How to Achieve a Deep Red Candy® Finish on a Car Bodywork ?

To summarize what a Candy paint job is for those who have heard about it but don’t know exactly how it works, candy paint is a multi-layer technique that overlays a transparent color onto a neutral reflective base.
For a stunning deep red Candy paint job, whether on a car, motorcycle, or bicycle, the technique is straightforward.

4-Step tutorial: the basic technique for achieving an ultra-deep Red Candy Paint

Before exploring special or optional techniques, it’s best to start with the main, traditional method for achieving a beautiful red Candy finish. This is also the simplest, most effective, and most cost-efficient process:

Step 1 ► Establish a black base (primer or base coat)
Step 2 ► Apply pure aluminum paint (fine BC60, medium BC1, coarse BC2)
Step 3 ► Apply the Red Candy* 119 or 08** in 4 layers.

*For a motorcycle, a 2K Candy clear coat can be used. For a car, a 1K Candy is preferable to allow for multiple layers, faster drying, and avoiding runs.
There is little noticeable difference between these two main red shades: Candy 119 is slightly more orange, while Candy 08 has a slight pink hue.

Let's start with the recommended choices.
Achieving the perfect color is a matter of both technique and choice! It is crucial to select a base color (whether pearlescent or metallic) that is different from or, ideally, the opposite of the upper layer (the transparent tinted coat). This tonal contrast is what creates the deep effect.

Candy Red 119 on a Single Base Coat, Producing Various Final Results!
The BC9 base coat is applied over a black base with different coverage levels (10%, 50%, 100%)

►Complete car kit

►Complete motorcycle kit

►Complete bike kit

Blending Blue and Red
Here is the result obtained with a pearlescent blue base coat (BC10) covered with a Candy Red 08 clearcoat.

For this finish, the artist @atelierjscustom first applied a black base, followed by multiple layers of blue pearlescent paint. The Candy Red WINE 08 clearcoat was then applied in 3 layers. And here is the result!

The color of the base coat can create a customized color tone. However, the size of the base coat’s metallic flakes also matters—it can be ultra-fine or, on the contrary, coarse and shimmering.

Blending Gold with Red
In the example below, we see another combination where the base coat color is different from the Candy clearcoat. The artist used a gold diamond BC5 base, covered with multiple layers of Candy Red 119. The pearlescent effect created by the diamond paint is clearly visible.

The result and the quality of transparency are almost identical whether a binder base (1K) or a clear coat (2K) is used. It is essential to carefully select the base coat, especially in terms of flake size, whether fine and silky or coarse and sparkling.

Black Effect on Red Candy Paints
It is common to see black reflections appear depending on the angles of the bodywork. This dark and deep effect is typical of the Candy paint technique and becomes noticeable after 4 or 5 layers of transparent color, regardless of the shade (red, blue, green, etc.).

Candy 119 Red Paint Over Gold-Diamond BC5 Base

Spray Can or Paint Gun?
Today, professional-grade spray cans allow users without air compressors and paint guns to achieve Candy finishes with quality equivalent to professional custom paint jobs. Available aerosol products include:

→ black base coat spray
→ Candy base coat spray
→ Candy clearcoat spray

How to Achieve a Deep Red Shade in Candy Paint?

What NOT to Do :
►Using an OEM (manufacturer) shade as a base coat: these colors are not reflective or sparkling enough because they contain opaque pigments.
►Using a base coat in the same color as the upper layer: this reduces the depth effect.
►Using a white pearlescent base coat.
►Ignoring the recommended mixing ratios of the concentrated Candy ink: too much ink reduces transparency, making the color look opaque and uneven.

To achieve a deep red Candy paint job, you can use almost any red. However, the most stunning Candy reds are :

- 119 Apple Red: A standard red leaning towards orange.
- 08 Wine Red: A deeper red with a pinkish hue.
- 11 Dark Red: A dark red from mixed pigments.
- 87 Cherry Red: A highly pinkish red.
- 66 Lava Red: A very bright, orange-toned red.

Some unusual Candy Red colors, such as Stardust’s "Cherry Red 87", can create fascinating hues.

GOLD-PREMIUM-21µm paint

Choosing the Right Candy Base Coat

The base coat—also called the “background” or “foundation”—is just as important as the Candy layer.
Its primary function is to reflect and bounce light, but it also influences the final color: a white pearlescent base won’t produce the same dark tone as a silver aluminum base.
The size of the pearlescent particles or pigments also plays a role. Stardust’s Candy base coat range offers a wide selection, from ultra-fine aluminums and nacres to coarse diamond flakes and glitter paints.

Best Base Coats for Deep Red Candy Paints

Here are some base coats that differ from traditional aluminum and create stunning finishes :
The most beautiful are the Candy BC60 and BC70 base coats : Ultra-fine silver or gold aluminum pigments, top-tier quality.
We also recommend BC4 (Sparkling Diamond Effect), BC11 (Ultra-fine Pearlescent blue).
The BC13 reference, Composed of 50µm micro “metal flakes”, delivering unique results.

How to Achieve a Candy Paint Job with Stunning colors ?
Base Coat for Candy Paint
Candy spray paint
Clearcoat for Candy Paint