Piano black finish is the deep, mirror-like black used on spoilers, mirror caps, grilles and trim. Yirox paints piano black and gloss black in a 3C2B system on two lines in ISO 7 and ISO 8 clean rooms, to ≥95 GU and ≥90 GU at 60°, with UV clearcoat available.
| Item | Piano black | Gloss black |
|---|---|---|
| Gloss at 60° | ≥95 GU | ≥90 GU |
| Extra check | 20° gloss / DOI | 20° gloss / DOI |
| Paint system | 3C2B (primer/base + color + clear) | 3C2B |
| Total film | 35–50 μm (base 10–15, color 12–18, clear 15–20) | 35–50 μm |
| Clearcoat | Standard or UV-cured | Standard or UV-cured |
| Adhesion | Cross-hatch grade 0–1 | Cross-hatch grade 0–1 |
| Materials | ABS, PC/ABS, ASA, PP/TPO with adhesion primer | Same |
Piano black is a high-gloss, deep black finish named after the lacquered finish on grand pianos. On a car, a piano black finish means a black part with a mirror-like surface and very high distinctness of image, so reflections look sharp, not hazy. It is made by painting a black color coat and a thick, smooth clearcoat over a well-prepared plastic part.
Gloss black finish is the same idea with a slightly lower gloss target. The difference shows in reflections: on piano black, the edge of a reflected line looks crisp; on gloss black it is slightly softer. Both are used for chrome-delete trim, spoilers, mirror caps, diffusers and grilles.
Piano black trim gives a premium, modern look at a low cost compared with metal or real carbon fiber, and it matches black glass and dark wheels. It also hides joints between parts. The downside is that a mirror surface shows dust, swirl marks and scratches, which is why the quality of the clearcoat matters so much. A harder clearcoat, such as a UV-cured clear, improves scratch and weather resistance.
The part is molded with a smooth, defect-free surface; flow lines and sink marks show through gloss paint.
Dust, release agent and oils are removed before painting.
A base or primer layer of 10–15 μm levels the surface; PP and TPO get an adhesion primer.
A black color coat of 12–18 μm is applied in an ISO 8 spray booth.
A clearcoat of 15–20 μm gives depth and gloss; UV-cured clear is optional.
60 °C × 10 min pre-bake, 80 °C × 30 min topcoat bake in an ISO 7 oven, then gloss, DOI and adhesion checks.
Gloss meters shine light onto the surface at a fixed angle and measure how much is reflected. 60° is the standard angle for most finishes. For high-gloss finishes above about 70 GU at 60°, the 20° angle separates small differences better and relates to DOI (distinctness of image).
We measure with a BYK micro-TRI-gloss meter at 20°, 60° and 85° (repeatability ±0.2 GU). Values at different angles are not comparable, so a specification should always state the angle.
| Finish | 60° gloss target | Angle for fine control |
|---|---|---|
| Piano black | ≥95 GU | 20° / DOI |
| Gloss black | ≥90 GU | 20° / DOI |
| Satin black | 20–40 GU | 60° |
| Matte black | 5–15 GU | 85° |
Our ISO 8 spray booths and ISO 7 flash-off and oven areas reduce dust, and molding and painting are controlled by the same team, so surface defects can be traced to their cause.
| Defect | What it looks like | Main cause |
|---|---|---|
| Orange peel | Wavy, textured reflection | Paint flow and film build |
| Dust inclusions | Small bumps in the clear | Booth cleanliness |
| Sink marks | Shallow dips over ribs | Molding and rib design |
| Flow lines | Lines visible under the paint | Molding conditions or gate position |
| Haze | Cloudy, low-DOI surface | Clearcoat or bake conditions |
| Finish | Look | Scratch visibility | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Piano black | Mirror-like, deep | High | Premium trim, spoilers, mirror caps |
| Gloss black | High gloss | High | Chrome-delete trim, grilles |
| Satin black | Soft sheen | Medium | Sporty trim, roof parts |
| Matte black | Flat | Low | Aero parts, wraps, sporty looks |
| Molded-in texture | Grain, unpainted | Very low | Flares, cladding, louvers |
Trunk and roof spoilers.
