Lighting and Visibility in PDR Flashcards
6 cards from real Paintless Dent Repair practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Lighting and Visibility in PDR flashcards as text
What is the 'shadow test' used for in PDR quality inspection?
Answer: Positioning a single directional light to cast shadows across the repaired area, revealing any remaining high or low spots by the shadows they create
The shadow test uses a single directional light source positioned to cast revealing shadows across the repair area; any remaining surface irregularity casts a visible shadow that confirms the repair needs more work.
How should PDR lighting be set up differently for repairing a vertical door panel versus a horizontal hood?
Answer: Vertical panels need lights positioned horizontally to create reflections across the surface, while hoods need lights angled from the side or end to rake across the flat surface
Vertical panels require horizontal light bars positioned across from the panel, while horizontal panels need side or end-angled lights to rake across the surface and reveal dents through distorted reflections.
What is a 'hot spot' in PDR lighting and why should it be avoided?
Answer: An intensely bright spot in the reflection that washes out detail and makes it impossible to see the dent's exact contour in that area
A hot spot is an overly bright concentrated reflection point that bleaches out surface detail, preventing the technician from seeing the true contour of the dent in that region.
How does LED technology improve PDR work compared to older fluorescent PDR lights?
Answer: LEDs offer consistent color temperature, adjustable brightness, cooler operation, and longer life, providing more reliable reflections than older fluorescent tubes that shift in color as they age
LEDs provide stable, consistent color temperature and brightness over their lifetime without the color shift that aging fluorescent tubes experience, giving more reliable and accurate reflections for PDR work.
What technique do PDR technicians use to verify a final repair after the main lighting check?
Answer: Technicians use multiple lighting angles, including oblique raking light and overhead inspection, plus a final wipe-down to reveal any remaining texture differences
Final quality checks use multiple lighting positions — raking, overhead, oblique — to view the repair from all angles, and a final surface wipe reveals any texture differences invisible under repair lighting.
Why is color-correct lighting important when a PDR technician also assesses paint condition?
Answer: Accurate color temperature reveals true paint color, allowing technicians to correctly identify scratches, paint stress, or color variation that may indicate prior repair or cracking risk
Color-accurate lighting allows technicians to see the true color of paint, identifying stress-whitening, micro-scratches, or color variation from prior repairs that could affect PDR planning and outcome.