Exact colour name or code
Best when you have a confirmed brand colour, RAL, BS, NCS, Pantone or another recognised reference.
Search the exact brand and code rather than matching by how it appears on screen.
Choosing Your Paint
Colour Matching Help
Start with the most reliable colour reference available. An original manufacturer code or physical sample is normally more dependable than a photograph or a colour viewed only on a screen.
Start with the strongest colour reference available
Choose the right route before choosing the colour
Colour matching begins by identifying what information you already have: a recognised code, a confirmed colour name, a physical sample, measured colour data or only a photograph.
Each route has a different level of reliability. Use digital tools to search, convert and estimate colour, then use a physical sample or spray-out when the match is critical.
Free tools and expert routes
Choose your colour-matching route
Start with what you already have: an exact code, digital value, photograph, physical sample or simply a project that needs the correct product and finish.
HEX, RGB or LAB value
Use the Colour Wheel & Colour Converter to enter, explore and convert digital colour values.
A digital value is a starting point and does not automatically identify a named paint standard.
Photograph, screenshot or scan
Upload an image, select the colour area and obtain an estimated HEX, RGB and LAB sample.
Lighting, reflections, camera processing and compression can change the result.
Physical painted sample
Use our Colour Matching Service when you have a physical part, painted sample or unusual reference.
A representative physical sample is usually the strongest route for critical matching.
Project but no product specification
Use Paint Finder to identify the substrate, coating system, primer and finish required for the job.
Paint Finder selects the product route; it does not replace a critical physical colour match.
Complex or critical colour match
Contact a Paint Expert when the colour, substrate, finish or existing coating is uncertain.
Send all known codes, photographs, samples and project details to reduce ambiguity.
Match quality checks
What makes a colour match more reliable?
Source quality, lighting, substrate, finish and physical approval all affect whether a digital or visual reference produces the result you expect.
Reference quality
Official codes and representative physical samples are generally more dependable than photographs or screen-only estimates.
Lighting and reflections
Neutral, even lighting reduces colour casts, glare, deep shadows and reflected surroundings in photographs and samples.
Substrate and existing coating
The material, primer, old paint, texture and colour beneath the finish can influence the final visible result.
Matt, satin or gloss
Finish changes reflection and perceived colour depth. Match the intended sheen as well as the pigment colour.
Screen and camera limits
Displays, brightness, white balance, compression and automatic image processing can shift a digital colour reference.
Physical approval
For important work, approve a sprayed test panel or physical sample in the relevant lighting before completing the project.
Step-by-step
How to get the closest reliable colour match
Work from the strongest available reference, choose the correct tool and confirm the result physically where colour accuracy matters.
Identify what colour information you already have
Collect the exact brand, colour name, standard code, manufacturer reference, physical sample, HEX, RGB, CIELAB value or photograph available.
Do not discard a reliable code in favour of a less accurate visual estimate.
Use an exact brand or standard reference where possible
Search the confirmed brand and reference through Shop by Colour. Check letters, numbers, edition and colour-system details carefully.
Similar names or codes can belong to different brands and produce different colours.
Choose the correct digital tool
Use the Colour Wheel for HEX, RGB or LAB values, Upload Your Colour for images, and Paint Finder when the coating system or finish is still uncertain.
The tool should match the information you actually have.
Photograph colours in neutral, even lighting
Avoid direct sunlight, coloured light, strong reflections and deep shadows. Photograph the sample square-on and include a wider reference view where useful.
Camera results remain estimates even with careful lighting.
Consider the substrate and existing coating
Identify the material, primer colour, existing paint, texture and any repairs. These can affect hiding, film build and the visible result.
Choose a product system approved for the substrate before confirming the colour.
Choose matt, satin or gloss
Match the intended sheen because reflection changes how deep, bright or muted the colour appears.
A colour matched in gloss may look different when supplied in matt or satin.
Use a physical sample for critical matching
Where accuracy matters, provide a representative physical sample or approved colour card. Avoid faded, dirty, weathered or non-representative areas.
Tell us whether the sample is the target colour or an aged surface that must be replicated.
Test the colour before completing the full project
Apply the full primer, colour and finish system to a representative test panel. Allow it to dry or cure fully before assessing it.
Approve the result in the relevant daylight and artificial lighting before committing to the whole project.
Reference strength at a glance
Which colour reference should you trust most?
Use the most authoritative reference available. Digital tools are extremely useful for identifying, converting and communicating colour, but a screen or photograph cannot reproduce the full physical appearance of paint under every light and finish.
Official manufacturer code or colour standardUsually the strongest starting point when the brand, code and colour system are confirmed. Search the exact reference rather than relying on how it looks on screen.
Physical painted sample or approved colour cardBest for important matches when the sample is clean, representative and viewed under suitable lighting. Age, fading, contamination and gloss level can still affect the result.
Measured CIELAB or spectrophotometer dataUseful when obtained correctly from a representative surface with suitable equipment. The final formula still depends on the paint system, substrate and finish.
Confirmed brand and colour nameReliable when the exact brand and named colour are known, but duplicate names can exist across brands and historical formulations can change.
HEX or RGB valueA useful digital starting point for screen colours and conversion. It is not automatically a named paint standard and does not specify the physical sheen or coating system.
Photograph, screenshot or scanHelpful for estimation and narrowing the search, but lighting, reflections, camera processing, compression and white balance can all shift the sampled colour.
Colour viewed only on an uncalibrated screenTreat as a visual guide only. Different screens, brightness settings and ambient lighting can make the same digital value appear noticeably different.
Important: Cameras, screens, lighting, substrate, primer, coat thickness and finish can all change the visible result. For critical work, approve a physical spray-out or sample before completing the full project.
Useful answers
Frequently asked questions
Can a photograph provide an exact paint match?
A photograph can provide a useful estimate, but lighting, reflections, camera settings, white balance, processing and screen calibration can all change the result. Use an official code or physical sample for critical work.
Is a HEX value the same as a paint colour code?
No. HEX describes a digital screen colour. It can be used as a starting point for colour conversion or matching, but it does not identify a physical paint standard, resin system, substrate or finish.
Why does the same colour look different in matt and gloss?
The pigment may be similar, but the way the surface reflects light changes. Gloss can appear deeper or more saturated, while matt reduces highlights and creates a softer appearance.
What should I send for a physical colour match?
Provide a clean, representative sample large enough to measure or compare, together with the substrate, required finish, project details and any known colour information. Explain if the sample is faded or weathered.
Should I test the paint before the full job?
Yes, especially where colour accuracy matters. Apply the complete system to a representative test panel, allow it to dry fully and assess it in the lighting where the finished item will be used.
Start with the strongest colour reference you have
Search an exact code where possible, use our digital tools when you have values or photographs, and approve a physical sample or spray-out when colour accuracy is critical.