DSS-V.03.01 — Spray Paint / Marker Coatings

Spray paint / marker coatings are appearance changes caused by deliberate application of paints or inks (aerosol lacquer/acrylic/alkyd, enamel, permanent markers, paint pens) onto the glass surface, producing opaque or semi-opaque films, stenciled fills, or freehand tags. The applied medium sits atop the glass and, absent prior abrasive attempts, does not alter the substrate. Classification is appearance-only per VIS (method-agnostic). Inspect after Non-Invasive Reveal under VIS lighting/geometry; record surface numbering and worked-surface status.

• Spray paint: Opaque color panels, feathered overspray halos, sag drips, spatter at start/stop; stencil witness edges where masking used.
• Marker/paint pen: High-contrast strokes, felt-tip or valve-pen stroke edges, pump-dot blobs, ink pooling at stroke overlaps; colors black, silver, white, neon.
• Multi-layer tags (marker over paint, or vice-versa) common in high-traffic zones.

Surface-catch class (MSRT)

• SC-0 for intact film-on-top (paint/ink is exogenous).
• SC-1 only where a prior abrasive attempt created very shallow substrate micro-texture beneath residual film edges. SC-2 implies misclassification-consider V.01.02 scribed or V.02 acid-etch.
• Perform one light, non-marring pass on a small revealed test patch (substrate). Use polymer stylus if a functional coating is suspected. MSRT supports classification only; do not abrade to “prove” relief.

Visual signature

• Film continuity with edge meniscus; no chip-flank sparkle, no granular frost, no pits.
• Overspray feather (fine particulate halo) around sprayed fields; drip legs vertical from heavy passes; marker stroke texture reveals felt/valve chatter.

Viewing / lighting

• Evaluate clean & dry at 12 / 36 / 72 in, normal and oblique sweep (~60°-120°); raking highlights film thickness variation, overspray, drips, and stroke edges. Record distances/angles in-frame.

Location / access

• Record pane ID and surface numbering (#1-#4; laminate-internal). Typically on public-facing exposed faces (#1 or #4). Between-pane by parallax on #2/#3 (rare; usually pre-assembly contamination) → CAT-5 by location.

Mechanism cue (context)

• Transit nodes, storefronts, hand-reach corridors, co-presence of paint caps, markers, stickers; multiple tags in cluster; historic tagging visible on adjacent substrates.

Assign CAT by visibility at acceptance geometry and MSRT after a true film-lift test on a contained patch (without abrading substrate). Depth values are indicative-field measurement not required.

• CAT-1 (Benign / non-relief): Thin paint/ink film or overspray legible mainly at angle/raking; SC-0; film lifts on test patch leaving no shadow. Indicative relief: 0-10 μm (optical film only).
• CAT-2 (Light): Heavier film with minor drip/overlap thickness; SC-0 (substrate unaltered). If a faint post-lift tone remains from prolonged dwell of solvent-rich inks, record SC-0/SC-1 localized. Indicative relief: ~10-40 μm (film stack).
• CAT-3 (Moderate): Opaque painted panels/tags readily visible at standard distance, with drips/sags and overspray halos; substrate still SC-0 after lift. Indicative relief: ~40-120 μm (film stack).
• Reclassify when: After true film lift, if modeled matte persists (SC-1/2) → assess V.02 (acid-etch) or M.02 (abrasion); if chip-flank sparkle present → V.01.02 scribed; if uniform granular frost within masked outlines → V.01.01 abrasive blast.
• CAT-5 (by condition/location): Between-pane/inaccessible by parallax, integrity indicators, or confirmed functional-coating loss on the surface to be worked → CAT-5.

CAT is appearance-based; acceptance is separate under VIS-A at 12/36/72 in. Do not abrade to “force” a response during classification.

• vs. Acid-marker (V.02.01) / etch-cream (V.02.02): Those leave substrate micro-texture (SC-2) with whitened etched appearance, runs/cream swirls. Paint/marker is film-on-top (SC-0) with color opacity and overspray/stroke artifacts.
• vs. Scribed grooves (V.01.02): Scribing shows sharp grooves, chip flanks, SC-2; paint shows meniscus edges, drips, no groove.
• vs. Coating anomalies (Co family): Coating issues are planar, on designated coated faces, and do not present overspray drifts/drips; paint/marker shows application geometry.
• vs. Oily films (R.04.03/04): Oily films are transparent/iridescent and track air paths; paint/marker is opaque/semi-opaque with clear application edges.

• Photo set (VIS): 12 / 36 / 72 in, normal + oblique; raking macros of overspray, drips/sags, stroke edges; overviews showing extent and access context. Record distance/angle in-frame.
• MSRT result (substrate): After a small true film-lift test patch (no abrasion), perform one light, non-marring pass on substrate and adjacent control; record SC-class (SC-0 substrate, SC-0 control; SC-1 localized only if prior abrasion evident).
• Forms: Pane ID; product family & surface numbering; worked surface Y/N; functional coating present on worked surface? (Y/N/Unknown); reveal status; lighting/time; geometry checklist; photos attached.
• Acceptance split: Post-restoration acceptance per VIS-A §6; classification ≠ acceptance. Coated-face appearance rules apply per VIS §6.2.e when the worked surface is a factory functional coating.

• V.03.01 Spray Paint / Marker Coatings - Opaque/semi-opaque film with overspray/drips or felt-tip stroke geometry on surface #___; true film-lift test patch confirms SC-0 substrate; visible at [12/36/72 in] under VIS geometry. Morphology: meniscus edges, feathered overspray, drip legs / pump-dots, no chip-flank sparkle, no granular frost. Classification: CAT-[1/2/3] by visibility and film mass; reclassify per notes if substrate etch/abrasion signatures are present; CAT-5 if between-pane or coating-side loss on the surface to be worked. Forms + photo set attached; acceptance per VIS-A §6.