You should ask Spraytech about this he knows lots. Two of my collision teachers said to use Matt Black paint when I wanted to paint this truck I almost got but I never got it so never got to do it. If you are painting straight over the black then you will need to pinstripe the flames or else you will have a edge on them that is higher than the base coat. If you are taping it off and not putting the flames over the flat black then just clear them when they are done, not the black or else you will have gloss.