Create a textured plastic effect

Guide to creating a textured plastic effect

A textured plastic effect is useful when repaired plastic looks too smooth compared with the original surface. Texture must be rebuilt before the final trim colour so the repaired area blends visually with surrounding plastic.

What do you need to create a textured plastic effect?

Plastic cleaning

Mipa Plastic Cleaner 1 l antistatic cleans common plastics and reduces static dust attraction before sanding or texture work.

Surface keying

MP Sanding Pad helps scuff the plastic evenly before texture spray, primer or trim coating.

Plastic primer

Mipa 1K Plastic Primer or Mipa Plastic Primer Spray supports adhesion where the plastic surface needs a dedicated bonding layer.

Texture rebuilding

Mipa coarse texture spray and Mipa Fine Texture Spray rebuild coarse or fine plastic grain before the colour coat is applied.

Structured trim colour

Mipa Bumper Paint 1 l or Mipa Bumper Paint Spray gives a structured black, grey or dark grey finish for bumper style plastic surfaces.

Elastic plastic colour

Mipa Plastic Paint Spray gives an elastic trim colour finish when the surface needs colour more than a heavy texture effect.

How to create a textured plastic effect

1
Clean the plastic

Remove silicone, grease and dust before abrasion, because contamination can cause fish eyes and poor adhesion.
2
Sand without flattening everything

Scuff shiny areas and feather repair edges, but preserve original grain where the surrounding texture is still usable.
3
Prime where needed

Apply plastic primer when the substrate needs adhesion support before the texture or trim finish.
4
Rebuild the grain

Use fine texture for subtle grain and coarse texture when the original surface has a more pronounced pattern.
5
Finish with trim colour

Apply bumper paint or plastic paint after the texture looks even enough to match the intended surface appearance.

Which texture and trim finish should you choose?

Fine grain repair

Choose Mipa Fine Texture Spray when the original plastic has a subtle factory grain.

Coarse grain repair

Choose Mipa coarse texture spray when the damaged area needs a stronger texture before colour.

Final trim appearance

Choose bumper paint for structured bumper style areas, or plastic paint spray for a smoother elastic plastic colour finish.

Technical details

Mipa texture sprays are transparent structure coatings that are intended to be overcoated after the desired texture is created.
Mipa Bumper Paint is a 1K textured coating for plastic exterior parts such as bumpers, trim strips and mirror housings.
Plastic cleaner and antistatic preparation matter because dust attraction is a common problem on plastic parts.
Texture should be built in light passes, because heavy wet coats can create an uneven grain that is hard to correct.

Practical suggestion

Compare the repaired area from several angles before colour, because texture differences are much easier to adjust before the final trim coating is applied.