Can you paint spots on a car?

Painting spots or designs on a car can add a fun and unique look to your vehicle. With some careful planning and effort, it is certainly possible for an amateur or hobbyist to paint spots, stripes, or more intricate designs by hand onto their own car. However, there are some important factors to consider first.

Prep work

Before painting any designs, you’ll need to make sure the car’s existing paint job is properly prepped. The car should be washed and dried thoroughly. Any flakes of old paint or debris need to be removed so the new paint adheres properly. Lightly sanding the areas to be painted with fine grit sandpaper can help the paint stick.

It’s also a good idea to mask off any areas you don’t want to get painted. Use painter’s tape and paper to cover windows, trim, lights, or other parts that should stay their original color. Carefully mask straight lines along any borders between colors.

Paint selection

Choose quality automotive paint in the colors you want. Acrylic enamel paints are a good choice for automotive use. Make sure the paint exactly matches or coordinates with the existing paint on the car. Paints designed specifically for auto use will be more durable, flexible, and fade-resistant than ordinary craft acrylics or spray paints.

Plan how many coats of paint you’ll need for good coverage. Often 2-3 medium coats allows the paint to fully adhere and provides even coverage without running or drips. Allow proper drying time between coats as recommended by the paint manufacturer, usually at least 24 hours.

Brushes

Use high-quality synthetic bristle brushes intended for auto painting. These will provide smooth and even coverage. Foam paint brushes typically don’t work as well for getting nice solid lines. Artist’s brushes are also too soft and absorb too much paint. A brush set with a range of widths from small detail brushes to wider brushes will allow you to paint different size spots and designs.

Cleaning and degreasing

Before painting, the car should be washed thoroughly with soap and water. A further degreasing step helps the paint bond best. Wipe down all areas to be painted using a grease and wax remover product. Allow this to dry completely.

Remove accessories

It’s best to remove any trim pieces, mirrors, door handles, antenna, spoilers or other accessories from the area being painted. This protects them from overspray and allows you to paint right up to the edge of the car body without taping off these items.

Apply primer

For best results, apply a layer of primer over the factory paint before painting your designs. Sandable primer is preferred, allowing you to smooth the surface before applying your color coats. Primer promotes good adhesion and provides a consistent base for the new paint.

Practice first

Trying a test sample on paper, cardboard or other scrap material can help you get a feel for the paint and your planned design before starting on the car. Check how the paint flows and blends from the different width brushes. Practice any stripes, curves or special techniques.

Painting techniques

Use long smooth brush strokes and a steady hand to get nice clean outlines of spots and designs. Load the brush evenly and avoid too much paint on the brush which can cause drips. Gently feather out the ends of lines to blend nicely.

Work from the edges in toward the center when filling in larger areas of color. Overlap strokes slightly to avoid visible brush marks. Work in sections and maintain a wet edge where new paint meets paint that is still drying.

Fixing mistakes

If you make a small mistake, let the paint dry completely, then carefully sand the area to smooth the surface for repainting. Larger flawed areas may need to be primed and painted again. Work slowly and double check lines and patterns as you go to avoid mistakes.

Clear coat

Once your design is complete, allow the paint to dry at least 24-48 hours, then apply 1-2 coats of high quality automotive clear coat. This helps protect the painted design from sun, weather and scratches. Allow proper dry time between clear coat layers as well.

Curing time

The paint will take 1-2 weeks to fully cure and harden. Avoid washing or waxing during this time. Don’t place car covers over freshly painted areas or they may stick. Carefully wash by hand if needed.

Maintenance

Hand painted designs will require some additional care and maintenance. When washing, use a gentler soap formula and a very soft wash sponge or microfiber mitt. Avoid abrasive polishes or rubbing compounds over painted areas.

Difficulty painting certain areas

Painting over contoured parts of the car or areas with trim pieces near the paint lines can be very challenging. These include bumpers, mirrors, curvy body panels, and lights. Extra masking and taping is required here. Removing parts entirely is best if possible.

Potential paint damage

Painting over factory paint runs the risk of damaging the original finish, so proceed carefully. Poor prep, bad masking lines, drips, solvents, and tape residue can all degrade the underlying paint. Orange peel or clear coat damage might be revealed.

