Color Prediction & Formulation

The target is the color you want to reproduce, such as a customer's standard panel or approved sample. Measure and enter the target color before predicting a recipe.

MEC uses your target values and a selected colorant set to calculate possible mixtures of your real colorants. These are predictions; make and measure a trial to check the result.

Measure the target, begin a new matching job, enter its Lab readings, choose the correct colorant set and instrument geometry, set restrictions and run Formulate.

Different combinations of available colorants can create similar colors. MEC lets you compare several recipes rather than only one.

Consider predicted ΔE, number of ingredients, material availability, concentrations, cost and lighting conditions when relevant. Make a sample before production approval.

No. MEC's normal matching workflow can use target CIE L*a*b* values without a direct spectrophotometer connection. Additional illuminants require suitable additional target color data.

It is the total amount of colorants, excluding the remaining base. For 100 g of paint with 20 g of colorants and 80 g base, set Sum (Colorants) to 20 before rounding.

In the shown MEC workflow, recipe amounts refer to colorants, not total paint. The remaining amount belongs to the base or other specified ingredients of your real production recipe.

Yes. Supported formulation settings let you choose the number of colorants in proposed recipes. More components create more possible combinations and may slow matching.

Yes. The tutorial explains required, allowed/optional and excluded colorant conditions. Use them to reflect material availability and production rules.

The predictions will use material data different from your real paint. Select the database that matches your actual base, colorants, geometry and application.

Check the target reading, colorant set, allowed ingredients, limits and settings. Your available colorants may not be able to reach the target, so other materials may be necessary.

Your scale has a finite resolution. Set the total colorant amount first, then round the proposed quantities to what you can weigh. Record your real weighed amounts.

With suitable material prices and an edition supporting that feature, MEC can compare estimated ingredient costs. Color accuracy and production constraints still matter.

It means two samples look the same under one light but different under another. For evaluation, supply appropriate data for multiple illuminants and use supported MEC settings.

No. One Lab triplet for one illuminant does not uniquely describe spectral behavior under other lights. Enter reliable readings for the additional conditions.

Yes. An existing set can be reused in a project, and saved matching jobs can be reopened for further review or correction.

The MEC website describes Core as free for everyday matching and recipe correction, with a limit of five custom colorants. Advanced functions depend on edition and available data.