Topic: why brown looks green?

[guitarkev66]

I am just wondering why my 1971 CB750 candy garnet brown looks green? the side covers look more brown the headlight bezel looks green the sides of the tank looks brown and the top of the paint looks green.  If I didn't know better I would have figured the paint job some backyard job!!!

[bender01]

Lets see it! pics.

[Old Scrambler]

The original candy paint requires a contrast primer or under-coat to give the top-coat more depth and brightness. Royal blue sprayed over a very bright white or bright silver is very different from the same blue sprayed over dull gray.

[MCRider]

The candy colors all have a certain undercoat then a more translucent "candy" top coat. The 2 pigments together make the final color. I think the candy brown has a red base coat and greenish topcoat. When it starts to fade as all candies will in the sun. You see what you see.

It may be a green base with red on top. And I may not have the details correct, but I'm close I think.

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_colors_make_brown

[TwoTired]

Yes, the red candy pigment fades in sunlight.  Red + green = brown.

All the old red tanks faded to silver, which was/is the underbase for candy apple red.

I have an old Honda that was maroon when new.  Had a red candy overcoat originally.  The red went away leaving the just the brown rather lifeless base color.

Cheers,

[guitarkev66]

Thanks for the knowledge!!!

[Kevin400F]

Attached is a pic of my '76 Candy Garnet Brown CB550.  The tank top has faded completely to the nice metallic green basecoat.

Kevin in TX

[wildcatmahone]

I have seen a handful of those brown 550's and they ALL look like that!

[ekpent]

Yep,yours is not the first. I have two Garnett brown 71's.one must have been in the sun a lot as it has faded badly and the other I got from the original owner was better cared for,kept inside and has no fade.Sun is evil on candy,Flake Orange gets hit hard also.

[wildcatmahone]

Holy #$%* that's quite a stable you got there!

[ekpent]

More in the backroom 

[Kevin D]

Mine usually stayed in the garage but it didn't fare too well. I knew it was past time for the repaint when a guy asked me about my green bike. Heres the before and after. the back of the old headlight shell matches the new paint very well.