Understanding overspray is essential for anyone doing their own paint work. Overspray is paint that lands on surfaces you didn't intend to paint, and it's the most visible indicator of amateur work.

The two main sources: poor masking and incorrect spray technique. Poor masking allows paint to drift onto trim, glass, and adjacent panels. Incorrect technique — holding the gun too far from the surface, using too much air pressure, or moving too slowly — creates a mist of fine droplets that drift beyond the intended area.

Masking film (not masking tape) should cover everything within three feet of the area being sprayed. The gun distance for most HVLP guns should be 6-8 inches from the surface. The pattern should overlap by 50% on each pass. These are not guidelines — they're the settings that prevent overspray from being a problem you have to address after the fact.