When you are ready to paint your vehicle or motorcycle you will find their are a lot of options available for paint. In order to make an informed buying decision you need to know a little background to choose the best type of color for your situation. Auto paint colors can generally be classified as either custom paint or OEM (original equipment manufacturer) and each type has its pros and cons which we I will discuss as we proceed.

O.E.M. (OEM) Auto Paint

OEM auto paint is an industry term used basically to describe the paint that comes standard on a vehicle when it is purchased new. By definition, this is the paint that the auto manufacturers (ie Ford, Chrysler, GM etc) apply on their manufacturing lines as the car is made. While the chemistry of the paint may not be the same as what would be available to repaint your car (OEM paint is usually baked on at relatively high temperatures while repair paints must be designed to cure/dry at ambient temperatures), the color availability is obviously the same since color schemes often need to be repainted to repair damage. There are literally more than 75,000 OEM colors in the market some of which were developed more than 100 years ago as the automotive industry was born. However, while there are a lot of color options available the overall appeal or “uniqueness” of those colors is somewhat limited.

When designing, selecting, and applying paint schemes auto manufacturers are limited in the application processes that can be used to paint vehicles on the assembly lines which in turn limits them to more traditional solid, metallic, and pearlescent colors. Typically assembly lines are not conducive to multiple passes of color painting effectively limiting their application to more opaque basecoat/clearcoat finishes that can be applied in one pass then stoved as they roll down the assembly line. Many of these colors are very nice colors no doubt but do not offer the visual appeal of cutting edge custom paints. Furthermore, while you may love the color of your vehicle, it is likely that thousands of other people are driving a vehicle painted exactly the same as yours which leaves less room for individuality.

Custom Paint

You could think of custom paints as essentially all auto paint colors that are not available as an OEM color. Since custom paints are not applied as part of an assembly line operation, they often can take advantage of unique processes and the latest in raw materials to make colors that are more eye catching and inspiring than automotive OEM colors. In fact, throughout the evolution of auto paint colors OEM auto manufacturers have invested large sums of money in the research of products and techniques that will allow them to achieve custom like effects on their fixed assembly line operations. Read the rest of this entry »