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Master’s in Historic Paint and Finishes Engineering

Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in historic paint and finishes engineering, structured in 12 modules covering the history and chemistry of automotive paints, original colour research, stripping and preparation, nitrocellulose lacquers, synthetic and acrylic enamels, special finishes, colour matching, polishing, quality testing and spray-booth safety, with an assigned technical tutor.

Duration1900 h
ModeOnline
LanguageEnglish
Start datesSet by the faculty
AwardSEIUM Institute diploma
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Learning outcomes

What you will be able to do

01

Know the historical evolution of automotive paints.

02

Understand the chemistry of paint systems.

03

Research and document original colours.

04

Prepare surfaces using appropriate techniques.

05

Apply lacquers, enamels and special finishes.

06

Match, polish and protect historic finishes.

07

Assess finish quality with standardised tests.

Profile

Who it's for

  • Classic vehicle painters aiming for period-correct refinishing.
  • Colourists who match and formulate original and aged colours.
  • Finish restorers working on conservation and originality.
  • Spray-booth technicians responsible for application, safety and environmental compliance.
  • Pinstriping and decoration specialists.
  • Finish quality managers who carry out adhesion, gloss and thickness testing.
  • Engineering or science graduates looking to move into classic vehicle restoration.
Standards & tools

What you'll work with

  • Directive 2004/42/EC (limits on VOC emissions from paints and vehicle refinishing products)
  • ISO 2409 (paints and varnishes — cross-cut adhesion test)
  • ISO 2813 (paints and varnishes — gloss measurement)
  • ISO 2808 (paints and varnishes — determination of film thickness)
  • ISO 11664-4 (colorimetry — CIE 1976 L*a*b* colour space)
  • ISO 4628 (paints and varnishes — evaluation of coating degradation)
  • Real Decreto 227/2006 (Spanish transposition of the VOC limits for paints and varnishes)
  • FIVA Turin Charter (guidelines for the preservation and restoration of historic vehicles)
  • AkzoNobel MIXIT
  • PPG PaintManager
  • X-Rite Color iQC
  • Adobe Lightroom
Syllabus

12 modules · 1900 h

  1. 1.1Carriage varnishes and lacquers
  2. 1.2Nitrocellulose lacquers of the 1920s
  3. 1.3Synthetic alkyd enamels
  4. 1.4Thermoplastic and thermosetting acrylics
  5. 1.5Basecoat/clearcoat and metallics
  6. 1.6Waterborne paints
  7. 1.7Iconic colours by marque
  8. 1.8Colour trends by era
  9. 1.9Historic application techniques
  10. 1.10Case study: identifying the original finish of a vehicle
  1. 2.1Binders, pigments, solvents and additives
  2. 2.2Film formation
  3. 2.3Physical and chemical curing
  4. 2.4Historic pigments and their hazards
  5. 2.5Metallic and pearlescent pigments
  6. 2.6Compatibility between systems
  7. 2.7Adhesion and stresses
  8. 2.8UV degradation
  9. 2.9Volatile organic compounds
  10. 2.10Laboratory: system compatibility test
  1. 3.1Documentary sources and catalogues
  2. 3.2Factory colour codes
  3. 3.3Protected areas as a reference
  4. 3.4Layer stratigraphy
  5. 3.5Spectrophotometric measurement
  6. 3.6Colorimetry in the CIELAB space
  7. 3.7Effect of ageing
  8. 3.8Period palettes
  9. 3.9Documenting findings
  10. 3.10Practical exercise: spectrophotometric measurement of a colour
  1. 4.1Chemical paint stripping
  2. 4.2Controlled mechanical stripping
  3. 4.3Blasting with soft media
  4. 4.4Laser stripping
  5. 4.5Stripping aluminium
  6. 4.6Corrosion treatment
  7. 4.7Phosphating steel
  8. 4.8Anti-corrosion epoxy primers
  9. 4.9Cavity protection
  10. 4.10Workshop: preparing a stripped car body
  1. 5.1Characteristics of nitrocellulose lacquer
  2. 5.2Preparation and thinning
  3. 5.3Spray-gun application
  4. 5.4Number of coats and drying
  5. 5.5Sanding between coats
  6. 5.6Polishing the lacquer
  7. 5.7Current legal restrictions
  8. 5.8Alternatives with a similar appearance
  9. 5.9Common problems and their solutions
  10. 5.10Practical exercise: applying nitrocellulose lacquer on a test panel
  1. 6.1Period alkyd enamels
  2. 6.2Acrylic enamels and their variants
  3. 6.3Hardeners and catalysts
  4. 6.4Single-stage application
  5. 6.5Period metallics
  6. 6.6Finish without polishing
  7. 6.7Gloss and depth
  8. 6.8Partial paint repairs
  9. 6.9Controlled ageing techniques
  10. 6.10Case study: respray in synthetic enamel
  1. 7.1Hand pinstriping
  2. 7.2Two-tone schemes and colour separations
  3. 7.3Painted wood finishes
  4. 7.4Painting wheels
  5. 7.5Engine finishes
  6. 7.6Painting chassis
  7. 7.7Competition finishes
  8. 7.8Decoration and logos
  9. 7.9Patinas and ageing
  10. 7.10Workshop: brush pinstriping
  1. 8.1Colour matching
  2. 8.2Adjusting formulas
  3. 8.3Colour blending
  4. 8.4Repairing minor damage
  5. 8.5Conservation touch-ups
  6. 8.6Matching metallics
  7. 8.7Inspection lighting
  8. 8.8Digital colour tools
  9. 8.9Documenting formulas
  10. 8.10Practical exercise: matching an aged metallic
  1. 9.1Cutting and polishing
  2. 9.2Abrasives and compounds
  3. 9.3Rotary and dual-action machines
  4. 9.4Correcting defects
  5. 9.5Waxes and sealants
  6. 9.6Protective ceramic coatings
  7. 9.7Conserving original paint
  8. 9.8Long-term maintenance
  9. 9.9Polishing mistakes
  10. 9.10Case study: correcting an original finish
  1. 10.1Thickness measurement
  2. 10.2Gloss and its measurement
  3. 10.3Cross-cut adhesion
  4. 10.4Film hardness
  5. 10.5Orange peel
  6. 10.6Defect assessment
  7. 10.7Ageing tests
  8. 10.8Concours judging criteria
  9. 10.9Quality report
  10. 10.10Laboratory: adhesion and gloss tests
  1. 11.1Spray booths
  2. 11.2Ventilation and filtration
  3. 11.3Protective equipment
  4. 11.4Isocyanate hazards
  5. 11.5Waste management
  6. 11.6VOC regulations
  7. 11.7Fire prevention
  8. 11.8Energy-efficiency measures
  9. 11.9Environmental permits for the workshop
  10. 11.10Practical exercise: safety plan for a spray booth
  1. 12.1Selecting the vehicle
  2. 12.2Researching the original finish
  3. 12.3Intervention plan
  4. 12.4Surface preparation
  5. 12.5Applying the chosen system
  6. 12.6Quality testing
  7. 12.7Full documentation of the process
  8. 12.8Conclusions and future work
  9. 12.9Master's Thesis report
  10. 12.10Master's Thesis: defence before a panel
Methodology, software & labs

