The institute said the iPhone app allows do-it-yourselfers and professional painters to correct old-paint problems before picking up a brush or roller. Debbie Zimmer, the institute’s paint and color expert, said that by simply gliding across the images or scrolling through the paint problem list, the paint user “can instantly learn what steps to take to ensure a long-lasting quality paint job, both inside and out.

    The institute said the iPhone app allows the user to:

    * see actual images of paint or surface problems;

    * identify interior and exterior paint problems with a simple image view; and

    * learn how to solve and prevent paint or surface problems from reoccurring.

    The Paint Quality Institute was formed by Rohm and Haas Company (now a wholly owned subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company) in 1989 to offer education to paint buyers on the advantages of using high-quality interior and exterior paints and coatings. The institute also provides information on color trends and decorating with paint through a variety of vehicles, including television appearances, newspaper and magazine articles, and instructional literature.