If cars are your hobby, you’ve probably looked into all the ways that you can customize your ride to make it your own. Whether that’s through an engine swap, detailing or even a custom car paint job, it’s possible to convert any vehicle into something that suits your vision.
Still, it can be tough to land on exactly the right idea for a custom paint job if that’s the route you want to go. With 2022 in the past and 2023 upon us, here are some of the top trends for custom car paint jobs to give you some inspiration.
Why Consider a Custom Paint Job?
Of course, you might not quite be sold on a custom paint job. After all, there are decals and vinyl wraps available too, and these might even seem a lot more accessible-some people tackle these glow-ups as DIY projects. However, there’s a lot of benefit in going with a custom paint job rather than these other options.
Vinyl wraps should really be installed by a professional to make sure they go on smooth and without wrinkles or small mistakes. However, if you commit to a wrap, you might find that if it often needs to be replaced or you want to swap it out. You may realize the paint underneath isn’t quite what you remember. It might have residue, or it might be discolored after the wrap.
A custom paint job, on the other hand, protects your car and can be redone as many times as you like without the risk of damage. Plus, you can choose paint that comes with additional benefits, like water repellent properties.
Paint Job Ideas to Make Your Car Pop
If you love the idea of a custom paint job for your car but you don’t really know where to start, the best place to begin is to think about the kind of aesthetic you want to create.
Are you aiming for a specific kind of style, or are you more about colors? Do you like high detail and designs, or do you want the car’s hue to speak for itself? To help you make that choice, consider the following points.
Racing Stripes
These are classic, especially among older cars. That being said, even brand new vehicles can look great with racing stripes. They usually appear as straight lines running across the center of the car from back to front on top, but you can use them on the sides or even only on the hood depending on your style.
Gradients
If you’re more in love with colors than designs, you don’t need to settle on just one shade. Pro painters can create a gradient, where one color fades into another. Open up your imagination to fade from front to back, top to bottom or even something else.
Matte Finishes
Not all cars have to be glossy. Using matte paint, you can cut down on the sheen of your vehicle and make it catch the eye in a new way. Matte isn’t actually a paint-it’s a finish.
Highlights
For those who are more into the design aspect of a custom paint job, consider highlighting. This can be achieved by using a contrasting strip of paint along the edges and creases of your vehicle to draw the eye to all of its curves, bends and details.
Custom Artwork
For those who have a very specific vision in mind, custom artwork is a great choice. This could come in the form of customized pinstripes or even entire portraits and pictures painted directly on the vehicle. Flames are a common piece, but there are certainly vehicles with more in-depth creations like pinups, dragons and beach scenes.
Chrome Finishes
For those with a taste for the unique, a chrome finish could be just what you’re looking for. Chrome finishes give cars a metallic look that can range from a crisp shine to a rainbow coating that changes and shifts in color as you move around the vehicle. Similar to the matte style, these are finishes, not specific types of paint, and you’ll still need to choose the underlying shade.
Trust the Pros to Help You Achieve the Perfect Look for Your Car
No matter what type of custom car paint job you have in mind, be sure to entrust the actual painting work to a professional rather than trying to tackle it yourself. You’ll save money on supplies and end up with a better final product.
The experts at Robs Customs & Restorations would be happy to help you achieve your ideal vision for your custom paint job. Reach out to learn more or to schedule an appointment to get started.