Matching Model Paint To A Paint Chip Part II

Tools 'n' Tips Article by David Rapasi on Mar 17 2011

Using Adobe Photoshop 5.5 gives me the ability to match model paint to the color paint chips from Don's Color with a lot less work.

The color picker in Photoshop allows me to scan a color chip to get the color Hue, the Saturation percentage, and the Brightness percentage.

If Model Master has a WWII color that is the same ANA or FS number I will start with that color.

The color is sprayed on a one square inch piece of plastic, then scanned to Photoshop for comparison with Don's Color Paint Chips.

Comparing the color Hues, I can tell what color needs to be added to the paint mix to get the Model Master paint  to more closely match Don's Color paint chips.

Comparing the color's saturation, I can tell if more color needs to be added to the paint or if the color should be more grayed out.

Comparing the color's brightness, I can tell if the paint needs more black or white.

Click on images below to see larger images

  

  

  

These are some of the basic colors I use on model aircraft.

Army Dark Olive Drab QMS # 41 used as an Army Air Corps camouflage color, 1940-'41.

Model Master 1712 FS 34097 is a close match, its about 10% lighter and has 30% more saturation

Olive Drab ANA 613 used as topside camouflage color 1942-'45.

Model Master 2050 ANA 613 is a close match but needs some red tinting. 

Army Medium Green QMS # 42 used as Army Air Corps topside camouflage color, 1940-'41.

Medium Green ANA 612 / FS 34092 used as a topside camouflage color, 1942-'45.

Model Master 1764 FS 34092 is a close match but needs some tinting.

Army Neutral Gray QMS # 43 used as an Army Air Corps camouflage color, 1940-'44.

Model Master 2035 FS 36173 is a good  match.

In May of 1942, ANA 603 Sea Gray superseded Army Neutral Gray and Navy Blue Gray. Some aircraft manufacturers had stockpiled such a large supply, they were still using QMS # 43 well into 1944.

The Photos;

The three models show the use of these colors, the P51-A is painted QMS # 41 Dark Olive Drab, the P47 is painted ANA 613 Olive Drab, and the PBJ is painted ANA 612 Medium Green.

The Color Hue Chart has the color hue 40 highlighted to indicate the hue of ANA 613 O.D. , and 153 for ANA 612 Medium Green.

On the Color Hue Chart the colors are at 100% Saturation and 100% Brightness.

The photos show Don's Color paint chips with the right half of the chip made 20% lighter so the color can be seen as it would look when it fades.

The Saturation of a color will also decrease as it fades, but I only increased the brightness for clarity.

The Hue of a color can also change as it fades because some pigments fade faster than others.

The photos of the Model Master paint chips were made from scans of the paint sprayed on plastic card stock.

The photos of the aircraft interiors and the four Mustangs shows that the Adobe Photoshop color picker can be used to find the color hues in color photos.

Using Adobe Photoshop 5.5 makes it quite a bit easier to match paint than the old way of matching paint by eye.

David Rapasi

Click on images below to see larger images

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

Photos and text © by David Rapasi