What should you do after applying clear coat to your test panel?

After applying clear coat to a test panel, examining the color under daylight conditions is essential for several reasons. Natural daylight provides an accurate representation of the color's appearance, as it contains a full spectrum of light that can reveal how the clear coat affects the underlying paint's hue, saturation, and overall finish.

This step is crucial because artificial lighting can distort the perception of color, making it appear differently than it would in natural settings. Evaluating the test panel in daylight ensures that any potential issues with color matching or clarity of the finish can be detected before proceeding with the final application on the vehicle.

The other options, while potentially relevant in different contexts, do not address the immediate concern after applying clear coat. Performing a scratch test may compromise the finish, and storing the panel in a dark place would not provide the necessary light to assess the color accurately. Using a colorimeter, while a precise method of color measurement, may not be practical at this initial stage of testing and evaluation.