Started with Tamiya paints.
The first public version used 189 Tamiya colors to find nearby paint candidates from an image color.
299 MODEL WORKS / JOURNAL 038 ARTICLES / JUN–SEP 2026
WEB APP / PAINT / REFERENCE DATABASE
299 Paint Finder
A free browser-based reference tool for scale modelers. Find paint candidates from images, compare mixing candidates, or search by paint name, use, FS / RLM / RAL standards, legacy paints, kit references, and more. The development posts linked below are in Japanese.
PAINTS2,296
MAKERS7
KITS45
REFERENCES953
01 / GROWTH
From “Which paint is closest?” to a practical model-paint reference.
FROM TOOL TO ARCHIVEExpanded to Japanese makers.
GSI Creos and Gaianotes were added together with filters, history, keep-list features, and a cleaner data workflow.
Moved beyond color matching.
Vallejo and AMMO expanded the database while searches by use, standards, legacy numbers, and kit names were added.
Added AK Interactive.
3GEN, Real Colors, and Xtreme Metal widened the searchable range and clarified the evidence shown with results.
Added Japanese / English use.
English interface labels, paint names, and search were added so the reference can be used more easily outside Japan.
The feature set grew from real modeling work rather than from a fixed specification. Color matching remains one entry point; mixing candidates and reference searches provide other ways to reach useful paints.
02 / SEARCH
Three ways in: near color, mixing, and reference search.
CURRENT FUNCTIONSFind paints close to a color.
Pick a color from a photo, illustration, box art, or reference image and rank registered paints by similarity. Narrow results by maker, series, paint type, finish, and color-difference threshold.
Compare mixing candidates.
Use a selected target color to compare practical mixing candidates within supported paint groups and see whether a single base paint or a simple mix is the closer option.
Search by use or reference.
Search across paint names, color standards such as FS / RLM / RAL, legacy product numbers, kit names, and use-related terms while keeping source and confidence information distinct.
03 / MILESTONES
Read the major development milestones in release order.
8 ARTICLES01↗02↗03↗04↗05↗06↗07↗08↗
FIRST RELEASE — 189 PAINTS
Started with Tamiya colors and basic image-to-paint matching.
v0.2.6 — THREE JAPANESE MAKERS
Expanded to 746 colors and added filters, history, and a more maintainable data structure.
v0.2.8 — VALLEJO
Added Vallejo and expanded the searchable overseas paint range.
v0.2.9 — AMMO
Added AMMO paints and continued expanding the reference database.
v0.5.1 — BEYOND COLOR MATCHING
Added searches by use, standards, legacy codes, and kit references.
v0.6.3 — AK INTERACTIVE
Added AK 3GEN, Real Colors, and Xtreme Metal, bringing the database to 2,194 colors.
v0.6.4 — ENGLISH UI & SEARCH
Added Japanese / English switching, English paint names, and English search.
v0.6.5 — FINISHER’S / 2,296 COLORS
Added Finisher’s and expanded the current public reference set to 2,296 colors across seven makers.
04 / LIMITS
Useful reference, without pretending to be measured truth.
REFERENCE VALUESSearch results are a starting pointfor narrowing the candidates.
COLOR DATA
Reference values are derived from sources such as manufacturers’ official digital charts and product images. They are not measurements of every real painted sample.
REAL FINISH
Primer, thinning, film thickness, gloss, lighting, photography, and monitor settings can all change the apparent color.
EVIDENCE
Legacy numbers, cross-maker equivalents, and inferred uses are kept separate from current official information wherever possible.
CURRENT TOOL
Use Paint Finderas a practical starting point.
COLOR
Start from a selected image color and compare nearby registered paints.
MIXING
Compare practical mixing candidates without forcing a mix when a single paint is already closer.
REFERENCE
Search by use, name, standards, legacy numbers, and kit-related information.