Browse Spoilers and Wings →
Front lips, diffusers, side skirts.
Browse Body Kits and Aero Parts →
Mirror caps, pillar trim, chrome-delete trim.
Browse Exterior Trim →
Trim for EV models.
Browse EV Exterior Accessories →Need a piano black finish that matches?Send the part or a color standard and we will confirm the gloss and color checks.
24 stations for consistent film build on medium parts.
For larger parts, with 4 manual touch-up stations.
X-Rite Ci64 spectrophotometer; ΔE*ab ≤1.0, critical ≤0.8.
BYK 8500 gauge; total 35–50 μm.
Adhesion is checked in-house by cross-hatch (grade 0–1). When your specification requires it, accredited outside labs (SGS, CTI) run weathering (QUV 500 / 1,000 h, xenon arc 2,500 kJ/m²), humidity (ISO 6270-2) and pull-off adhesion (ASTM D4541) tests.
Ready to quote piano black parts?Send drawings or a sample with the quantity and we will quote molding and painting together.
Piano black is painted mainly on ABS and PC/ABS. For a low-gloss look see matte black, and for a patterned look see carbon fiber look.
Rigid, easy to paint and the standard plating-grade plastic. Used for grilles, mirror caps, spoilers and body kits.
Compare ABS plastic grades and finishes →
Matte 5–15 GU and satin 20–40 GU at 60°, painted or molded paint-free. Checked at 60° and 85°.
Compare matte and satin black finishes →
Water transfer printing with UV-cured clear, IMD or film, and real carbon fiber through partner factories.
Compare carbon fiber look finishes →
Cu/Ni/Cr ≥32 μm on plating-grade ABS, trivalent chrome, CASS 48 h. Grilles, trim strips and emblems.
Explore chrome plating on plastic →The processes and services we use to turn this material into finished parts.
3C2B paint lines and clean rooms.
Explore automotive plastic painting →
Gloss, color and thickness checks.
Explore CMM inspection and PPAP →The most common base for gloss black.
Compare ABS plastic grades and finishes →
Branded gloss black trim programs.
Explore private label auto parts →A piano black finish is judged the moment the box opens. We paint to ≥90 GU in our own lines and protect every show surface for the trip.
Want the same deep gloss every batch? Gloss and color are checked with BYK and X-Rite meters.
See the aftermarket brand program →
Returns from scuffed gloss? Parts ship in parcel-safe protective packing.
See car accessories manufacturing for e-commerce →Trim that must fit first time? Kits ship with hardware in the box.
See auto parts supply for body shops and installers →Buyers on material, finish and quality questions we worked through with them.
“Gloss black parts are unforgiving. Small differences become obvious when they’re installed next to each other. We wanted more than a visual check, and the colour inspection records gave our quality team something objective to work with.”
“The first order tells you whether a supplier can make the product. The second and third tell you whether they can maintain the same standard. For our team, consistent finish and packing across repeat orders are what make a supplier worth keeping.”
Names and companies withheld at the customer’s request.
Piano black is a deep, mirror-like high-gloss black finish made with a black color coat and a thick clearcoat. Our target is ≥95 GU at 60°.
Piano black has a higher gloss and sharper reflections. Our targets are ≥95 GU for piano black and ≥90 GU for gloss black at 60°.
A mirror surface shows every fine scratch. A harder clearcoat, such as a UV-cured clear, improves scratch resistance.
Yes, after surface preparation and a PP/TPO adhesion primer.
With a gloss meter at 20°, 60° or 85°. We use 60° as standard and 20° (DOI) for high-gloss parts.
We offer low MOQ on selected items. The quantity is confirmed in your quote.
Send your drawing or a sample and the gloss target. We will reply with DFM comments and a quote.
