Reverse middle tail light tint

[rolltidero]

So I have already tinted my tail lights all the way across. I've been playing with the idea of turning my middle piece into a brake light. What I want to do is paint the middle piece body color then take the eclipse letters off. Then put tint where the letters were so it just looks like a body color panel with black eclipse lettering until I hit the brakes and it lights up eclipse. I know how to paint the middle piece and get the letters off but I'm worried if I just try to tape the outline I would mess up the tape and the tint would get on the paint. I'm wondering if anyone sells like a stencil outline of the letters or if anyone else has any other ideas of what to do to get tint just where the letters were. Any responses would be appreciated.

 

[DJ Raydiate]

After the paint has fully cured and you have the letters off, you could use vaseline all around the letters as far as you want and then spray the tint. Once the tint is cured, just wipe off the vaseline leaving the tinted letters.

 

[rolltidero]

After the paint has fully cured and you have the letters off, you could use vaseline all around the letters as far as you want and then spray the tint. Once the tint is cured, just wipe off the vaseline leaving the tinted letters.

So that vaseline keeps the tint from sticking?

 

[DJ Raydiate]

Yes it will. Once you are done painting and have the letters off, you can coat the paint around the lettering and surrounding paint but have the plastic exposed where you want the tint. This way the paint is protected and the spray tint is right where you want it. I've done detailed Chevy,Ford,etc. engine parts this way.

 

[MasterFrmMO88]

Is there a reason you couldn't do the reverse? Tint the entire center panel first without the letters then replace the letters to use as masking and spray the entire panel the color of the body. Once that's cured, remove the letters.