Cotic mountain bike 1997

Design Work

• Design Mockups. This is an in-house design process that takes initial ideas from concept to the final stages, resulting in an output that will be used in the painting process. I usually start by creating freehand sketches in collaboration with the customer to explore different ideas, focusing on capturing the essence of the desired design. Once I establish a clear direction, I move the design to digital mockups, experimenting with basic shapes, logo icons, logotypes, and calligraphy to refine the design and bring it closer to its final form.
  
  
• Final design. From there, I create detailed vector-based illustrations and patterns, ensuring precise, scalable artwork that is clean and sharp. After finalizing the design, it moves into production, where I convert the digital artwork into a format compatible with cutting machine software, ensuring every detail is executed perfectly. 
  The result is a precise cut-out pattern, ready for the painting process, and a durable vinyl cut decal printed on high-quality vinyl with transfer tape for easy application.

• The design is handed off from the designer to the painter

Paint Work

• Preparation
  Wash & Clean: Remove dirt, grease, and other contaminants.
  
  
  
  
  
• Bodywork & Repair
  Surface Inspection: The body is inspected for dents, scratches, rust, and other imperfections that must be repaired.
  Sanding: The vehicle’s surface is sanded to remove the old paint, smooth out imperfections, and create a proper base for the new paint. 
  
  
  
  
  
• Priming
  Applying Primer: Primer is applied to create a smooth, adhesive surface for the paint. Primer also helps to protect against rust and improves paint durability
  Sanding the Primer: The primer dries and is sanded to a smooth finish, ensuring proper adhesion for the colour coat.
  
  
  
  
  
• Paint Application
  Base Coat: This is the first layer that is typically a base colour.
  Layering: Multiple base colour coats are applied to achieve coverage and the desired depth of colour. Each layer has to fully dry before the next is applied to avoid runs or imperfections.
  
  
  

• Clear Coat
  Multiple Layers: A clear coat is applied to give the paint a glossy finish and protect it from scratches, UV damage, and environmental contaminants. It's often applied in several layers, with sanding in between.
  
  

• Polishing
  Sanding the Clear Coat: Once the clear coat has dried, it may be lightly sanded to remove imperfections or orange peel texture.
  Polishing: The entire surface is polished to a high gloss