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My paint looks blue, not black

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My paint looks blue, not black

Explaining the blue cast of waterborne paint when wet. Don't worry, it dries to the correct color

Last updated on 25 Mar, 2026

There is an unusual characteristic of certain waterborne paints when wet. They can have a blueish tint to them when viewed in the bottle, or when first applied to a test card, or your car, and they are still wet. They can appear a little bluish in their liquid state due to the unevaporated solvents in the paint.

This effect is especially true for black colors, like Harley Davidson Vivid Black. But it is also evident for silvers and other colors.

However, assuming the color you ordered and received is the correct color for your car, this paint will dry in about 10 minutes to the exact match of your color. 

If you received a bottle of paint that looks too blue, don't be alarmed; the first thing to do is to paint a bit on the test card, let it dry, then paint another coat or two, let it dry, and then clear coat the test swatch. The color match isn't going to be final until the clear coat is applied.

Next, hold that painted test card next to your car's factory finish to determine the match. Unless there is a problem with the formula (very unlikely), or your car has faded, the color will match.

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