When repainting your car, you’ll probably find that the paint needs to be blended. While blending isn’t especially difficult, getting it right can be tricky. A good blend will trick the viewer’s eye into believing that the color is an exact match, even when it isn’t.

Blending requires planning ahead

Plan ahead. Before you start painting, save yourself work by deciding which panels will need to be prepped for blending. On the side panels of your car, simply blend to the center of the adjacent panels. Horizontal panels (on the hood or the trunk lid), require blending over a crown in the nearest panel since light reflects at different angels on a crown.

Blending recommendations

Were recommend following two special blending techniques. Both are fast and easy. Neither technique takes extra flash time or affects your productivity, but once you’ve practiced following these directions, you’ll be rewarded with much better results.

Basecoat Blending – Option 1

• Reduce your basecoat using a 1:1 ratio with Gleam Automotive Finish Base Coat Reducers.
• As you begin blending, spray two to three coat, extending out past the repair area.

Note: Lower air pressure usually helps the paint blend better.

Basecoat Blending – Option ll

• Prepare a blender add by mixing Gleam Automotive Finish Base Coat Blender GLMA500QT with Gleam Automotive Finish Base Coat Reducers at a mix ratio of 1:1.
• Be sure to reduce your basecoat using a 1:1 ratio with Gleam Automotive Finish Base Coat Reducers.
• Your spray should conceal the repair area.
• Add equal amounts of this prepared “blender add” (making sure to mix it well) to your remaining reduced paint, spraying two or three coats out past the repair area.
  
  

7 more tips for blending success

1. Your spraying technique does affect your results.
2. Tough blends require a narrow fan with a reduced airflow. You want the atomized air pressure to be just high enough to provide sufficient breakup.
3. Gravity and HVLP equipment usually performs better than siphon equipment.
4. You can achieve optimum results by using small fluid tips (1.5 mm or smaller) set to the lowest air pressure that still provides good atomization.
5. Be sure you spray immediately after loading the gun. Do not allow the paint to settle in the gun cup.
6. Always mix ready-to-spray paint thoroughly, especially high metallics and pearls.
7. Re-stir paints between coats if necessary.

Following these tips will help you achieve a perfect paint match every time.