In exterior architectural coatings, IR-reflective black pigments achieved substantially higher solar reflectance than conventional carbon black pigments at comparable visible appearance. However, the study also highlighted an important limitation: coating performance cannot be determined from pigment chemistry alone. At the same time, the simulations demonstrate why coating performance must be assessed in context. This would enable formulators and building professionals to assess thermal performance under application-specific rather than generic conditions. OutlookSolar reflectance is an essential coating property, but it is only the starting point for understanding thermal performance.