In This Article
Finished in Sunstone Subtleshift
This Nissan cam cover was refinished with Sunstone over Jade Green — a tri-stage Alpha Custom Color that lays a jade-green base and tops it with the Sunstone Subtleshift midcoat for a soft green, blue, and yellow shift, finished off with a masked G7 logo. The whole piece was sprayed with the same Sunstone over Jade Green vehicle paint kit we ship to every customer: white DTM primer-sealer, Jade Green basecoat, the Sunstone Subtleshift midcoat, and HS Glamour clearcoat over the top.
Here is how the finish came together — the prep, the products, and the steps to chase the same look on your own project.
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Download the Free PDF →Meet the Builder: Engine Cover Build
This build ran the full Alpha Automotive Paint system end to end — no shop-only products, no shortcuts. The tri-stage system is a white DTM primer-sealer, Jade Green basecoat, the Sunstone Subtleshift midcoat, and HS Glamour clearcoat, plus urethane reducer, HS activator, and the TSS cheat sheet to keep the ratios straight. The Sunstone over Jade Green vehicle paint kit you would buy is the exact kit sprayed here.
The Color: Why Sunstone Subtleshift?
Sunstone Subtleshift is a 2-color changing pearl midcoat with green, blue, and yellow tones. It is bound in Alpha’s pigment-controlled binder, so it lays down without striping or mottling, holds a crystal-clear pearl suspension, and carries strong UV resistance. It is designed to run as an effect over a color-matching base — the sample and kit spray it over jade green.
Sprayed over its Jade Green basecoat, Sunstone Subtleshift delivers its cleanest, most elegant subtle-shift, moving through green, blue, and yellow as the light changes across the piece.
Want to spray a Sunstone Subtleshift sample yourself?
This color doesn't have a pre-sprayed sample yet, but you can build your own DIY sample if you have spray equipment:
Every Way to Get Sunstone Subtleshift
Whether you're painting a full vehicle, a motorcycle, a guitar, or just touching up with a spray can — Sunstone Subtleshift is available for every project size. Each kit includes matched products sized for the job.
Sunstone over Jade Green Vehicle Paint Kit
$784.93 USD
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Sunstone Subtleshift Paint Basecoat Midcoat
From$15.99 USD
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Sunstone Subtleshift Spray Can Midcoat
$39.99 USD
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Sunstone Subtleshift Motorcycle Paint Kit
From$565.65 USD
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Sunstone Subtleshift Bike Paint Kit
From$295.70 USD
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Sunstone Subtleshift Guitar Paint Kit
From$165.72 USD
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Sunstone Subtleshift Wheel Paint Kit
From$552.91 USD
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Sunstone Subtleshift Brake Caliper Paint Kit
From$187.71 USD
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Sunstone’s shift lives in the midcoat over jade green — keep those coats light and fully flashed so the green-blue-yellow move stays soft and even, not patchy.
What's Inside the Vehicle Paint Kit
These are all the products included in the Sunstone Subtleshift Full Vehicle Paint Kit. Every product is already matched and compatible — no hunting across brands, no guessing on ratios.
DTM Primer-Sealer (AP-7541) — White Sealer — The white ground coat the tri-stage is built on. AP-7541 DTM primer-sealer lays a uniform, opaque foundation for the Jade Green base.
Jade Green Basecoat + Sunstone Subtleshift Midcoat — Jade Green basecoat lays the color foundation, then the Sunstone Subtleshift midcoat adds the green-blue-yellow subtle shift on top.
HS Glamour Clear (AC-4521) — AC-4521 HS Glamour clearcoat buries the color in gloss and locks in UV and chip protection.
Alpha Urethane Reducer (AR-3000 Series) — Alpha urethane reducer thins the base and midcoat to a spray-ready 1:1 ratio for even, controlled coats.
HS Activator (AH-7100 Series) — AH-7100 HS activator catalyzes the HS Glamour clear so it cures hard, clear, and durable.
TSS Cheat Sheet — The TSS cheat sheet keeps every mix ratio and flash window in front of you for the whole job.
