[macdude]

Hey y'all! I thought I'd pop open a thread to share with you some of the stuff we do inside the "batcave". I'm sure most of you have either visited AutoDetailer Studio or checked out our website and have seen some of the state-of-the-art equipment that we got including a visual tour of the facilities! It's a place designed from the ground up to handcraft each vehicle into extraordinary showpieces using the most advanced technology and a detailer's discipline to precision.



It's been a long and storied journey with Autoworld since 2004 when I first bumped into the detailing section of Autoworld's forum and met up with a bunch of equally-obsessed detailing enthusiasts. We would meet at my previous detailing garage at the hangar section of GTPJ in Sec 13 for a whole lotta fun experimenting with the latest products and techniques(and remarkably for a lot of the current detailing members here that hasn't changed!). The early pioneers have all retired now and have focused their energy on other equally obsessive pursuits. vr2turbo is still here holding the fort though! *hehe*



My intention with this thread is to share with you some of the stuff that happens behind-the-scenes at the batcave. It'll be a thread that I'll be updating every now and then in-between a rather hectic work schedule. I feel blessed to have the opportunity to craft our signature finishes on every car that passes through our hands and I thank God first and foremost for taking us this far and providing us the resources to do what each of us at AutoDetailer Studio love most... turning regular cars into masterpieces!

I certainly hope you'll be enjoying the updates...

macdude aka Darren Chang

[vr2turbo]

That was the time I joined AW at the end of 2004. Having joined you and the then sifus, I really learned a lot. From the time darthdude corrected me from the difference in polish and compound. Pure polish and AIO and so on....that time OTC user...
These are the few I remember. macdude, darthdude, popiah, collins, kenso, sherwin, zeytee, nickgomez, kec and our lady member weezy. Bring back memories......
And especially seeing you grow too from your humble hangar section (basement parking) to the now batcave......

[tpl]

wahh.. all nice cars...

[macdude]

That was the time I joined AW at the end of 2004. Having joined you and the then sifus, I really learned a lot. From the time darthdude corrected me from the difference in polish and compound. Pure polish and AIO and so on....that time OTC user...
These are the few I remember. macdude, darthdude, popiah, collins, kenso, sherwin, zeytee, nickgomez, kec and our lady member weezy. Bring back memories......
And especially seeing you grow too from your humble hangar section (basement parking) to the now batcave......

Interestingly we now have another lady, Jessie joining the ranks as well seven years later! Good times then and great to see the detailing community has now grown into what it is today.

[macdude]

Wheels are an important part of a car's appearance. Part of our detailing protocols is to ensure every bolt that locks each wheel is polished perfectly...

[cashloke]

Master of detailing!
Can you give us some tips on car photography?
1) Len use(aperture ,speed and etc setting )
2) what to look for( angle) that shows the great shine.
3) how many soft box use
4) fave background setup.
Think many will benefit from it. Many thanks in advance.

[vr2turbo]

Master of detailing!
Can you give us some tips on car photography?
1) Len use(aperture ,speed and etc setting )
2) what to look for( angle) that shows the great shine.
3) how many soft box use
4) fave background setup.
Think many will benefit from it. Many thanks in advance.

He is also Master of photography. He actually gave a talk on automotive photography in one of the Sony exhibition....
I think you have not visited the Batcave yet? If you have the time do drop by. He has a special room built just for automotive photography.....
As for the above, some of it I think difficult to mention in words. As for aperture and speed depends on lighting also, since your lighting is not under controlled environment...

[macdude]

Master of detailing!
Can you give us some tips on car photography?
1) Len use(aperture ,speed and etc setting )
2) what to look for( angle) that shows the great shine.
3) how many soft box use
4) fave background setup.
Think many will benefit from it. Many thanks in advance.

Hi cashloke,

Not a "master" la. That's a bit self-indulgent! The thing with life is that you're always learning. Even right up till now I'm discovering new perspectives in detailing and improved processes. We're able to achieve the kind of finish that is on a class of it's own because every year we task upon ourselves to reinvent and take on new challenges. Whatever accolades previously earned is quickly put aside in order to re-evolve into something even better. The moment you stop, you've set and reached your limit.

Interestingly the same principle works for photography as well. That aside, I'll see how I can chime in on your questions...
1) Len use - You what you have. It's all about the shooter not the tool. Even bog-standard kit lenses can churn out amazing photos. For aperture, anything 5.6 and above is fine. You're looking for details in an automotive shot unless you're going for bokeh effects. Shutter speed is mostly dialed in for motorsports i.e. panning and for static shots usually dependent on lighting conditions. Lighting means everything in photography. Everything. Start with that. Oh and get rid of that huge flash on your camera. Big no no for automotive shoots.
2) what to look for( angle) that shows the great shine. - I usually feel my way through a shoot not specifically looking for angles with pronounced shine. All my commercial shoots have one pre-requisite, that it has to be detailed by us so on that factor I can dependably expect the best shine in any shot.
3) how many soft box use - You can create lighting effects with harsh or diffused(softboxes). It can begin with one or twelve lighting sources. It's all up to you. Give it your flavour.
4) fave background setup. - None. As long as the object you're shooting is clearly distinguished from a clean background it's good.

Honestly, the more you shoot the better you get at it. Experience counts.

[macdude]

Here we are dry-sanding the paintwork on a freshly-restored and painted Ferrari 360 in order to achieve a concourse-ready finish with an incredibly flat clear-coat texture and razor-sharp mirror-reflection...

[jessietan]

Wheels are an important part of a car's appearance. Part of our detailing protocols is to ensure every bolt that locks each wheel is polished perfectly...

I am afraid my car service centre (authorized) scratched my sports rim during the usual car service. They removed the tires using that gun thingy and that scratched the nuts and their surrounding area. I think it is a lost cause because the scratches are quite deep and I don't think they can be removed by any polish.

Guys, what is your advice? And what do you do to protect your sports rim from such carelessness?

p.s.
I only noticed the scratches about a week after the car service when I was washing my car.