How to Blend Paint
Critical Limitation: Spray Application Only
Please note, you cannot blend with the paint pen or touch up brush. Brushed on paint will normally dry darker than the surrounding paint. The clearcoat makes it even darker. Only very small areas (less than the size of a pencil eraser) are suitable for the paint pen or touch up brush (unless you are very skilled).
Blending requires spray application for proper results.
Why Paint Blending is Essential for Metallic Colors
Metallic paints should be blended into the existing paint. There are many factors which influence the color of metallic paint. It is impossible to apply the new spray paint exactly like the original finish, even with professional equipment.
Factors That Affect Metallic Paint Color
Several factors influence the final color appearance:
- The angle of metallic flakes
- The pressure of the spray equipment
- The temperature
- The humidity
- The distance between the spray equipment and the surface
Each time a vehicle is sprayed, one or all of these conditions will be different, resulting in a slightly different color. So, how can you ever exactly match metallic paint? You can't - and that is why you must blend the paint. Professional body shops have been doing this for years and so can you.
Step 1: Prepare the Blending Area
First, make sure you have covered the repaired area thoroughly. Make sure you have scuffed the paint up to two feet around the repaired area. This ensures proper adhesion of the blended paint.
Step 2: Apply Graduated Paint Coats
Now, starting from the edge of the repaired area, gradually spray less and less paint until you are just applying a mist coat approximately one foot all around the repaired area.
The Blending Technique
The idea here is to gradually apply less and less paint so that as your eye moves from the original paint to the repaired area, you can't really tell where the original paint stops and the repaired area begins.
This will take some practice, but when done properly, you will have an excellent repair.
Key Concept: Think of blending as creating a fade or gradient from full paint coverage in the repair area to a barely-there mist at the edges. The transition should be so gradual that it's invisible to the eye.
Step 3: Apply Clearcoat Over Blended Area
Let the paint dry thoroughly before applying clearcoat. Apply the clearcoat over the entire area going out about a foot past the edge of the mist coat.
Important Clearcoat Guidelines
- Apply full coats of the clearcoat (don't mist it at the edges)
- For best results, take the clearcoat right to the edge of the panel you are repairing
- This prevents visible lines or texture differences
Using Clearcoat Blender
Note: These blender instructions only apply when you are spraying paint and are NOT for the paint pen or brush cap bottle.
Our clearcoat blender is used to blend the freshly applied clearcoat and melt it into the existing finish. This will give your paint repair a professional look and remove the clearcoat paint edge.
How to Apply Clearcoat Blender
- After you have applied the clearcoat and the clearcoat is still wet, spray the blender around the edge of the repair
- You are spraying either side of the clearcoat edge right into the existing paint
- The blender will start to "melt" the paint edges into the surrounding paint
- Once it is dry, you can polish with the rubbing compound (cutting creme)
Step 5: Polish for Final Finish
After the clearcoat and blender have dried completely, use rubbing compound (cutting creme) with a clean soft cotton cloth to polish the area to a high gloss that matches the surrounding finish.
Challenging Colors: Special Considerations
Gold and Difficult Metallic Colors
Some metallic colors, such as gold, can be quite frustrating. In collision shops, repairs often end up requiring painting the entire SIDE of the vehicle, hood area, etc.
Gold fades rapidly and is a very difficult color to match even by trained professionals. Be prepared for the possibility that difficult colors may require larger repair areas to achieve acceptable blending results.
Key Success Factors for Paint Blending
- Practice your technique - Blending takes skill to master
- Use spray application only - Pens and brushes cannot be blended effectively
- Prepare a large area - Scuff 2 feet around repair, mist coat 1 foot around
- Create gradual transitions - The key is invisible color changes
- Apply full clearcoat - Don't mist clearcoat edges
- Extend to panel edges when possible - This eliminates visible lines
- Use blender for professional results - Melts edges seamlessly
- Be realistic about difficult colors - Some require larger repair areas
