Is touch-up painting done for a small area or an entire panel?

[DelGabriela]

Touch-up painting is done for a small area. If there is only minor scratching, repair shops generally fix the damaged area and its surroundings, which is known as touch-up painting. Below are the detailed explanations: 1. Touch-up painting: There are typically two methods for repairing car body paint—touch-up painting and full respray. If the damage is minor, repair shops usually opt for touch-up painting, which involves fixing the scratched area and its immediate surroundings. The advantages of this method are obvious: it's quick, simple, and material-saving. However, the drawbacks are also significant—it may affect the appearance, create color differences under sunlight, and result in uneven paint surfaces after repair. 2. Full respray: Except for the front and rear bumpers, which can be partially resprayed, the rest of the car panels require a full respray. If the scratches are not severe, polishing and waxing may suffice. However, if the primer is exposed or the scratches are deep, a full door respray is necessary. Partial resprays can lead to noticeable color mismatches, making it better to avoid them in such cases.