Can a body shop mix up any colour?

Reason i ask is my car is LA1V sand metallic, got some points that would need a touch up but the rest of the paint is good. Would i be able to get an exact match?

In theory yes but in practice not all bodyshops are the same. Almost all bodyshops will be able to obtain the "recipe" for the particular paint code of your car (and pretty much every other standard car colour) and mix the paint. This might not match though, due to various factors such as different batches of paint being different colours, or simply that paint fades over time. To combat this, and to solve situations where the paint code and recipe isn't known, SOME bodyshops will have a spectrometer which is an electronic device which attaches to the bodywork of the car, and accurately visually analyses the paint. But then, paint fades at different rates in different places of the car…..

Any bodyshop would be able to make up a paint, then spray some test cards and do a visual check of the accuracy of the match, so the spectrometer isn't 100% needed but saves time.

If its a metallic, then touching up and matching is more to do with the way the paint's applied and the lacquer, as well as the paint colour. A good bodyshop should be able to do this though.

Doubt very much if they could get an exact match but if they overlap into the next panel then laquer both you'd be pushed to see it.

If asked, most decent paint factors will mix up the colour to match your car to ensure perfect match.

markwon said

If asked, most decent paint factors will mix up the colour to match your car to ensure perfect match.

as per paul c this isn't the case so many variations alot depends on the colour and paint brands they use. i've taken panels and cars to paint suppliers 4 matching yellow is a good one! try n match that!!
but with dent master and chips away i wouldn't worry about obtaining any extra as small local reapirs r pretty good from these guys not so much they can match it they blend the repairs in very well.

Sorry, what I meant is that they would mix the paint till it matches the actual car rather than use a recipe. I've left panels with my paint factor and they've matched the colour 100% This is usually the best route as spectrometers can sometimes provide freaky results.