Now that you've read the instructions for general use, we have a few tips.

Make sure the surface area is CLEAN and DRY!

Do not forget the clear coat.

Make sure coats are completely dry before reapplying.

Give the art of blending color a try. It tends to work better that way. That's how body shops do it.

Sometimes a little rubbing compound can lighten up the scratch. General rule: if you can feel the scratch with your fingernail it won't come out with compound. Sometimes if it is only a light clear coat scratch, you can get away with cleaning inside the scratch and applying only clear coat. This trick works for us sometimes on light colors and light silvers.

Bug Marks. In Louisiana and many other states we have bug problems. When driving down the interstate bugs tend to splatter on the hood and other spots on your vehicle. Our prep solvent will eat off bug residue. Certain bugs contain an acid of some kind and can slowly eat away at your paint finish in little specks. Once this happens there is no special cure; it then needs to be touched up or you can expect rust to follow.  Black or colored wax with the little chip stick comes off in the first wash if the rain hasn't gotten to it first. We have worked at a solution for this and realized that applying paint and then coming back and lightly wiping it with a solvent tends to work the best.  This trick works great on stubborn black cars.

I always use primer when bare metal or plastic is exposed. It is designed for optimal adhesion.

If metal is exposed you don't want rust to haunt you later. Touching up a car is great for the reduction of rust later.

For a really small application try using a toothpick.

Some scratches look better if you apply the basecoat and let it dry completely. Then lightly solvent wipe the scratch (don't over do it because you can damage the finish), leaving color inside the scratch only. Sometimes you have to do this a couple times. then go over it with the clear coat. This application method is not an easy one so practice makes perfect before you do this to you car. Do not use a harsh chemical like lacquer thinner for a solvent wipe. Use something less aggressive like MEK or Acetone available at a hardware store. Sometimes this method is better left to the pro's. (The result of the successful application is still noticeable, but rather than an obvious white scratch on a colored car. You have a green scratch on a green car, black on black, etc. When you take a few steps away the scratch seems to fade away.

Silver. This is a difficult task to get great results. The above method works great, but can greatly affect  the metallic.  It may darken and change color. If this happens remove all color and try again.

Spray Paint Cans

Do not avoid the directions section. You may want to read over right before application. No one wants to paint their car twice. We promise it is much easier the first time.

Spray the test panel first with both base coat color and clear coat using even coats. This lets you see exactly what the paint will look like. It makes great practice. It will let you know exactly distance, speed, and steadiness. A test panel can be made from anything paper with gloss (glossy paper is less likely to absorb the solvent that allows the metallic to flow) or metal and taped to a paint stick. We often provide you with one whenever possible.

Every coat should overlap the one before by one half. Start at the beginning pass, if it is near the tape line, then the center of the spray should be on the tape line. The next pass should be spraying the edge of the tape line and inches away from it. Nice even overlapping coats. Not too heavy because this may cause tiger striping, and not to light for splotches. It's almost like cutting grass with the exception of overlapping.

Auto paint can not be used on humid days, at night, or when rain has been present. It can make the paint and clear coat blush. Sometimes you can heat it with a hairdryer and that may bring back the gloss. This is an old body shop trick that can work if the paint has not dried.

Be aware of overspray. It can be difficult to remove with compound and a high speed buffer. Also overspray clay may be available at a parts store. Overspray can be removed from glass with 000 or 0000 steel wool.

When mask taping hold one piece down on the surface, pull out tape 1-2 feet long with the other hand and use a light pulling pressure to guide it. Then press down. This is easier than inches at a time and goes on much straighter and cleaner too. A premium tape will not leave a tape residue behind, less expensive tape will. If tape is left on too long it may be difficult to remove the residue. This only gets worse when wet and left in the sun to dry.

When using a tack rag, unfold it and open it up all the way, then lightly crumple it up. This gently grabs more dirt and dust.