are these holograms?

I

imported_tuffluck

New member
i was walking to my car today about 2pm with the sun hitting the driver's side and noticed the door seemed to have a strange paint pattern. the color is metallic black and it looked like every 6 inches the shade changed and got lighter, then back to darker for 6 inches, then lighter again, etc. it almost is perfectly symmetrical and it's such a slight change in hue that probably non-autopians wouldn't see it unless i pointed it out. when the sun set a bit more around 4ish, i couldn't see this effect at all.



initially i considered this to be holograms caused by my PC. when i originally did prep work on the car i just used a light polish by optimum, in fact it's so light i wouldn't have expected any hologramming. not to say you can get holograms from a light polish, but i consider myself pretty good with a PC and wouldn't expect to have holograms. also no other body panels had this, including the door on the other side. and considering the changes in the shade were so slight and so almost perfectly spaced out, i started thinking maybe it's the paint job itself. have you ever seen a factory paint job that seemed to show what i am describing?
 
Did you wax after polishing? A PC will not cause holograming. Might be wax residue.
tuffluck said:
i was walking to my car today about 2pm with the sun hitting the driver's side and noticed the door seemed to have a strange paint pattern. the color is metallic black and it looked like every 6 inches the shade changed and got lighter, then back to darker for 6 inches, then lighter again, etc. it almost is perfectly symmetrical and it's such a slight change in hue that probably non-autopians wouldn't see it unless i pointed it out. when the sun set a bit more around 4ish, i couldn't see this effect at all.



initially i considered this to be holograms caused by my PC. when i originally did prep work on the car i just used a light polish by optimum, in fact it's so light i wouldn't have expected any hologramming. not to say you can get holograms from a light polish, but i consider myself pretty good with a PC and wouldn't expect to have holograms. also no other body panels had this, including the door on the other side. and considering the changes in the shade were so slight and so almost perfectly spaced out, i started thinking maybe it's the paint job itself. have you ever seen a factory paint job that seemed to show what i am describing?
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From your description, it sounds like there was a "spot repair" of paint done either at the port or the dealership.

The "6"" reference and the referring to other panels not exhibiting the same.

Metallic black uses mica for the metallic effect, there fore a slight difference in the distance the gun is held from the surface will not "lay down" or "stand up" the mica particles, creating a different light refraction from the area.

Would be interesting to use an electronic paint thickness guage to determine if a repair did take place.

Grumpy
 
Legacy99 said:
Did you wax after polishing? A PC will not cause holograming. Might be wax residue.
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A PC used correctly will not hologram. However if you use too aggressive of a compound and don't polish for long enough or your movement is too fast, you can get holograms with a PC. PC based hologramming creates a similar pattern to the polish residue left behind.
 
Ron Ketcham said:
From your description, it sounds like there was a "spot repair" of paint done either at the port or the dealership.

The "6"" reference and the referring to other panels not exhibiting the same.

Metallic black uses mica for the metallic effect, there fore a slight difference in the distance the gun is held from the surface will not "lay down" or "stand up" the mica particles, creating a different light refraction from the area.

Would be interesting to use an electronic paint thickness guage to determine if a repair did take place.

Grumpy
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i ordered the car, so i'd be interested to know what a "spot" repaint is exactly?
 
tuffluck said:
i ordered the car, so i'd be interested to know what a "spot" repaint is exactly?
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A car can experience damage in transit and be repaired by the shipper or dealership. The car can still be sold as new without disclosing the repair. I have had a few cars where this was the case as I have noticed areas where the paint had a different texture/feel. In each case it was the original owner and they swore no body work had been done.



The other possibility could just be the nature of the flake in the paint. During the paint process the gun is moved from side to side. This could simply cause the flakes to settle in a slightly different manner in each direction. The light may have just been hitting it perfectly to see it. It could be a combination of the two.
 
Nth, at OEM level the "guns are actually atomizing bells", computer controled, cover a very large area with negatively charged material.

Since this concern is only showing on one door, not extending to any other panel, points to a high possibility of the spot repair.

Grumpy
 
Ron Ketcham said:
Since this concern is only showing on one door, not extending to any other panel, points to a high possibility of the spot repair.
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Agreed. Pattern sounds exactly like someones arm movement with the gun.
 
Nth Degree said:
Agreed. Pattern sounds exactly like someones arm movement with the gun.
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so is there anything i can do about it? should i be pissed that it happened, or is it something that happens from time to time?



tbh i would really be surprised the car was spot repainted. since i ordered the car, i was able to track it at every step of the build process. something could have happened at the factory i suppose, but it definitely didn't happen during the shipping/delivery process.
 
You never stated what brand of vehicle, or the age of it.

My suggestion is to put an electronic paint thickness gauge to the panel and then compare reading with unaffected panels.

That will provide you with some facts, which you may then take back to the dealership and manufacturer and get some satisfaction.

