PPG Launches Digital Shaping Program for Advanced Automotive Color Modeling

PPG announced the introduction of a digital styling program that enables automotive designers to achieve extraordinarily realistic three-dimensional modeling of automotive colors and effects on virtual vehicle designs and surfaces. The program features a proprietary "speed shape" technology developed by PPG that encompasses all complex forms, edges, curves and flat surfaces that could be found in any type of vehicle. The digital vehicle model developed by PPG is designed to depict the interaction of color, geometry and light to generate authentic renderings of a vehicle's surfaces, including wheels and interior components. In addition to the speed shape technology, the digital styling program will provide automotive original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) with full access to PPG's extensive digital color file library. Furthermore, it is fully compatible with industry-standard color creation software that enables OEM design teams to collaborate directly, remotely and in real time with PPG during the color design process. The program's launch marks the first step toward digitizing the entire color styling process for PPG customers. Federico Menta, Global Technical Director, Customer Development, Automotive OEM Coatings at PPG, stated, "During the pandemic, PPG recognized our customers' growing need for digital tools and technologies," and added, "Our industry-leading color specialists have already used the program to conduct color styling sessions with several major OEM design teams. Many of these customers believe our program offers an effective alternative to managing the color styling process in person. We believe it will increase customer proximity and create an opportunity for a collaborative color creation process." Beyond serving as a valid substitute for traditional in-person / in-studio color styling, the program can help OEMs realize significant cost savings. Rebecca Liebert, Vice President at PPG, stated, "The ability to integrate new color ideas directly into the customer design process enables our customers to gain time and cost from their color creation activities," and added, "There are other financial benefits associated with the program, including increased speed to market."