Base coat advice

[Jmoore12]

I have this canopy to paint. I am going to keep the windscreen black with a few modifications, I got my local sign shop to cut me some lettering mask and would like to add a drop shadow and possibly some flames in the lettering. What works for a drop shadow on black? The main colors will be Limetime Pearl, Black and green candy flames. Should I just go with a highlight around the lettering like I saw on ABD's Icon helmet?
http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc243/JustinMoore12/100_0117.jpg

Also, it looks like it has been cleared. Could I sand the entire canopy with say 800 to remove gloss and a couple highs around the windscreen (as long as I went light of course) and use the existing white, which seems very solid as a base? Or should I recoat.
Thanks in advance guys, sorry I havent been around been real busy.

[mappy41]

Had to search for the icon helmet first to get an idea on how it looks. I think the white highlights is the best way to make something pop out over black.

The canopy looks like its fiberglass so they might have used a white gel coat then painted the windscreen black (but some canopies are painted white over a white gel coat). Other canopies are cleared while others are not. An indication that its not cleared is that you can really feel the masking line between the black and white. If its cleared, then sanding it with 800 grit will work just fine. If thats a T-rex 450 canopy then its a good solid base to work on. If its another brand of aftermarket canopy, then I wouldn't trust the base paint. I'll sand down all the paint down to the gel coat and spray surfacing primer all over it then base color white. I will lose the shape of the windscreen though, but at least im sure that it'll have a solid base.

[Jmoore12]

Mappy, I really appreciate that input. Its a Trex 'painted' fiberglass canopy. I think I agree with you about the highlights. I will post pics when I get a chance to color it up.

After what you said about being able to feel the lines on the windshield that leaves me to believe that it is not clear coated.

What would be your advice for prepping it to paint? I think I will stick with the current base as it will work well for my scheme.

[mappy41]

I cant seem to remember if those plain white trex canopies have clear coat on them. I know the pre painted ones have. We'll know for sure if its cleared or not. To test if it has clear coat, try to wetsand the windscreen lightly. If the water is grayish in color then you are sanding black paint which indicates it has no clear coat. Same goes with the white area. If the water is whitish then its the white paint. Wetsanding clear also leaves water which is whitish in color but its a lot different than wetsande white paint. If its cleared then proceed with sanding with 800grit.

The fiberglass trex canopy is a good base to paint on. If there's no clear coat, i'll prep it first by sanding the whole canopy with 800 grit (600grit if i'll use a spraygun for the base colors). Since it has no clearcoat protection, other portions of the white (if its painted white) and windscreen black will be removed. In that case, I mask the white area and spray black to the windscreen to return it back to normal. If there's a need to paint the white area then do so. Then the base colors will be ready for your graphics and clear.

Hope this helps! Good luck on the canopy paint. Cant wait to see the finished product!:)

[Strictly Attitude]

grey

[ABD]

That Icon helmet was a shale grey metallic (warm version of silver)...But yeah, I think anything lighter than black should be fine..haha..What color is up to you though. Maybe a darker version of the words might work?

[metron]

Try your drop shadow in green. A drop shadow is the adsence of light, grey or silver will stand out too much, by using a variation of your color, your drop shadowing will also give the illusion on both a drop shadow and a reflection.

[Jmoore12]

That Icon helmet was a shale grey metallic (warm version of silver)...But yeah, I think anything lighter than black should be fine..haha..What color is up to you though. Maybe a darker version of the words might work?

Oh noes he has found out I am copying him!
I think I will be doing the lettering in flames similar to your helmet and then adding a highlight.


Try your drop shadow in green. A drop shadow is the adsence of light, grey or silver will stand out too much, by using a variation of your color, your drop shadowing will also give the illusion on both a drop shadow and a reflection.

Very good advice. Thank you all.

[ABD]

Oh noes he has found out I am copying him!


hahaa..On that Helmet he already wanted one graphic with a silver fade..I thought the same on the Icon would look better in the scheme of things...plus make em pop a bit.

Have at it bud, aint noting I invented..hahaa.. whatever works right:D