You can buy any single stage (opaque or metallic) paint you want "on line". I live in So. California with the most stringent AQMD standards, and I have no problem buying quality automotive single stage paints or two part epoxy primers. Any local automotive paint store has it, or TCP will custom mix you any color "on line" and ship it. The paint uses "activators" and "hardeners" and will air dry to the touch in a couple of hours, or dry to sand/tape overnight. It's modern paint, it does not require baking, and does not take forever to dry. I spray cars and trailers in my driveway at home and get professional results.
Powder coating is "plastic" melted over your part, it's thicker and will never look like a painted part. Make sure they tape off the areas where you will be installing pressed in cups. Remember, if it's left in the sun, powder coating will chalk (fade) long before any quality painted part. I have done trailer tongues with some powder coated and some color matched painted parts. The painted parts always out lasted the coated parts.
The only advantage I see is, powder coating is easier, because you just drop off the part, write the check, and pick it up in a week turnaround.
If your going to have hand pin striping done, just make sure you have a paint job that has had the hardeners and activators properly added as per the MDS (material data sheet). That way, the pin stripper can wipe off the wet One Step paint and not damage your base color.
John
