By Cooperstepp | August 30, 2011 at 07:14 PM EDT | No Comments
Well, there is a reason I don't use or look at photo color renderings from paint mfgs. or paint contractors. The colors are not true to what the actual paint color will cure out to be on your buildings with all your elements.
The call I just got states exactly that, HELP! I have Pink Buildings! Pink? Yes Pink.. they are Pink..
That doesn't surprise me, first you are looking at a photo in an office.Photographs that look so wonderful in their office will change once the paint is applied to the substrate. This is known as metamerism. Metamerism is a phenomenon that occurs when colors change when viewed in different light sources. When Clients look at the chips & pictures in a room lit by warm incandescent lighting or cool fluorescent lighting, the colors may appear to be exactly what they want. Once applied outside, the paint colors take on a whole new look as you have introduced them to UV rays, along with permanent bouncing colors in concrete, brick, landscaping and shingles, etc.
Paint Manufacturers have a process to "lay over color" on existing photos. This is very deceiving as it does not take all the above into play. You can be in your office, look at one of those photos and go to your site and it can look entirely different. Trust me, I worked with this system in the paint industry, this is how I started designing on my own.
It was so deceiving for me to try and say the paint was going to dry like a photo color.
My Developers/Owners complained the photos looked nothing like the actual site. You are asking toner to do something that paint does. It can't replicate the texture of the substrates, the lighting, the landscape, the amount of sun to bounce from concrete, etc.
So, don't waste your time waiting on your Photo Renderings, trust me, just put the colors up as a test and go from there. You will be surprised how vivid some colors are and if you think you like one color, go one shade darker! You lose up to 50% of your color value sometimes outside. Depends on all the elements..
By Cooperstepp | August 25, 2011 at 03:34 PM EDT | No Comments
Ok.. where do I start...
When you look at color chips, the exterior paint rarely drys the color of the chip, it's just not going too. You have too many elements to deal with: Landscape will turn some light colors a green shade, concrete can wash out some colors, brick will turn the best color a different look, Blacktop makes colors muted, shingle color can overpower a body color.... an so on..
Fandecks: I have a major paint manufacturers color decks: 3 of the 6 Decks have different degree of colors for the same paint swatches. So again, you are asking paper & printer ink to do a job that paint & colorants are going to do for you outside. So if you ask a painter to get a color for you, better give him the swatch you are looking at and always get a test sample first and let it cure out for 48 hours before making a decision.
Cure out? The paint goes through a process when drying and it takes time for the true color to process.
Ever paint your nails a color and it drys different from what is looks like in the bottle.. same thing..
Paint Names: just because the word says Grey something, doesn't mean the color will dry grey on exterior, much like something Beige, which can look Pink outside and eventually fade to a Mauve.
On Exterior paint colors, Paint Names mean nothing, you have to put samples up, trust me.
By Cooperstepp | August 23, 2011 at 10:29 AM EDT | No Comments
Well, it's definitely been a busy couple months with Exterior Design.
Several new repaint designs nationwide are starting up and new photos will be posted in the next couple weeks, so stop back & see the colorful new designs.
New construction Blueprints are starting to roll in, which is a good sign for the economy.
Someone asked, why do you need to know window color & mini blind color(s), well, actually these play an important part to any design. With color I can make even aged window frames/mini blinds look new. The degree of color used can make mini blinds look like white squares all over your building or they can blend in and you barely notice them. What really stands out is when you have several different colors of mini blinds. What color of mini blind would I suggest: Off White, not Bright White.
Bright White immediately ages any building & interior, unless you are on the Beach, then I will have to come check out to see how White looks in your location, prefer directly on the Beach with waves crashing in and have to have at least 3 days to make my decision!
By Cooperstepp | May 22, 2011 at 03:02 PM EDT | No Comments
Well just when I thought the faded out mauve apts in North Dallas were going to get a refreshing new updated color, they painted a very deep depressing color.
It's so dark the body is the only color you see. It overpowers the rest of the substrates on the building and only accents the off color shingles, so it makes you look to the roof, when the focal point should be the entry.