Imperfect results

Getting perfectly smooth, professional looking results by hand painting as an amateur is extremely difficult. Brush marks, uneven color, drips, poor masking lines and bleed under tape are common frustrations. Properly prepping and using high quality tools and paints helps minimize these issues.

Reasons to have a professional do the work

To achieve flawless results with intricate designs, have an experienced auto paint shop complete the work for you. They have proper equipment, materials, and environment, as well as the necessary painting skills. This also avoids potential DIY mistakes that could damage your car’s factory finish.

Conclusion

Painting custom spots and designs on your car can certainly be done at home if you’re up for the challenge, have artistic skill, and take the proper steps. Ensure the surface is prepped properly, use automotive quality paints and tools, work slowly and carefully, and apply clear coat for protection. However, for anything complex or mission critical, seek professional auto paint services to ensure perfect results and avoid damaging your car’s existing finish.

Prep Work Steps	Supplies Needed
Wash and dry the car thoroughly	Quality car wash soap
Remove any old paint flakes or debris	Microfiber cloths and towels
Lightly sand paint with fine grit paper	Sandpaper – 400-600 grit
Mask off any unpainted areas	Painter’s tape
Wipe all areas with grease/wax remover	Grease and wax remover
Remove accessories from the area if possible	Trim removal tools
Apply primer over factory paint	Sandable primer

Painting Tips	Common Mistakes to Avoid
Use long, smooth brush strokes	Overloading paint on the brush
Work from the edges inward	Not allowing proper dry time between coats
Maintain a wet edge as you paint	Drips from working too slowly
Feather out ends of lines	Brush marks from improper technique
Carefully double check lines and patterns	Paint bleeding under masking tape
Apply multiple medium coats	Rushing the job and splattering paint

Pros of Painting Yourself	Cons of Painting Yourself
Less expensive than professional paint job	Hard to achieve flawless, professional looking results
Add personal touch to your car	Potential damage to factory paint
Fun DIY project	Very challenging and labor intensive
Customize your car uniquely	Imperfections like brush marks more likely
Express your creativity and artistry	Tape lines may bleed and blur
More control over the designs	Drips, uneven finish, and other flaws

Protecting Hand Painted Finishes on Cars

Once you’ve managed to hand paint a custom design successfully on your car, you’ll want to take steps to protect and maintain it properly:

Apply Clear Coat

Use a high quality automotive grade clear coat over your painted design. This protects from sun exposure, weathering, and scratches. Allow to cure completely.

Careful Washing

Use a very soft wash sponge or microfiber mitt when washing your car. Avoid abrasive polishes or rubbing compounds. Stick to car wash soaps made for freshly painted cars.

No Car Covers

Don’t place tight fitting car covers over a freshly painted design, as they may stick and cause damage when removed.

Touch Up Flaws

Inspect for any chips, scratches or flaws in the paint and carefully touch up these areas using touch up paint pens or brushes.

Waxing

After the paint has fully cured, apply wax by hand using a non-abrasive pure carnauba wax to protect the finish.

Garage Storage

Park your custom painted car in the garage as much as possible to avoid sun exposure, bird droppings, or tree sap damage.

Other Tips and Considerations for Painting a Car

If you decide to paint designs, spots or graphics on your car by hand, keep these other tips in mind:

• Work in a clean, dust-free environment like a garage.
• Proper ventilation is critical to avoid inhaling toxic paint fumes.
• Wear protective equipment like a respirator mask, gloves and eyewear.
• Carefully follow all safety directions for the paint products being used.
• Have helpers for taping off or removing parts – it’s difficult working alone!
• Use a paint gun for very large solid color areas like hoods or roofs.
• Start with simpler spots or stripes to get experience before complex designs.
• Practice your planned designs first on scrap materials to perfect techniques.
• Consider special paints like pearls, candies, chameleons for cool effects.
• Metallic paints show imperfections more easily.
• Blending colors together takes skill. Layer translucents over solids.
• Don’t use a clear coat between color layers or they won’t blend smoothly.

With preparation, dedication, proper materials and some natural artistic skill, painting custom designs on your car can be an incredibly rewarding, cost-effective way to customize your ride. Take all necessary steps to ensure you don’t damage the existing factory paint in the process. Seek professional help if you need perfection. Either way, hit the road in style with a car that’s uniquely yours!