# Custom Color Matching in Chino > OCRV Center matches paint color for RVs and specialty vehicles in our Yorba Linda shop, mixing to the factory formula and then tinting to the real, often sun faded, panel. All matching and spraying is done in shop, with the match verified on test cards before we touch the rig. Getting color right is the hardest part of any refinish, and on an RV it is harder still because the panels are huge and the original color may not exist in any database. We read the actual finish, mix from the formula or from scratch, and adjust the tint until the sprayed result matches the vehicle in both booth light and daylight. This is in-shop work at our Yorba Linda facility. ## How we build an accurate match When a paint code exists, we start from the factory formula. From there we account for how the finish has aged, because a ten year old coach has drifted from its original code under UV. We mix, spray a test card, and compare it against a cleaned section of the actual panel under multiple light sources before we ever load the gun for the rig. On older or repainted rigs with no usable code, we match from the panel itself, reading hue, value, and the metallic or pearl content, then tinting the mix in steps until the card disappears against the body. ## What custom matching handles Custom color matching covers everything from a clean factory code to a one off color with no database entry at all. We approach each by the same standard, which is a verified card match before any color reaches the vehicle. - Factory formula mixing from a paint code or door tag - Matching faded and oxidized finishes that no longer match the code - Metallic and pearl matching for flake size and density - Custom and discontinued colors mixed from scratch - Test card verification in booth light and daylight before spraying ## Why match quality decides the whole job A blend, a spot repair, or a replaced panel only looks right if the color is right first. A match that is even slightly off shows up as a halo or a different shade in raking sun, no matter how clean the bodywork is. We treat color matching as its own discipline because it is the foundation every other refinish step sits on. ## Frequently asked questions ### Can you match a color if I do not have the paint code? Yes. When there is no usable code, or the rig has been repainted, we match directly from the panel by reading its hue, value, and any metallic or pearl content, then tinting the mix and checking it on test cards against the body. Many older and custom coaches have no database color, and we match those by eye and instrument in shop. ### My RV is faded. Will the new paint still match? It will, because we match to the actual faded panel rather than the original code. We spray test cards, compare them against a cleaned section of your real finish in different light, and adjust the tint until it reads true. Matching the aged color is exactly why we test before committing to the rig. ### Do you match metallic and pearl finishes? Yes. Metallics and pearls are matched not only for color but for flake size, density, and how the flake lays, since those control how the panel reflects light. We adjust both the mix and the spray technique so the matched area reflects the same as the factory panel beside it. --- Source: https://oc-rv.com/services/custom-color-matching/ OCRV Center, 23281 La Palma Ave, Yorba Linda, CA 92887. Phone (949) 799-3387. In shop only; insurance billed direct.