Wookie- What you are saying sounds right and matches what I have read. The guy I hired to paint the van works at a custom shop doing body work but he is not the painter. Actually he hired another guy to shoot it. I think he can handle the metalflake but the graphics aren't working out so far. He quoted me $1500 for the painter to tape out the design. That is out of my budget.

What do you think of the vinyl mask option? If I had the sign shop install the stencil I think it would work out.

Another option would be to do the design in actual vinyl either under or on top of the clear. Which sounds better?