When applying three-layer pearl colours, make sure the ground-coat is totally flashed-off and dry to touch before checking that the colour is correct.

Technicians who get impatient and don’t let the ground-coat dry properly before applying the pearl layer and clearcoat often find the colour is too dark. If there’s any uncertainty, hit the repair area with infrared or some other appropriate heat source until it’s totally dry.

Another factor to remember is that the pearl coat is designed purely to be a decorative part of the finish. That means it’s not used to assist in coverage so keep the number of coats to a minimum (two coats at 1:1 is recommended) to avoid overloading.