thoroughly mixed, therefore conditioning it before use.

8. Record specified information and explains its significance.

8.4. Explain why process and material usage records are important.
Process and material usage records are important as they show us what we used to update
stocks, but also allows for us to repeat a process and allow for colours to be remade.