How you'll learn

The programme is 100% online on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within the intake, so you can combine it with your job.

Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is AkzoNobel MIXIT, PPG PaintManager, X-Rite Color iQC and Adobe Lightroom, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Testing is studied through real procedures: spectrophotometric colour measurement, cross-cut adhesion tests and stratigraphic analysis of paint layers. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final Master's Thesis.

Standards covered: Directive 2004/42/EC, ISO 2409, ISO 2813, ISO 2808, ISO 11664-4, ISO 4628, Real Decreto 227/2006, FIVA Turin Charter.

Assigned technical tutor:every module ends with a deliverable that your tutor marks individually.
Standards-based learning:guided reading of Directive 2004/42/EC, ISO 2409 and ISO 2813 applied to real cases, not as a theoretical annex.
Industry software:AkzoNobel MIXIT, PPG PaintManager, X-Rite Color iQC and Adobe Lightroom, in free, academic or evaluation versions.
Master's Thesis with defence:a documented historic refinishing of a vehicle, from original-finish research to quality testing, defended before a panel.
Flexible format:100% online, no fixed timetables, compatible with full-time work.
Capstone project

Build it end to end

Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.

Original finish identification
Identify the original finish of a vehicle using documentation, stratigraphy and spectrophotometry.
Surface preparation
Strip and prepare a car body with appropriate anti-corrosion treatment and primers.
Period paint application
Apply a nitrocellulose lacquer or synthetic enamel system on test panels.
Matching and quality testing
Match an aged metallic and verify the finish with adhesion and gloss tests.
Master's Thesis
A full historic refinishing project with complete process documentation, defended before a panel.
Career opportunities

Where this takes you

Classic vehicle painterColouristFinish restorerSpray-booth technicianPinstriping specialistFinish quality manager
Admissions & scholarships

Requirements

  • A university degree in engineering, science or architecture, or equivalent demonstrable professional experience.
  • An internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme's software.
  • English sufficient to read technical standards.

Ready to start?

Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.

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FAQ

Frequently asked questions

The programme totals 1,900 hours over 12–14 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.

You work with AkzoNobel MIXIT, PPG PaintManager, X-Rite Color iQC and Adobe Lightroom, using free, academic or evaluation versions. Your tutor indicates the free alternative wherever one exists.

A SEIUM Institute diploma, awarded on passing the continuous assessment and the Master's Thesis. It is SEIUM's own qualification, not an official state degree; its recognition depends on the programme completed and the regulations of each country.

Yes. Modules passed in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area are recognised in the higher programme. Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.

A university degree in engineering, science or architecture (or equivalent professional experience), a computer able to run the software and English sufficient to read technical standards.

Start dates are set by SEIUM's faculty for each intake. Our admissions team will confirm the next available date when you apply.

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