Abstract: A method of characterization of a coating on a surface such as a paint coating having metallic flakes distributed within such coating. Single and multi-angle models are utilized. The coating is characterized by measurements having components of light reflected by the metal flakes and attenuated on its exit route from the coating, of light scattered in the entering path of the beam as it travels through the coating, of light scattered by the reflected beam on its exit from the coating, of light scattered in the entering path then reflected by the metallic flakes and attenuated in the coating on exiting, and of light scattering in the exit path, both to the metallic flake and reflected by the flake and attenuated on its exit from the coating. Methods of color matching a coating having a metallic flake distribution within the coating are included using reflectance factors and tristimulus values and minimizing the sum of the squares of the deviation between samples.