When selecting color you need to compliment the rest of the building. You almost had it if you would have gone 1/2 the color currently. Let's bet in about 6 months you might have that color. I bet that the color you choose is mixed in a deep base, which with some paint mfgs. it a clear base, guess what. You are asking the colorant to be most of the color on your building. I'd be concerned with the amount of acrylics, binders, etc. that were in the base, depends on the mfg.
When I review a site, I look at the substrates, if needed, I tell the Owner or Paint Contractor what I believe will be the best product for their location. Sometimes it won't be the paint mfg. selected due to the make up of the paint base.. yes, it matters. The quality of the chemicals can make a paint sheen that is flat look almost glossy, therefore the paint bounces back light, you don't have that what I call velvet look, almost looks like fabric on the substrate. The paint absorbs the light and the perception of color is richer.
Well this was a busy design week, 3 exterior color requests and more coming in. I'll be posting updated photos of some of the new colors soon! Along with their new colorful logo apparel & branding items to compliment their fresh new rebranded look!
It's all in the image, what does your company image look like? Are you attracting the demographic traffic you would like or are they driving by?
Color is a forgotten amenity to any business, use it wisely as the wrong color can affect the bottom line.
By Cooperstepp | April 19, 2011 at 08:53 AM EDT | No Comments
Oh my, it's amazing what you walk into when designing color.
Did you know that nearsighted and farsighted people experience color differently?
Nearsighted people focus light in front of the retina. Watching blue color is for them effortless. To perceive red color, they have to tense the ocular muscles. Farsighted people have a shorter eyeball and the F point is beyond the retina: watching a red color is for them effortless. To perceive blue color, they have to tense the ocular muscles. So mixing colors with very different wave lengths like, for instance, purple and yellow, will be demanding for the eye muscles and make nearsighted and farsighted people feel dizzy. From The Right Sensory Mix: Dian Derval, research & author.
Color can account for up to 85% of the reason people decide to buy.
By Cooperstepp | March 08, 2011 at 07:35 PM EST | No Comments
It's here! The requests for Color Design are flooding in, flowers are popping up & all of a sudden everyone wants color now, get to my location first! I need to spruce up and look better than the competition!
Well, Designing Exterior Color Palettes is not that easy. There is alot to consider when you design. I have to take everything into consideration, all the substrates any accent features, lighting, window coverings, window frames, shingles, concrete, landscape.
Depth of color, how will the color react on the substrate?
Ever go by a location and the color is so bright it hurts your eyes?
They didn't think of the depth of color or the base or sheen of paint. Some acrylics do not absorb the light, it bounces the light, therefore the color looks almost neon. Sometimes you might be selecting a color that should only be for inside use!
Ever stick your hand down a 5 gallon bucket and feel the grit on the bottom of the bucket?
The first time I did this, the manager of the paint store looked at me and asked, "What are you doing?" "I'm Feeling the mix of chemicals!" "Why?" "Because it makes a difference when you paint on the wall!" "Say what?"
There's so many factors in considering color. Don't be one of those that are known for..."What were they thinking?"
Color can actually draw traffic to your location or make them drive right by!
Think about this, ever drive to a restaurant and decide not to eat there due to their color or curb appeal? What do you think your customers are thinking of your location?
By Cooperstepp | January 31, 2011 at 04:25 PM EST | No Comments
Just when I thought it was okay to say, "Time to think of color!" Ice storms are predicted with severe cold weather blasts across the US are fore casted. But I'm thinking warm sunshine and spring are really right around the corner.
One of the most difficult processes is the exterior color design on any project. It's not something you can be taught in a school, sorry, just doesn't happen. You might learn about color and how it affects people or about the color wheel.
But to really know about color you need to learn about paint.
I was fortunate enough to have a couple great guys in the paint industry that took me under their wings and taught me alot about Paint, the formulation, what chemicals are needed to make a good paint base and substrate application. What were the drying effects when applied to some substrates, what happens when you paint grained, textures, smooth surfaces. What is delamination?
What colors retain color & what bases with unlaying tones will change colors with age? Oh there was so much to learn in my years working for one of the worlds largest paint mfg. Everyday I learned something new, loved working with the guys in the lab on paint mixtures. Loved experimenting with colorants & seeing the results of my color designs bring ROI to the owners.
Take a look at some of my exterior portfolio color designs.
