The Art of Venetian Plaster Color Matching

I don't think that all customers really understand that when asking for a color match it takes time, including waiting time. They come in (Thinking of paint instead of Venetian Plaster) and pick a color from a chart or even bring their own color swatch to match and get frustrated at the fact that there is waiting time. To get a color match, our Colorists have to go through a process, which takes time and effort.

First, they have to get a kilo of material. Next, they have to decide what type of tints to use. We have mineral pigments, low voc tints, and synthetic tints.

Then, they have to check to see if we have a color on hand close to it. If we do have something, they shoot that formula and if it is necessary, they will adjust it. For example, if a customer brings in a swatch of a burgundy color, we can get a red color that we already have and they add whatever tint needs to be added in order to get to that burgundy. If we don’t have any color that can come even close to the match, our colorists then have to do it from scratch. They have to measure and mix different tints together figuring out how much to add of what tint, to make that color. You also have to know how your colors will react with the lime!

Second, in between the processes they have to do test samples on a board to check the progress. This is crucial because wet material dries 30%-40% lighter!

Third, after getting the color matched perfectly and doing the last test sample, they can now make the material. They have to first input the formula into the computer, then get the amount of Venetian plaster that the customer wants and shoot out the formula into the wet material. After they shoot out the formula and make the Venetian plaster, they have to make sure it looks exactly like the test kilo they made of the color and must make a physical sample of it. If the colorists don’t like it, they then start to tweak the material. When it’s ready, they keep an actual swatch on file under the customer’s name. Doing this helps them know how the color should look if the orders that same color again in the future.

Rome was not built in a day! Neither are color matches. It takes time, but the results can be spectacular. What started out as a color swatch, transforms itself into a large very profitable job that depended on the color being just right.