Well, halving, doubling, cutting formulas is interesting. Personally, I don't recommend it and I don't do it. But I am able to and would rather just find the color I'm looking for. I can search thru many brands and have it mixed in whatever brand is preferred to paint with.

However, some people don't have access to 30 different brands of paint. They may have just the Ben Moore store in town or the Wal-Mart to work with. Getting creative with those palettes is all they have to work with. Other people seem to enjoy it. They create their own custom color in a way. Even though Restrained Gold from SW doesn't look the same in every house, it still can be fun to have the formula shot at just 75% so you have an original, semi-custom color that is unique.

Monkeying with the formulas is risky. You don't really know what you're going to end up with and once the can is mixed, usually you own it.

Thanks, my husband has 30 years experience mixing artist's quality paint, so I'm not worried about the risk. I was simply asking what is it and why, but I appreciate your concern. :)

Yeah, I have to agree with funcolors. I prefer to just find the color I like and get on with it. But several friends have done the 25% formula or whatever, and it has worked out well for them.

Ivette

I play with formulas some - Found out that the color I wanted looked better mixed at 125%, so I did the ceiling at 75%. The niches in the same room were done at 50%. (Yes, they love me at Dunn-Edwards!) By changing the saturation of the same paint formula, I know they will all coordinate in my open floorplan.

I know it's not for everyone, but it works for me.

Hello all!
There's good ideas here! We often get requests to mix "altered" color/formula strengths. Like funcolors said, it's just a guess what you get if I tint something "30% lighter", and yes you own it! At least I have the option to go to the full-strength formula...
>>> SOME stores' tinting equipment/computers might not be able to do it. Just depends on their programs. Our C2 tinter has steps of 25% from standard formulas. Some Datacolor machines use increments of 5%, but some tinters can't shave the formulas down small enough.
>>> The choice of doing the same color both x% lighter or darker on the same room is a nice idea! If you want SUBTLE contrast it's an obvious route!
Thanks,
Faron