Optional Add-Ons
The vehicle paint kit has everything you need to go from prepped surface to finished paint. But depending on where your project is starting, these add-on bundles can save time and money on the prep and masking side:
Bodywork Bundle
$175.00
Body filler, abrasives, and everything for panel repair. Ideal if your project needs dent or rust repair before paint.
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Light Bodywork Bundle
From $92.99
Dolphin Glaze finishing putty and OptiGrit sanding abrasives. Perfect for filling pinholes, minor scratches, and light surface imperfections.
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Mask & Mix Bundle
$75.00
Mixing cups, strainers, masking tape, and masking paper. Everything you need for clean, precise masking and easy paint mixing.
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Linear Blocking Tools Starter Set
From $236.50
CNC-cut polycarbonate sanding blocks with lifetime warranty. Produces perfectly flat, straight panels for a professional finish.
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OptiGrit PSA Sandpaper Bundle
$64.99
Complete PSA sandpaper set in 80, 180, 220, and 320 grit. The full grit progression for blocking and prep, sized for long boards.
Shop NowThe Complete DIY Process
Step 1: Prep & Scuff
Strip and scuff the part with OptiGrit abrasives, mask off any ports and gasket surfaces, and clean it down before a single coat goes on.
Step 2: White Sealer Ground Coat
A white ground coat of DTM primer-sealer is the foundation the jade-green base was built on — it delivers the uniform, full-coverage base the tri-stage needs. Lay it even and let it flash.
Step 3: Jade Green Basecoat
Jade Green basecoat mixes 1:1 with Alpha urethane reducer and lays the color foundation in smooth, even coats. Let each coat flash before the midcoat.
Step 4: Sunstone Subtleshift Midcoat
Sunstone Subtleshift goes on over the jade green in light, even coats until the green-blue-yellow shift comes up evenly. Patience here is what keeps the subtle shift clean instead of blotchy.
Step 5: HS Glamour Clearcoat
HS Glamour clearcoat, catalyzed with HS activator, is where the depth comes alive — it locks the color under a wet, glassy gloss and adds the UV and chip protection.
Step 6: Cut & Buff
Once the clear is fully cured, a light cut with fine OptiGrit and a buff brings it to a mirror. Keep the TSS cheat sheet handy so no ratio or flash window gets rushed.
Ready to Paint Your Own Build?
Everything used here — white DTM primer-sealer, Jade Green basecoat, Sunstone Subtleshift midcoat, HS Glamour clearcoat, reducer, activator, and cheat sheet — in one tri-stage kit.
Build Your Sunstone Kit — $784.93 USDLooking for a different color or kit size? Browse all car kits →
See It in Action
TSS painting tutorials and kit walkthroughs — the answers we get asked most.
Frequently Asked Questions
Jade green. Sunstone Subtleshift is a subtle-shift midcoat designed to run over a color-matching base — the Sunstone over Jade Green kit ships the Jade Green basecoat and white sealer so the green-blue-yellow shift reads exactly as intended.
Subtle by design. Sunstone Subtleshift is a 2-color pearl that moves gently through green, blue, and yellow as the light changes — an elegant effect rather than a hard flip. Even midcoat coats over jade green are what make it read.
Yes — Sunstone Subtleshift is available in an aerosol spray can for touch-ups and small parts, matched to the same midcoat used on the full build.
Every Product Used in This Build
Sunstone over Jade Green Vehicle Paint Kit
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Sunstone Subtleshift Paint Basecoat Midcoat
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DTM Primer-Sealer AP-7541 Kit | Alpha Automotive Paint
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HS Glamour Clearcoat AC-4521 Kit | Alpha Automotive Paint
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Urethane Reducer AR-3000 Series | Alpha Automotive Paint
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HS Activator AH-7100 | Alpha Automotive Paint
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Limited Time Deals
Clearance & Flash Sales
Discounted kits, closeout colors, and flash deals — check back often, these move fast.
Shop Current Sales →Huge thanks for running the tri-stage as designed and turning a Nissan cam cover into one of the cleanest Sunstone Subtleshift pieces we have seen. This is exactly what these kits were built for.
Stay connected with the TSS paint community: follow tutorials and color reveals on YouTube, short-form builds on TikTok and Instagram, and join the Facebook community group.
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