Why is proper lighting important during repair?

• A. To protect the eyes from accidental spills
• B. To avoid shadows on the work surface
• C. To adhere to a fixed lighting schedule
• D. To clearly reveal surface defects under optimal lighting

Answer: (D)

Seeing the true condition of the surface depends on bright, even, color-accurate lighting. When lighting is good, you can clearly reveal defects that might hide in shadows or glare—things like scratches, dents, pinholes, waviness, orange peel, dust, or improper filler. Identifying these issues under optimal lighting lets you address them correctly during prep, sanding, priming, and finishing, which leads to a higher-quality repair and a better color match. While reducing shadows helps inspection, the core reason for proper lighting is to reveal surface defects so you know exactly what needs to be fixed and how.