When it comes to paint correction, not all damages are created equal. As such, there need to be different correction levels of varying degrees to cater to specific needs.

Below are some of the most common correction levels that professional detailers offer and always should be done before ceramic coating is applied:

1. Swirl Mark Removal: This level focuses exclusively on removing swirl marks from car surfaces without leveling them down entirely. It usually requires one or two stages of polishing with the appropriate compounds.

2. One-Step Paint Correction: This includes removing nearly 50% of surface-level defects such as swirls and scratches while maintaining most of the original clear coat depth. A single-stage polishing process is typically sufficient at this level.

3. Two-Step Paint Correction: This level removes up to 85% of surface-level damage by relying on heavier cutting compounds for initial pass-through before going onto more refined stages of polishing.

4. Multi-Step Paint Correction: Requiring multiple stages, this level of correction caters to vehicles with severe defects, oxidation, and deep scratches and marks. The process is more comprehensive than the other levels, involving varied degrees of compound cutting, medium or fine grit finishing polish passes, and sometimes using a jeweler’s polish for additional clarity.