How "easy" is paint matching in repairs?

[Pyrite]

I have a Camry Solara and have a small dent from a collision with a guy running into traffic and jaywalking (JAYRUNNING is more like it) but....anyhow.
I was able to work the small dent out somewhat with a spoon under the lip of the fender.
However, it has left a VERY small area of minor wrinkling. The paint is not broken or chipped, but the body shop says that they would have to sand and repaint to repair it.

Now I have HAD bad paint match in the past. I am reluctant to swap a couple of inches of what ANNOYS me for a couple FEET of "different" color. One body shop wants to ..."blend".... halfway across the hood. Another says they would stay more localized.
The color is that metallic "Cosmic Blue."

Any advice or experiences you care to share?

[Eye8Pussies]

bad news for you- with metallic colors, they will have to blend and there's basically no way around it....because the metallic flakes fall differently every time the paint is sprayed

chances are you will need to have it blended into the door as well

the bumper- not so much, since the lines are so different....but for something such as a fender- blend into the hood quite definately and possibly the door

[marc780]

blending is tough ever for small scratches, none of the duplicolor paint ever seems to come out right. As for the panel dent, you'd probably be best to repaint the whole panel (fender) and it may come out matching pretty well.

[toyomoho]

If the damage is very small and hard to notice, might leave it alone. Never saw a body shop that was able to match paint on something like this. They often need to repaint the fender and beyond. The end result can be worse then the original damage.

[Pyrite]

Thanks folks, for the advice. I will leave it alone. It is unnoticeable unless pointed out.
I'm just a picky nut that sees it EVERY time I look. Like a GREAT CANCER!
I'll just wait until....(hopefully not...butttt...) someone hits me and actually HAS insurance. GOOD insurance.



http://img526.imageshack.us/img526/8405/p1010225do9.jpg

[95WhiteCamry]

with that minimal thing, i say leave it as is.

[Pyrite]

That is exactly what I am going to do. I think what really ticks me off is my stupidity in making a minor "fix" myself. Had I not MESSED with it, Dent Magic could have used their process to fix it without repainting. It was MY bad to pull that dent out.
Grrrrrrrrr.