If you've been involved in an accident or had some kind of paint damage to your car, there are a lot of choices ahead. New colors, matching original tones, wraps with a new world of patterns and any number of textures can be applied, but if money is an issue, it's time to do a lot of thinking before simply asking the auto body professionals for any ideas. To have some sort of idea of what you want, consider a few options that could tickle your creative desires and point you in a more inspired paint job direction.

The Hunt For Original Colors

Every vehicle manufacturer has their own designs and color science when it comes to creating something that really stands out. If your vehicle is a new model or using a color that the manufacturer uses for multiple generations, it's not difficult for an auto body repair professional to get the color or replicate it.

Unfortunately, colors can be discontinued. One strange effect of supply and demand is that colors taken for granted for years can suddenly spark a wild search for the right color, which drives up brand demand. The manufacturer may start pumping out the color again, but more than likely, you'll have to find a repair professional who can track down unknown supply stocks or create the color on their own.

It isn't impossible for an old color to be recreated by paint mixing professionals. These are brilliant, skilled scientists who mix it up with garages and auto shops, and unlike the rare hunt for classical painting colors, vehicle paint ratio information is usually well-documented by the manufacturer. Mixing historically-significant colors and innovative vehicle colors from ratios are both important, but as long as you're not driving a rare vehicle with a color used only once, you're in luck. The issue is time--and possibly extra cost--to find the missing color and produce enough to give you a fresh paint job.

A new, similar color is the easiest option and certainly not a bad idea, but make sure to have a painted surface demonstration first. Auto body professionals can paint a fender or other discarded car piece, then show you how the paint will look in different light situations.

Wraps Are Quick And Allow More Details

If you've seen cars driving around with different logos in brilliant colors, you're likely looking at a wrap. Wraps are cheap alternatives to paint, and are provided by auto body repair shops for a much faster fix to a scratched or chipped paint situation.

Wraps are vinyl coatings that are applied to the surface of the car, and can be printed with anything that you could send to a printer--local laws in mind, of course. From existing artwork to custom designs and with many different colors, wraps can allow a lot more expression than auto paint, with less cash.

Getting a wrap doesn't mean you have to be innovative. If you don't care about design, original colors or innovation, you can just get the color you want in a solid or gradient (gradually fading) wrap. Contact an auto paint professional like one from Select Collision Centers Inc to discuss your options.