How to Design and Apply Automotive and Motorcycle Paint and Graphics (Motorbooks Workshop)

by JoAnn Bortles

[annieb123]

Originally posted on my blog: Nonstop Reader.

How to Design and Apply Automotive and Motorcycle Paint and Graphics is a volume of how-to information in the Motorbooks Workshop series; this one by JoAnn Bortles. Due out 12th April 2022 from Quarto on their Motorbooks imprint, it's 224 pages and will be available in paperback format.

The books in this series are all quite good and comprehensive and cover a myriad of themes, many (most?) of them are technical and aimed at repair and restoration. This one is a little different and has a different aesthetic aimed at artistic finishes for cars, motorcycles, and other surfaces.

The author is deeply knowledgeable and adept and writes very well and very accessibly. The introduction covers the background basics including fundamental design work and testing designs. The following chapter tutorials follow thematically: tools & supplies, two-tone (prismatic) paint, rally stripes, flames, graphics, retro, lowriders, pinstriping, gold & metal leafing, lettering, patina, plotter stencils, clear coating, and troubleshooting. Tutorials include bullet lists of very specific tools and supplies, descriptions, and well written step by step directions.

The photography is in a class by itself. The pictorial tutorial photos are crystal clear and beautifully arranged without hands or shadows in the way. This is a very well done book for its intended purpose (teaching readers how to get started with decorative paint and graphics on metal surfaces), but it's honestly worth the price of admission -just- for the drool-worthy photos of gorgeously finished cars, hot rods, muscle cars, vans, and motorcycles. All the photos include captions stating make/model and special info about techniques and materials used.

The author/editors have also included a short resources and links list as well as an abbreviated index.

Five stars. This would make a great choice for public or school library acquisition, home workshop use, and a welcome gift for car enthusiasts. The photos are clear and detailed enough that it will also be a good inspiration resource for people thinking about custom paint jobs for their own projects to be able to point and say "something like this" if they're getting custom paint.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.