The invention relates to a method for colour recipe calculation for matt colour standards with the steps: A) experimentally determining reflection spectra R(exp) of the color standard, comprising a first reflection spectrum (SPIN) and a second reflection spectrum (SPEX), with an integrating sphere color measurement instrument, wherein said first reflection spectrum (SPIN) is obtained at (A1) d/8°—geometry with the specular component included, and said second reflection spectrum (SPEX) is obtained at (A2) d/8°—geometry with the specular component excluded; B1) calculating a recipe for the matt color standard based on the experimentally determined reflection spectrum R(exp) with the specular component included, which has been corrected for the specular component, or B2) comparing the experimentally determined reflection spectrum R(exp) with the specular component included, which has been corrected for the specular component, with reflection spectra associated to color recipes of a color recipe database for glossy color shades and identifying from said color recipe database a stored reflection spectrum which comes closest to the experimentally determined reflection spectrum R(exp) of the matt color standard, as well as the associated colour recipe; C) converting reflection spectra data of the experimentally determined reflection spectra (SPIN, SPEX) of the matt colour standard to gloss values, and D) converting the gloss values obtained to the amount of matting agent (MAA) with the assistance of previously prepared calibration curves for the available colorant system.