I'm no expert, but I am going thru this process now, so I will share what I know. The fellow that is painting my bike will be using automobile paint from PPG, or possibly from House of Kolor, although their paints are stupidly expensive especially when you get into candys and pearls, because of the basecoat that has to go down first-well actually second, because there will be a 2 part epoxy primer first. Then the base coat if you're using a pearl or candy, then the topcoat (color). I guess you could use an airbrush, but from my perspective that is too small-but I have heard of guys using a Preval. If I was painting my own bike, I would use and HVLP gun. Continuing…. In my case, after the color is applied, there will be 2 coats of a 2 component clear epoxy. Then it will go to the guy airbrushing the Make and Model back onto the bike as well as any other whims of customizing I have at the time. Dry for a couple days, then back to the first guy to apply 2 more coats of 2 component clear epoxy, and then a final polish. All of these paints, primers and clears can be found at your local auto body supplier. And by the way, these epoxies are deadly. Please wear a canister type respirator designed for these types of airbourne particles-Not one of those blue or white masks from your local hardware store. Those make it even worse than not wearing one! The guys painting my frame are known for their most excellent and award winning artwork on Harleys and other cars and trucks, helmuts, skateboards, etc.