How to Customize Race Car Graphics & Colors

Whether you’re a long-time fan of car racing or just getting into the sport’s need for speed, show off your interest and support by customizing your own race car graphics. You can take your favorite driver’s vehicle and change the colors to match your favorite hues, add a personal logo onto the collection on the hood of the car, or emblazon your initials onto the vehicle, all by using a few different computer programs and taking a couple of minute's time. Your new race car graphics will have you speeding through a victory lap in no time.

Things You'll Need

• Adobe Photoshop
• Digital image
• Microsoft Publisher
• Microsoft Paint

Instructions

1. Open Photoshop and browse to where your car graphic is located, then double-click it so it appears on your workspace. Click the “Lasso” tool, then draw a line to outline the shape of the car. A dotted blinking line appears. Click “Image,” then “Adjust” and choose “Hue/Saturation.” Move the “Hue” slider bar to the left or right to customize a new color for the race car, then click the “OK” button. Click the “Paintbrush” tool in the “Tools” palette, then choose a bright neon paint color from the “Color Picker.” Pull down the “Brush” menu from the top of the screen and choose a small, round brush head. Draw your initials into a space on the car’s hood that’s not taken up by sponsor logos.

2. Create a new Publisher file approximately the size of your car graphic by clicking “Page Setup” and selecting “Custom,” then inputting the dimensions and clicking the “OK” button. Click the “Insert” menu at the top of the screen, then choose “Picture” and “From File.” Browse to your car graphic and double-click it so it opens in the Publisher workspace. Right-click the graphic and select “Format Picture.” Click the “Recolor” button, then pull down the “Color” menu and select a color to change the graphic to. Click the “Leave Black Parts Black” button, then click the “OK” button, then click the “OK” button to close the main window. The picture is returned with your colored hue and black features.

3. Open your graphic in Paint by clicking “File,” then “Open,” then browse to it. Click the “Paintbrush” tool and select the medium round brush head, then choose a color from the “Color Picker.” Zoom in on the car’s door or hood, wherever there’s a non-stickered space. Draw your own personal sponsorship logo, such as a peace sign, smiley face or your initials. Click the “Spray Can” on the toolbar and choose the largest whirl head, then choose a new paint color. Click your cursor over the top of the race car graphic, adding sparkles or fireworks. Change paint colors to add more fireworks.

References

• Microsoft: Using Paint