Guys, I'm sorry to have given the wrong info.
I thought something like this was a no-brainer. Seems I'm spoiled by a zealous paint company (Sikkens) that gives me many options. I was under the impression the important paint manufacturers around the world would at least make sure they could make the most well known systems. Seems it's not.
When I go the the paint store and order Sikkens paint I can choose from dosens and dosens different colour systems from around the world, and the most used are certainly represented. I just thought that would be the same for other manufacturers in this age of information technology.
wow said:
BTW, my comments are not intended to endorse nor condemn any system. One could argue that this is another 'Imperial vs Metric' situation... and I'd have to 2agree.
Nah, it has nothing to do with a metric vs imperial thing. That's about a well thought-out, logical system versus a tradition carved out over centuries. [tongue]
Colour systems are generally not logical, it is just a list of colours. Anybody can make his own list, mix a colour and give it a name and a number. In that regard, RAL is one of the oldest systems that was developped by the Germans well before WW2. Because in systematic Germany, everything has to be written down in a book of rules, and that's why that RAL system is the leading standard there for industrial applications. And because Germany is such a big exporter of technology and machines, you'd think the RAL system was also exported. After all, stuff has to be touched up occasionally after use, so you'd think people would want the right colour for that. Guess I'm wrong.
By the way, RAL has nothing to do with a European standard. It is a German standard that is simply very well known and widely used. At least in this region.
wow said:
I only meant to take exception to the statement that "Any good paint store on the world should have these RAL colours programmed into their mixing computer".
Well, you're right to take exception if you can't find it. Again, my apologies for steering you in the wrong direction.
At least the RAL numbers are the right ones. I took them from the Tanos website.