How to Powder Coat a Part with Multiple Colours Using Graphic Vinyl
Powder coating doesn’t have to mean using just one colour.
Using graphic vinyl, you can make two-colour designs, logos, circles, stripes, and other shapes. You’ll still get the tough, professional finish that powder coating is known for.
We tried this technique ourselves and shared it with a customer. As you’ll see in the project below, it also works well on larger and more complex parts.
Using graphic vinyl, you can make two-colour designs, logos, circles, stripes, and other shapes. You’ll still get the tough, professional finish that powder coating is known for.
We tried this technique ourselves and shared it with a customer. As you’ll see in the project below, it also works well on larger and more complex parts.
Key Takeaways:
- Use graphic vinyl to mask areas between powder colours.
- Fully cure the first colour before applying the vinyl.
- Apply the second colour, but only partially cure it before removing the vinyl.
- Remove the vinyl while the part is still warm.
- Apply a clear powder coat afterwards to protect and finish the design.
- You can use the technique for simple shapes, lettering, logos, and more complex designs.
What You’ll Need
For this example, you’ll need:
- A prepared metal part
- Two powder coating colours
- Clear powder coat
- Heat-resistant or suitable graphic vinyl
- Vinyl cutter or pre-cut vinyl graphics
- Powder coating equipment
- Curing oven
- Suitable cleaning/degreasing products
Like any powder coating project, good preparation is key. Make sure your part is clean, dry, and free from grease, rust, or any contamination before you start.
Step 1 – Apply Your First Powder Coat Colour
Start by powder coating the entire part in the colour you want underneath your graphic.
In our example, we wanted the finished circle to be blue, so we initially coated the whole test piece in blue.
You don’t need to cover the whole part right now. You’ll add the second colour later.
Step 2 – Fully Cure the First Colour
Place the part in your oven and fully cure the first powder coat according to the powder manufacturer’s recommended curing schedule. This step matters because the first layer must be hard enough for the vinyl to stick without getting damaged. Once cured, remove the part and allow it to cool completely.
Step 3 – Apply Your Graphic Vinyl
Once the part is cool, position your vinyl graphic over the area where you want the existing colour to remain visible.
For our demo, we used a simple circle of vinyl, but you can use this method for:
- Logos
- Lettering
- Racing stripes
- Numbers
- Geometric patterns
- Custom graphics
Press the vinyl down firmly along all the edges. If any edges lift, powder can get underneath and blur your design.
Step 4 – Apply the Main Colour
With the vinyl in position, powder-coat the entire part in your second, or main, colour.
In our test, we coated the part green.
The key difference at this step is how you cure the powder.
Rather than fully curing the second colour immediately, heat the part only until the powder has flowed out and formed a uniform coating.
Remove the part from the oven before it fully cures.
This makes it easier to remove the vinyl and helps you get a clean edge on your graphic.
Step 5 – Remove the Vinyl
While the part is still warm, carefully lift an edge of the vinyl and peel it away.
Go slowly around the edges of your design so you don’t disturb the powder nearby.
Once removed, the first colour underneath should now be visible, giving you a clean two-colour graphic.
If there’s any adhesive left from the vinyl, clean it off with a suitable cleaner. Then degrease and dry the surface before putting it back in the oven. Never put a part with solvent or cleaner residue into a curing oven.
Step 6 – Apply Clear Powder Coat
The graphic is now visible, but we recommend finishing the part with a clear powder coat.
Apply clear powder over the entire component and then complete the full curing cycle according to the powder manufacturer’s instructions.
The clear coat protects your design and gives the colours a more even, finished look.
Step 7 – The Finished Part
Once the clear coat has fully cured, remove the part from the oven and allow it to cool.
You’ll end up with a tough, multi-colour powder-coated finish, and you won’t need to paint any extra details later.
Our basic test piece shows how it works, but one customer used this advice for a much bigger project.
Customer Project – Taking the Technique Further
After discussing the process with us, one customer used the technique to create the contrasting circular graphics shown on these large curved components.
The customer started by masking off the contrasting areas before adding the main colour, which created a bold spotted design on the finished parts.
The customer sent us the finished photographs with the message:
“Hi there, please find the pictures of my project following your advice. It’s come up pretty well. Feel free to use [them] on your website for examples.”
We think the results are impressive.
This shows how a simple masking technique can work for both small test pieces and much larger custom powder coating projects.
Tips for Better Results
Here are a few tips we picked up while trying this method:
- Start with simple graphics. Circles and basic shapes are ideal while learning the technique.
- Make sure the first colour is fully cured. This gives the vinyl a stable surface to adhere to.
- Press down the vinyl edges carefully. This helps prevent powder creeping underneath.
- Don’t fully cure the second colour before removing the vinyl. Remove it once the powder has flowed out.
- Remove the vinyl carefully while warm. This usually produces a cleaner edge.
- Keep everything contamination-free. Remove any adhesive or cleaning residue completely before further coating or heating.
- Follow the powder manufacturer's cure schedule. Different powders may require different temperatures and curing times.