Method of blending paint and spot painting

A process for preparing paint comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a base coat reducer,
• (b) providing a first color imparting component, and mixing the base coat reducer with the first color imparting component to obtain a first reduced component;
• (c) providing a second color imparting component and mixing the base coat reducer with the second color imparting component to obtain a second reduced component;
• (d) mixing a portion of the first reduced component with a portion of the second reduced component to obtain a test base coat paint;
• (e) testing the test base coat paint by a series of substeps comprising:
• (I) applying the test base coat paint onto a surface and allowing it to dry to obtain a painted surface;
• (II) temporarily simulating the appearance of a clear coat by applying to the painted surface a volatile lustrous liquid which remains wet for about ten seconds, provides a simulated clear coated painted surface and does not permanently modify the painted surface upon evaporation;
• and (III) comparing the color of the temporarily simulated clear coated painted surface with the color of an existing finish;
• (f) if the simulated coated painted surface does not match the existing finish, adding a further portion of either the first reduced component or second reduced component to the test base coat paint to obtain a varied test base coat paint, and testing the varied test base coat paint as in step (e);
• and
• (g) repeating step (f) until the simulated coated painted surface matches the existing finish when tested as in step (e).