How to Paint Ghost Patterns on a Car or Bike
Ghost flames are a design effect where you apply a faint layer of paint in a standard flame pattern. The paint is very subtle and gives the impression of ghostly, smoky flames traveling across the surface. Adding ghost flames to your car or bike allows you to have the classic flame detailing without having to commit to the bright, vivid coloring. You can use a stencil and paint ghost flames onto your car with a little bit of patience and attention.
Things You'll Need
- Cloth
- Rubbing alcohol
- Ghost flame stencil
- 1-inch painter's tape
- Wide masking tape
- Drop cloths
- Airbrush
- Pearl automotive paint
Instructions
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1
Clean the area on the vehicle using a cloth and rubbing alcohol to remove any dirt or impurities. If there are any particles left on the vehicle the paint will not go on properly.
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2
Peel off the protective backing on the stencil and apply the adhesive side directly onto your vehicle. Smooth the stencil down firmly with your hand to ensure there are no parts of the vehicle exposed under the stencil shape.
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3
Cover the area 4 inches above and below the stencil with painter's tape. Use 1-inch tape to cover small corners and difficult angles and regular wide tape for covering large, straight areas.
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4
Cover the rest of the vehicle with drop cloths. Tape the cloths over the vehicle along the masked sections, leaving only the stencil showing.
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5
Fill the cup of the airbrush with the pearl paint of a slightly different shade than the finish on your vehicle. You can use a metallic hue to create an iridescent effect.
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6
Apply one single coat of paint over the entire stencil using a long, even stroke. Follow a continuous path to prevent double application.
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7
Remove the cloth and masking tape carefully when the paint is dry. Peel off the stencil to reveal the ghost flames below.
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Tips & Warnings
You can experiment on an unexposed portion of your vehicle to see whether you need more than one coat of paint.
Do not apply extra coats of paint just because you can't see it because you will ruin the effect of he ghost flames.
