How many coats of scratch-off paint do I need?

Two coats is the sweet spot, applied in crossing directions so no part of the message shows through.

• First coat: brush or sponge it on horizontally and let it dry fully.
• Second coat: apply vertically to create a cross-hatch that fully conceals what is underneath.
• Avoid overdoing it: three or more coats get too thick, making the panel hard to scratch and prone to cracking or peeling.
• Dry between layers: rushing the second coat before the first sets causes streaking.

For perfectly even panels with no guesswork, professionally printed scratch-off cards lay down a consistent layer that scratches cleanly every time.