Does paint sheen make a HUGE difference in the way a color comes out from a sample can vs. a gallon?

Question

After weeks of paint samples, we finally picked one out. The sample was in a satin finish and was from Lowe's. The actual color was from their signature colors selection, which says you need the VALSPAR signature color paint, not their ULTRA PREMIUM. Anyway, I went to Lowe's with the little sample can and asked for a gallon of the color I had in a FLAT ultra premium. To make a long story short, NOTHING they mixed, either in the ULTRA PREMIUM or SIGNATURE COLOR paint matched the color on my wall in a flat finish. I expected a slight variance in color, but it's WAY OFF!

1. Can I just take the sample I have with the formula to ANY paint store or are they propietary to each store/brand of paint?

2. Would a flat REALLY make that big of a difference? The color from the sample is a nice light tan/fleshy beige. The color from the can is almost grey-green beige?

3. Is something else wrong? Not tinting right? Not using right formula?

What can I do to get the color right?

Answer 1

They mix a large batch (the same formula) for several cans.  When I pick out paint, I try to get the same batch number.  Different batch numbers of the same paint vary in color a tiny bit.  You can not recreate the same formula twice.

Also, you can not mix the same color in different cans.  You can not recreate the same paint mix twice.

If you need two cans for the last coat, try to mix the two together.  Otherwise, there will be a tiny difference.

If you keep you can for touch up, you will find that it does not match one year later.  This is probably because the paint on the wall is dirtier.

Answer 2

the sheen isn't gonna change the color to the point that it's different unless it's being matched to another wall it sounds like lowes mixed it wrong any color u want can be made virtually in any brand and sheen so if u still have the sample u liked  bring it to a decent paint company ben moore, pittsburg, sh williams and they will match i just painted a house that had old vinyl shutters homeowner wanted paint of trim to match the faded shutters took one off brought it to sh williams and the matched it perfect  good luck and if ur goin with a flat use ben morre arura it flat washable

Answer 3

The sheen will make a small difference by the way light hits it, but not like that.  Sounds like they mixed it wrong but they probably have a computer that does it.  What color does the label say it is?

A real paint store like Sherwin Williams can match a color pretty well depending on who does it.  Most stores have at least one guy that is good enough at it.  

You probably shouldn't buy paint at lowes IMO.  But check and see if they'll fix it or get your money back at least.

Answer 4

The sheen will affect the paint color but not to such a large degree. A higher the sheen, the lighter the color will look on the wall. Also, things like daylight (and varying degrees of daylight), light bulb light, etc. will also affect the appearance of the color. One thing to do would be to take some paint from the can and put it on the color chip and let it dry and see how close it comes to matching. If it is way off, then I would take it back to the store and let them know.

Once you get the color right, if you know you will need two gallons or more to pain the room, get yourself a five gallon bucket and pour the paint from all the cans into the bucket and mix together and then pour it back into the cans. This is what they call "boxing" the paint. There may be slight color differences between cans so if you finish with one gallon in the middle of the wall and pick up with the next one, you may notice the difference.

Answer 5

LOWES???  Go to a real paint store...... Sh. Williams.  They may be in a bad mood,  but you'll usually get it right the first time.  And yes,  flat paints are almost always a different shade from shell, semi gloss or gloss.  My advice,  use a satin or egg shell and if you sample,  use the same finish!!!  DUH!