Which term describes a textured surface resembling an orange skin?

• A. Orange peel
• B. Fisheye
• C. Runs
• D. Overspray

Answer: (A)

Orange peel describes a painted surface texture that looks like the rind of an orange, with a bumpy, uneven film. It occurs when the paint doesn’t atomize and level smoothly, often because the viscosity is too high, the reducer ratio is off, or spray gun settings are not correct—such as improper air pressure, incorrect distance to the surface, or uneven spraying speed. The result is a film with tiny hills and valleys instead of a smooth, glassy finish. To fix it, verify and adjust viscosity (thinning as needed), set proper gun air and spray distance, maintain a steady spray technique, and ensure correct surface prep and drying between coats. Other terms describe different issues—fisheye are crater-like holes caused by surface contamination, runs are drips from too much paint or slow movement, and overspray is paint landing on unintended areas—so they don’t describe this orange-peel texture.