Why choose MatchExactColor?

MEC helps turn a measured color target into informed formulation decisions. Compare predicted alternatives before producing a physical trial, then use measured results to guide the next adjustment.

The number of trials saved depends on the target, the database quality and how the material behaves in practice.

• Compare recipe candidates before consuming materials.
• Use measured feedback rather than arbitrary colorant additions.
• Reuse previous work instead of solving the same color twice.

Enter L*, a* and b* readings from your own colorimeter or spectrophotometer. You can begin a target-matching job without directly connecting the measuring instrument or supplying target reflectance data.

The selected illuminant, observer and measurement geometry must correspond to the actual reading. A single Lab measurement does not automatically provide accurate target values for other lighting conditions.

• Enter target colorimetric values directly.
• Use the correct instrument-related measurement settings.
• Supply appropriate additional data when multi-condition matching is needed.

MEC guides you through selecting a target, choosing a colorant set, setting formulation restrictions and reviewing recipes. Interactive guided tours help users find the relevant screens and operations.

The software reduces dependence on manual trial-and-error expertise, but reliable sample preparation, measurements and material knowledge remain important.

• Move through matching and correction in clear steps.
• Compare candidate recipes without rebuilding every formula by hand.
• Learn the interface through guided MEC Tours.

MEC generates multiple candidate formulations for a target color rather than providing just a single recipe. The number and variety of generated formulas depend on the target, available colorants, matching settings and your selected restrictions.

Specify which colorants must be included, may be used or must be excluded, and set limits on the number of ingredients. MEC then generates suitable formula alternatives that you can evaluate before making a physical sample.

• Generate a range of potential recipes for the same color target.
• Control which colorants and how many components can be used.
• Compare generated formulas when a material is costly, unavailable or undesirable.

Assign prices to materials in the working colorant data and evaluate the cost calculated from each proposed recipe's composition. Two formulations may achieve similar color accuracy while differing substantially in their ingredient costs.

Cost should be considered alongside ΔE, allowed colorants, component limits and other requirements; the cheapest candidate is not always the most suitable.

• Calculate recipe cost from colorant quantities and prices.
• Find economical alternatives in the available colorant set.
• Compare price and technical suitability together.

Manufacturing and trial results can differ from calculated predictions because of material strength, dispersion, application, batch size or other process factors. MEC uses the measured deviation to propose the next formulation adjustment.

You can correct an MEC-generated recipe or start from a formula prepared independently. Repeat the measured correction process when tighter tolerance is required.

• Correct a predicted formula after a trial.
• Improve your own existing recipe without starting over.
• Work toward the target despite material or process changes.

Two samples may match in one lighting condition but look different under another. With suitable target and colorant-set data, supported MEC workflows can consider multiple illuminant/observer systems when assessing or optimizing recipes.

Multi-illuminant analysis cannot be derived reliably from only one target Lab triplet. The applicable systems and optimization modes depend on the edition and available measurement data.

• Compare alternatives beyond the primary light source.
• Inspect predicted differences under additional configured conditions.
• Balance color stability with formulation constraints where supported.

The same surface can produce different instrument readings depending on illumination and viewing geometry. MEC is designed for workflows that respect the selected spectrophotometer geometry and the corresponding input data.

Advanced multi-angle workflows belong to the Desktop side of MEC and are not a feature of Flex. Neither geometry changes nor gloss and surface effects should be inferred from mismatched measurements.

• Configure the relevant instrument geometry.
• Avoid mixing incompatible target and colorant measurements.
• Use geometry-specific workflows where supported by the edition and data.

Select an existing colorant set or define one around your own material system and measured data. Matching results depend on the colorants and base available in that set.

A set already associated with a project can be reused for further targets or correction. You can control required, permitted and excluded ingredients as well as recipe component counts.

• Match using your actual available materials.
• Reuse established colorant sets.
• Control allowed ingredients and formula complexity.

For compatible editions, MEC can take a group of target colors and run matching for each one in sequence. This is useful when a color collection or a batch of customer requests needs formulation.

The generated results remain associated with their individual targets. Automatic multi-target matching is edition-dependent, not a promise for every MEC plan.

• Queue multiple targets for the matching process.
• Reduce repeated operations for larger workloads.
• Review each target and its resulting formulas independently.

MEC lets you store project data and reopen earlier matching jobs. Previously predicted or selected recipes can be reviewed, adjusted, produced again or taken into a correction workflow.

This preserves useful formulation experience and avoids restarting an established job whenever the color is needed again.

• Reopen saved targets and previous jobs.
• Inspect or adjust existing formulas.
• Continue correction or production from stored work.

MEC is not restricted to a laboratory. Its measured-target and colorant-set workflow can serve small projects as well as industrial color development and production.

Compatible applications include liquid coatings, powder coatings, automotive finishes, plastics and masterbatch, and other material systems with appropriate measured colorant data.

• Adapt databases to your materials and application.
• Use the same matching principles at different scales.
• Work with separate measuring instruments; an automatic connection is not mandatory.

MEC Core is free to use, allowing you to experience the software's basic color-matching workflow before choosing a paid edition. Try entering targets, generating candidate formulas and seeing how MEC works with colorant data.

You can also create a custom colorant set using materials from your own production system and test how MEC performs with your colorants. Core currently allows up to five colorants per custom set; included default sets are separate from that limit. This is a practical starting point for evaluating MEC in a factory, workshop or laboratory before moving to more advanced capabilities.

• Explore MEC's basic formulation workflow without a subscription.
• Test a custom set with up to five colorants from your own material system.
• Evaluate the software in your real working environment before deciding whether to upgrade.

MEC Standard will be offered through a monthly subscription after launch. Instead of a substantial one-time licensing expense, you can spread software costs across the months you choose to use the advanced tools. This can reduce both your starting investment and your overall software costs over shorter periods, depending on the alternatives and how long you subscribe.

Cancel automatic renewal at any time. Standard remains available through the end of your already-paid period; after that, your account returns to the free MEC Core edition. There is no long-term subscription commitment.

• Pay month by month rather than buying an expensive perpetual license upfront.
• Stop future renewal charges when the advanced features are no longer needed.
• Keep paid access until your current billing period ends, then continue with free Core.