What is a modified version of a standard paint formula to account for slight variations in color?

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When mixing automotive refinishes, you start with a standard base formula, then you may need to adjust it to compensate for slight color differences. This adjusted version, called a variant formula, tweaks the amounts of colorants or adds small amounts of specific tinting to fine-tune the shade. The idea is that minor variations—such as pigment batch differences, environmental conditions, or substrate changes—can push the color off target, and a variant formula provides a precise, repeatable way to bring it back to match. This is different from the broad process of color matching (finding the target shade) or simply applying the base formula or standard tinting steps without adjustment.