Paint that matches the panel next to it, in sun and in shade

Match on the computer, then mask, spray and blend

At the shop the color is worked out on a computerized color matching system and mixed on a computer refinishing and mixing station, so the formula starts from your car's actual paint rather than a generic chip. Ray's technicians test the mix against the car and adjust before any panel gets sprayed.

Everything not being painted gets masked with tape and plastic, and the work happens in a sheeted-in prep area so dust stays off the finish. Where a color needs help blending, the paint is feathered into the neighboring panel so there is no hard line for your eye to land on.

It is slow, tidy work, and it is why customers keep telling us the car looks like it did when it left the dealership.

Cure, buff and inspect before the keys come back

Fresh paint is not finished when it is dry to the touch. It gets time to cure, then it is buffed to bring the gloss up level with the original clear coat, and finally it is checked panel by panel under good light. Runs, dust nibs and edge lines get fixed here, not left for you to find at home.

Paint work that follows a collision repair is covered by the same lifetime warranty on body repairs, for as long as you own the vehicle. To have a scratched, faded or freshly repaired panel looked at, call (401) 461-9200 or stop by 299 Allens Ave, and Ray or Jenn will give you an estimate, usually within 24 hours.