AUT-AUX9352 - Auto Restoration: Custom Automotive Paint

Course Description

This course is perfect for DIY enthusiasts who want to add personality and creativity to their restoration projects. Students explore the roots of custom car culture while learning how to safely use specialty paints and tools in a home shop environment. Through hands-on practice, hobbyists build skills in surface prep, advanced masking, and graphic layout for designs like flames, stripes, and fades.

Learners experiment with pearls, metallics, candies, and airbrushing techniques to develop unique effects that stand out at car shows. The course also covers finishing methods—multi-layer clearcoats, sanding, and polishing—to achieve deep, glossy results. A final custom panel project allows each student to bring their own creative vision to life and gain the confidence to personalize full restorations in the future.

***IN ORDER TO SIGN UP FOR THIS COURSE, YOU MUST SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE AUT-AUX9340 AND AUT-AUX9350 PRIOR TO REGISTRATION ***

Course Outline

• Unit 1: Introduction to Custom Paint
  • History of custom automotive paint (pinstriping, hot rod culture, lowrider art)
  • Differences between production refinishing and custom painting
  • Safety considerations with specialty paints and materials
     
• Unit 2: Surface Prep for Custom Work
  • Additional prep needs for custom finishes (sanding sequences, base preparation)
  • Masking techniques: soft vs. hard lines, fine-line tape, templates
  • Using guide coats for graphic layout
     
• Unit 3: Color Theory & Custom Effects
  • Advanced color theory: layering, transparency, pearls, metallics
  • Tri-coats, candies, and color-shifting paints
  • How lighting affects finish appearance
  • Spray pearls, metallics, and candy coats on test panels
  • Compare effects under different lighting conditions
     
• Unit 4: Graphics & Layout
  • Planning and sketching designs (flames, tribal, fades, racing stripes)
  • Transfer methods: freehand, stencils, plotter-cut vinyl
  • Masking for multi-layer graphics
     
• Unit 5: Airbrushing Techniques
  • Airbrush equipment types and setup
  • Freehand vs. stencil airbrushing
  • Shading, highlights, textures, and special effects
     
• Unit 6: Special Effects & Finishes
  • Ghosting, marbleizing, lace, and metal flake techniques
  • Matte, satin, and gloss contrasts
  • Special clear coats: tinted clears, frosted finishes
     
• Unit 7: Finishing & Correction
  • Multilayer clear coating for depth
  • Sanding and buffing complex finishes
  • Protecting custom work (PPF, ceramic coatings, waxes)
     
• Unit 8: Capstone Project
  • Design and execute a complete custom finish (example: flame panel, mural panel, or multi-tone hood section)
  • Document process with sketches, masking stages, and final inspection

Learner Outcomes

1. Identify and apply different specialty paints, finishes, and custom effects.
2. Prepare, mask, and layer paint for advanced multi-stage custom graphics.
3. Operate an airbrush to create shading, highlights, and freehand artwork.
4. Apply pearls, candies, metallics, flakes, and ghosting effects with control.
5. Perform final sanding, buffing, and correction on complex finishes.
6. Design and complete a professional-level custom paint project suitable for a portfolio.