Forza Horizon 4 is not only racing along the picturesque roads of Britain, but also the opportunity to create the car of your dreams. One of the key elements of customization is body painting, which allows you to distinguish your car from thousands of others. However, the editor's interface may seem difficult for beginners: where to find the necessary settings, how to combine layers, why does the paint look dull on some parts? In this guide, we'll walk you through the process from A to Z - from choosing a base color to working with vinyls and saving the result.

It is important to understand that painting in FH4 differs from a real car service: there are no restrictions on budget or physical properties of materials, but there are some nuances. For example, glossy coatings may look different depending on in-game lighting, and some vinyls clash with metallic textures. We'll tell you how to avoid common mistakes and achieve professional results even without design experience.

If you want to not just repaint your car, but create a unique style - with gradients, matte inserts, or even imitation patches - this guide will help you understand all the editor's tools. And for those who prefer ready-made solutions, we have prepared a selection of proven design codes from the community.

Preparing for painting: choosing a machine and available options

Before you start painting, make sure the machine you choose supports the customization options you want. B Forza Horizon 4 There are three key points:

  • 🔧 Car level: some rare models (eg McLaren Senna or Ferrari 250 GTO) have limited paint options. Check it out on the menu Upgrade & Customize.
  • 🎨 Body type: On open-top cars (roadsters) or with large glass surfaces (e.g. Tesla Model S) vinyls and paint look different than on the coupe.
  • 💰 Cost of repainting: The game has a “credits” system - the rarer the model, the more expensive it is to customize. Make sure you have enough funds (the price is indicated in the lower right corner of the editor screen).

Pay special attention body materials. B FH4 there are cars with carbon fiber parts (for example, Koenigsegg Agera RS), which do not always correctly display metallic or mother-of-pearl. If you want a uniform color, choose models with a classic metal body - Nissan GT-R, Porsche 911 or Ford Mustang.

⚠️ Attention: If you are playing on PC versions With mods, some colors may appear differently due to modified shaders. Before saving your design, test it in preview mode (Y on the controller or Tab on the keyboard).
📊 What type of paint job do you prefer in Forza Horizon 4?
Matte color
Metallic/pearl
Vinyls and stickers
Gradients and complex designs

Basic settings: selecting color and type of coating

After starting the editor (Customize → Paint & Vinyls) you will be taken to a menu with basic parameters. Here you need to select:

  1. Main color (Primary Color) - affects 70-80% of the body surface.
  2. Secondary color (Secondary Color) - used for bumpers, mirrors and other parts.
  3. Coverage type (Finish) - gloss, matte, metallic, pearl or chrome.

For realistic results, follow the rule: metallic and pearl suitable for sports cars (eg Lamborghini Huracán), and matte colors - for tuned street cars in style stance (for example, BMW E30). It is better to use chrome selectively - it quickly tires the eye during racing.

Coverage type Better suited for Features in FH4
Gloss Classic cars, retro design Excellent color depth, but scratches are visible
Matte Tuned cars, off-road Hides model defects, but fades in the rain
Metallic Sports and premium cars Changes hue depending on viewing angle
Mother of pearl Exclusive models, show cars Expensive, but gives a unique shine

To check how paint looks under different conditions, use the function Environment Preview (button LB on the controller). This will allow you to see the car in daylight, in fog or under artificial lighting Festival.

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If you want to achieve a "chameleon" effect (color changes depending on the angle), choose mother of pearl and set contrasting shades to Primary and Secondary. For example, purple + green will give an unusual transition.

Working with layers and vinyls: creating a unique design

Vinyls are "stickers" that are applied over a base color. B Forza Horizon 4 they can be combined, changed transparency and even animated (for example, add flickering stripes). To get started:

  1. Go to section Vinyls.
  2. Select Add New Group (to organize layers).
  3. Click Create Vinyl and select a shape (geometric shapes, logos, texts).

For complex designs use multi-layering:

  • 🔹 Bottom layer: large elements (stripes, gradients).
  • 🔹 Middle layer: logos, inscriptions.
  • 🔹 Top layer: small details (strokes, dots).

B Forza Horizon 4 there is a hidden function: if you hold LT (on the controller) or Shift (on the keyboard) when scaling the vinyl, the resizing step will become more precise - this will help align the elements by millimeters.

⚠️ Attention: Highly detailed vinyls (such as photorealistic images) may slow down game on weak PCs. If FPS drops in the editor, reduce the number of layers or simplify the shapes.

Make sure there are no unwanted layers overlapping|

Check the vinyls on all corners of the body (sometimes they "slide" on the arches)|

Test your design in motion - some elements may flicker at speed|

Save a backup (Save As New Design) in case of error -->

Advanced techniques: gradients, patches and effects

If basic tools seem boring, try these tricks:

1. Gradient painting

For a smooth transition between colors:

  1. Select Primary Color and set the first shade.
  2. Activate Secondary Color and select the second shade.
  3. In the section Finish install Pearlescent (mother of pearl).
  4. Adjust the parameter Effect Amount (from 30% to 70% for natural transition).

