Painting Aesthetics Help

[mcKempt]

Hey, I'm looking for help in the painting design of my specific project.
I drive a Bright Silver Kia Forte Koup, here is a picture of the headlight (from google):
2010-kia-forte-koup-2-door-coupe-auto-sx-headlight_100311977_l.jpg

Here is a picture minus the lens:
IMAG0088.jpg

There's another picture on google of the headlight all apart, but I can't copy it. Search 'Forte Koup Headlight' in google images for it.

I've been debating several combinations and have gotten many cans of spray paint. I'm mostly looking for a sort of a 'dark monochrome' and would like to incorporate more gray colors. I want the swoopy-bezel thing in the front to appear like it's made of metal, or at least make it look darker than as it is. Reflector bowls are to be satin black. Amber reflectors will be smoked.

Paints I have Collected:
(Rust-oleum): Satin Black,Chrome, Hammered Black, High Heat Gloss Black, Regular Gloss Black, Gloss Dark Gray, and Metallic Aluminum
(Dupli-color): Clear-coat, Universal Black Metallic, Gunmetal Metallic

[JL-KA]

Black and grey look killer together. This was one of my favorite retro's I've done.

[mcKempt]

Whats grey and whats black in that? I can see the shroud is gray. It looks like a black-out otherwise. Nice cobalt retro though, what color was the car?

[wireless]

It was red

[mcKempt]

Anything other than a full blackout though? I wanted some contrast to help the headlights pop-out at a distance.

[greenkouki]

I know I always say this but all chrome always looks best IMO.

[tonyk27]

I know I always say this but all chrome always looks best IMO.

Yea I also think chrome looks best. I think the Gatling 2.0 Shrouds would look good in there.

[simkid5614]

I know if you can get it mixed right, you can get a black chrome, but it's very heavily based on steadiness with a rattle can.

[gold94corolla]

If you want the perfect contrast, when you take apart the head lights, remove the outer chrome trim bezel from the lens and paint that black, leaving only the reflectors chrome. Like I did.

[mcKempt]

If you want the perfect contrast, when you take apart the head lights, remove the outer chrome trim bezel from the lens and paint that black, leaving only the reflectors chrome. Like I did.

You got a photo of this setup? If you kept the reflectors chrome, what did you do with the shrouds?

[simkid5614]

Heres mine, If you're curious

537350_550265414984179_61872809_n.jpg

397590_550490544961666_1663734357_n.jpg

16430_572275039449883_577214643_n.jpg

[mcKempt]

Great painting, I like the turn signal lights black like that & the chrome highs.

[satrya]

You can also experiment with a fine grit sandpaper, and wet sand the "swooping" piece along one direction to give it a brushed metal look. I did this to a chrome grille one time (made of plastic with chrome paint/coating). If it doesn't work out, then you can put any spray paint.

[Yamadron]

Check this out http://www.hidplanet.com/forums/album.php?albumid=179

[satrya]

Another color to consider. DupliColor smoke chrome; the one on the rightmost:

DupliColor smoke chrome on aluminum sheet metal, topped with the retroreflective paint (Krylon reflect-a-lite on the picture above). The retroreflective paint deposits tiny clear spheres that bounce light back, but the spheres look like tiny dust in the picture below when no significant light is bounced back to the camera.