Grumpy
 
Scottwax said:
Pictures of the car in the full sun would be very helpful.
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That may not even show us much. Sounds like the light had to be just right to see it. Is it possible that is the reason it only appeared on one panel? Tuff, can you try different light sources and angles to see if you can recreate it?
 
i will try some pictures next week, no problem. where can i get a paint thickness measuring device?



it is 2012 chevrolet camaro...i ordered it brand new and have only had it for about 6 weeks.
 
Does the dealership you bought the car from have a body shop?

If they are a quality shop, I-CAR certified, they should have an ETG.

Ask them to take readings, while you are there, watching.

If, when you ask them if the have such a gauge and refuse to show their use of it while doing the measurements, run Forrest, run!

The LCD read-out will show very clearly any difference in total film build.

And then, "the fun begeins".

Grumpy
 
Ron Ketcham said:
Does the dealership you bought the car from have a body shop?

If they are a quality shop, I-CAR certified, they should have an ETG.

Ask them to take readings, while you are there, watching.

If, when you ask them if the have such a gauge and refuse to show their use of it while doing the measurements, run Forrest, run!

The LCD read-out will show very clearly any difference in total film build.

And then, "the fun begeins".

Grumpy
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i hate to be an idiot, but what exactly should i do if they do in fact prove it was repainted? i mean what keeps them from just saying GM didn't repaint it...and if you say it is legal to do that and still sell the car for them, they could just say tough. even if they are willing to do anything, do i ask them to repaint it more properly or ask for money back or ??? sorry i have no idea.



a guy that owns a body shop did some work for me on a previous ride, so i think i will call him and see if he has one of those tools first. if he can prove it was repainted, i can then go to the dealer knowing ahead the results. i'd feel more comfortable getting it done by someone other than the dealer first...otherwise if it wasn't repainted i'm just going to look like an idiot.
 
tuffluck said:
i hate to be an idiot, but what exactly should i do if they do in fact prove it was repainted? i mean what keeps them from just saying GM didn't repaint it...and if you say it is legal to do that and still sell the car for them, they could just say tough. even if they are willing to do anything, do i ask them to repaint it more properly or ask for money back or ??? sorry i have no idea.



a guy that owns a body shop did some work for me on a previous ride, so i think i will call him and see if he has one of those tools first. if he can prove it was repainted, i can then go to the dealer knowing ahead the results. i'd feel more comfortable getting it done by someone other than the dealer first...otherwise if it wasn't repainted i'm just going to look like an idiot.
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I would recommend taking this one step at a time and not getting too far ahead of yourself. I agree that having an independent detailer or shop taking readings first is the best idea. If the paint thickness indicates an obvious repaint on the door, then report back here and get advice from there. If the thickness is consistent, then it is a matter of how hard you are willing to fight with the dealership about it. From your original post it seems the problem is barely noticeable, even in the perfect light, and not at all otherwise.



tuffluck said:
i was walking to my car today about 2pm with the sun hitting the driver's side and noticed the door seemed to have a strange paint pattern. the color is metallic black and it looked like every 6 inches the shade changed and got lighter, then back to darker for 6 inches, then lighter again, etc. it almost is perfectly symmetrical and it's such a slight change in hue that probably non-autopians wouldn't see it unless i pointed it out. when the sun set a bit more around 4ish, i couldn't see this effect at all.
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I know it is a new car and you want it to be perfect, but the reality is:



a: Cars do not come perfect from the factory.

b: It is very difficult, and often unrealistic, to expect it to remain as perfect as it is for long.



Is this a flaw you absolutely cannot live with. It took you 6 weeks to notice it. Have you since been able to see it again, in either sun or another light source? If not, it is possible it was a fluke situation with the lighting.



If it is the paint, then there is no harm asking the dealership to correct it. But cross that bridge when you come to it. In the meantime seek out someone to take measurements and see if you can get us some pics.
 
thanks for that response. i know these things happen, and maybe it isn't that big of a deal. i can't say that i inspect my car in the sunlight at every opportunity, so for all i know this may be the first chance i had to see these hue differences. it very well may be more noticeable the next time i check. we have a strong overcast in the forecast this week with rain, so i'm not sure i will get any sunlight to use for pictures this week. i will post them when i can, however.



the friend that i called does not have a paint thickness meter. does anyone have any suggestions for places that may have readers and would be willing to check for me? i'd just hate to start off at the dealer and look like an idiot if they show there was no repaint. thank you. i know something i could do...go to carmax and have them appraise my car. i know they use the paint thickness gauges so they would be able to tell me. i just don't know if i want to go humor someone for half an hour that i'm interested in selling my car when i definitely am not.
 
tuffluck said:
thanks for that response. i know these things happen, and maybe it isn't that big of a deal. i can't say that i inspect my car in the sunlight at every opportunity, so for all i know this may be the first chance i had to see these hue differences. it very well may be more noticeable the next time i check. we have a strong overcast in the forecast this week with rain, so i'm not sure i will get any sunlight to use for pictures this week. i will post them when i can, however.
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Forecast this week is a huge business killer for me, horrible time of the year for it too. :(
 
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