2. Imitation of patch (torn paint)

The effect of “peeling” paint is created using vinyls:

  • 🖌️ Add vinyl shapes Scratch (in category Decals).
  • 🎨 Set the vinyl color close to the metal color (gray or black).
  • 🔄 Repeat the vinyl several times with different transparency (Opacity from 20% to 60%).

3. Glowing elements (neon)

For night glow:

  • 💡 Choose vinyl with high brightness (such as Glow in category Effects).
  • 🎨 Set neon color (pink, blue, green).
  • 🔦 Enable the option Emit Light (not available on all machines).

These techniques require patience, but the results are worth the effort. For example, a combination of a gradient and a patch looks great on Dodge Charger 1969 in style Mad Max.

How to make a "golden" car?

To achieve a realistic gold finish, choose:

1. Main color: Gold Metallic (palette Metallic).

2. Coating type: Metallic with parameter Flake Size at maximum.

3. Add Vinyl Chrome with 30% transparency for protruding parts (radiator grille, wheels).

This will create a "gold foil" effect without being vulgar.

Saving and applying design: how not to lose your work

After finishing painting, be sure to save the result:

  1. Click Save Design (button Menu on the controller).
  2. Come up with a unique name (for example, Mustang_BlackGold_2026).
  3. Select Save to My Designs or Share Online (if you want to share with other players).

Important details:

  • 🔐 Designs are saved linked to specific model. If you have repainted Nissan Skyline R34, the same design will not appear automatically on Subaru Impreza.
  • 🔄 To transfer the design to another machine, use the function Apply Design in the customization menu.
  • 💾 If the game crashes while saving, the design may be lost. Press regularly Save (every 5-10 minutes of work).

If you want to share your masterpiece with the community, export it via Share Design. Specify tags (for example, #JDM, #MatBlack) and a short description - this will help other players find your work in search.

⚠️ Attention: When updating the game (Forza Horizon 4 no longer receives major updates, but sometimes patches are released) some custom designs may disappear from the online library. To avoid loss, take screenshots of your design (F12 on PC or button Share on Xbox) and save them to your cloud drive.

Top 5 rookie mistakes and how to avoid them

Even experienced players sometimes make these mistakes:

  1. Too bright colors on matte finishes - look cheap. Use muted tones (eg. Gunmetal Gray or Deep Blue).
  2. Ignoring secondary color — many people forget that bumpers and mirrors can be painted separately. This adds depth to the design.
  3. Vinyl overload — more than 10 layers may lag. Optimize by combining small elements into groups.
  4. Untested design in motion — some vinyls flicker at speed. Always race test your car before saving.
  5. Copying other people's designs without adaptation - Colors may appear different on your model due to different body shape.

To avoid disappointment, follow this simple rule: less is more. It is better to focus on 1-2 details (for example, contrasting mirrors and wheels) than to overload the car with stickers.

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Before saving your design, be sure to test it in three modes: daylight, night and rain. This will help identify defects that are not visible in the editor.

Ready-made design codes: selection from the community

If you don't want to waste time creating a design from scratch, you can use ready-made templates. B Forza Horizon 4 there is a system for sharing designs through Designs & Liveries. Here are a few proven options:

Car model Design style Search code Author
Nissan GT-R (R35) Japanese tuning (matte black + gold accents) 123-456-7890 RaceKing99
Porsche 911 GT3 RS Racing livery (blue and yellow stripes) 987-654-3210 SpeedDemon
Ford Mustang GT 1967 American muscle car (red and white) 555-123-4567 ClassicLover
Lamborghini Huracán Futuristic (purple-green gradient) 111-222-3333 Futurist

To apply someone else's design:

  1. Go to Customize → Designs & Liveries.
  2. Select Find Designs and enter the code from the table.
  3. Click Apply and confirm replacement of the current design.

Please note: some designs may require DLC (for example, package Car Pass) if exclusive colors or vinyls are used.

FAQ: answers to frequently asked questions

Is it possible to paint wheels and other parts separately?

Yes, in Forza Horizon 4 there are separate settings for disks (Rims), calipers (Brake Calipers) and even for the salon (Interior). To change their color, go to the section Upgrade & Customize → Visual Upgrades.

Why does my paint look dull on some parts?

This is due to the texture of the model. For example, on plastic bumpers (Toyota Supra MK4) or carbon fiber spoilers (Koenigsegg Jesko) paint may appear differently than on metal. Try adding low-transparency vinyl over problem areas.

How to make a car completely chrome?

Full chrome is not available as a base coat, but you can imitate the effect:

  1. Choose a primary color Silver Metallic.
  2. Add vinyl Chrome (category Effects) on all surfaces.
  3. Set the vinyl opacity to 80-90%.

Please note that this design will reflect strongly in the sun.

Is it possible to return to standard paint after changes?

Yes, for this:

  1. Go to Customize → Paint & Vinyls.
  2. Select Reset to Default (usually a button X on the controller).

This will remove all custom settings, including vinyls.

Where can I download additional vinyls for FH4?

Officially, additional vinyls can only be obtained through DLC or game updates. However, there are mods in the community for the PC version that add new textures. Look for them on sites like Nexus Mods or ForzaMods. Be careful - mods may conflict with the game's anti-cheat.