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How many of you have problems doing multiple items in basecoat/topcoat combinations, maybe all at the same time, maybe spread out over a couple of batches, maybe even different days or longer periods of time getting the same coloration without variations in shade? That really nice looking set (at least I thought) of Acura wheels I just did has a very subtle color change from light, to a tiny bit darker, to a tiny bit darker, to a tiny bit darker yet (No, it is NOT a bonded metallic gold). I didn't notice it when I was shooting the wheels (2 at a time btw), didn't notice it when they were laying on my shop floor under my pretty darned good lighting, didn't notice it when I was out in the sun taking pictures of them, didn't notice it in the back of my truck when the customer and I were checking them out, didn't notice it when we carried them into his place and laid them out on the floor to inspect them. That was yesterday. Today I get a call from the guy and he said he set them all side by side out in the sun and they didn't match, so now he wants them redone. So...if I redo them, they'll probably all be a different color too...or will they be a more consistant color since it will be gold over gold instead of gold over blasted aluminum? Is this what I have to expect when applying metallics and translucents? Is gold more prone to this differnce in shade, or are all metallics like that? Seems like the gold is the worst to me. I know I'm ranting, but I hate do-overs, and they looked so good to me I'm just bummed. Anyway, I plan on re-shooting just the faces of the 4 in the gold, and re-clearing the whole thing again. It better work, or I'll be giving him 4 free samples and not getting any more work from him. Rant over....for now. 
Here are the wheels in question.
Here are the wheels in question.
Problem is, he sells custom wheels and parts to tuner guys. This set are takeoffs from his own car that probably won't ever even be put back on a car. His exact comment to me was: "I said I didn't care what color of gold they were as long as they were all the same. If these had been for a customer of mine, I'd be f***ed." Quote, unquote. I just said "Fine, I'll be happy to try and re-shoot the face and try to get them all closer to the same color. Then he said "alright, but if thats as close as you can get them, we won't be having you powdercoat wheels." There ya go, and therein lies my dilema. Either I fix it, or no business. And he is one of the top custom retailers in our local area. I don't know whether to just stay away from golds or transparent colors, or stay away from wheels altogether. They seem to be a lot more trouble than they're worth so far.
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