since when did fastbacks come with lugauge racks?!

Metallics have small fleks of aluminum that just reflect light. There is generally small and larger fleks to chose from.

Metalflake are larger flakes of aluminum, usually 3 or 4 times bigger than that in metallics. Looks more like glitter, and is usually tinted some color. Flake has to be cleared with many layers of clear and wet sanded to end up smooth. Lots of people confuse Metalflake with metallic.

Pearl reflects hidden colors in brite lite or sunlite. It can be close to the base color or completely different. In overcast or dark environments, it usually dont show and in most cases 'muddies' up the basic color. ie/ white on overcast day may look dull white, yellowish or grayish. Pearl is a mid coat that is sprayed over a base color litely then followed by clear. Most pearles are called '3 stage' paints because of this. '2 stage' is a basecoat followed by clear. Sometimes the pearl is mixed into the basecoat. There are a few even called '4 stage', this is a base coat, pearl coat, tinted clearcoat, and final finish clear coat. An example would be the red on the 50th Anniverary Corvette.

Another variation is generally found on Chysler products called 'Mica' These are small prisms of glass that refract light similar to pearl. The cameleon colors are usually this type and how the chips are cut determines what color or colors are visible in light.

Solid colors like red, black, yellow can be a basecoat/clearcoat (2 stage) or single stage (clear is mixed in color) so a clearcoat is not necessary. In most cases, some colors, expecially single stage like white or black, will be duller appearing if they are clearcoated. ie/ white will appear yellower/dirtier and black will have more of a charcoal/grayer look than a deep rich looking black. Lots of people think that cleared black looks deeper but its confusing in that it will look like there is more depth (because it is) but it will not have the same rich black color.

There are other styles of paint but 90% are one of the above. Another worth mentioning are Candy Apple or 'Candies' This is where a base is applied, usually white, gold or silver, but any color could be used. This is followed by the actual candy which is a very transparent color that has the same effect as colored cellophane. Each subsequent coat will darken the final result slightly. 5 coats will be quite a bit darker than 2. That must be followed by several clearcoats to protect it. The end result is that you look thru the candy coats at the base coat. This type most times CANNOT be repaired without a complete repaint because if those properties. You have to have the same exact number of coats, same temp, same humidity, same gun tip and air pressure and that will seldom happen.

Candy and Metalflake (if heavy) dont have much luck surviving a lot of heat and sun. Due to the thickness of the paint film, they will tend to crack and split over a much shorter time.

Hope this helps some of you deciding on paint colors.

So, What are you trying to say Roger..??