Small repairs may not warrant spraying a complete panel. In this case consider what will be the easiest way to "lose" the edges of your paint repair. This will ideally be a slim rear pillar or narrow section of bodywork, or a moulding or break line further along from the repair. If using basecoat and clear, it is usually easier and quicker to lacquer complete panels, or if spraying for example a door, blend and lacquer the panels either side of your repair to completely hide any slight colour difference.


Thoroughly flat all areas to be blended or lacquered with ultra-fine abrasive pads (usually grey Scotchbrite), nothing any coarser.  If lacquer is to be blended away up a rear pillar or suchlike, use a fine grade compound to restore the gloss to the last few inches of the abraded area


Apply colour coats to the repair area until covered, preferably using a lower pressure than usual to reduce overspray. To blend the colour into surrounding areas apply two or three extra coats, extending the colour coats a few inches further out for each coat. Always keep within the abraded area. If paint strays on to unsanded paintwork it will always compound back to a visible edge. Arcing the spraygun at the edges of each coat helps the paint edge to fade away, rather than a sharper cut-off to the colour. Finally, melt the overspray edge with a very light coat of thinners, so that the edge of the repair can be compounded into the original paintwork without trace.