I'd like to have my tail lights look like this...

I've searched but I haven't been able to find any info.
This may be a stupid question but I'm wondering what's the easiest way to go about cutting the tail light overlays to resemble this since they only make overlays that cover the entire tail lights?
Should I install the entire overlay on the tail lights as normal, then once they're set use something like an Xacto knife to carefully cut along the line? I'm wondering if there might be too much of a risk of scratching the tail light itself with this method or if you can do this at all.

OR

Should I put the overlay up to the tail lights and have someone hold it while I mark the line to cut with a pen or something? For some reason I see myself getting an imprecise line doing it this way.

I've never worked with tint so I'm really unsure of how to go about it. I'm know the answer is probably real simple but I'd just like to hear input from anyone with any experience working with tint or just an opinion on how to go about it.

Thanks

 

ive seen this done on alot of cars and what they use is a product called niteshade. it comes in a can and it tints the tails for you. depending on how many coats, depends on how dark they come out. also isnt not a bad idea to clear over it either once your done.

once its done the tails will look black (depending on how many coats you used) but when you press the brakes, the lights do shine through fully and its not dim at all.

you can do like whats shown in your pic by simply taping off what you dont want tinted.

 

make sure you remove the taillights before tinting, it just looks so much better. Make sure there is no wind! Lay down newspaper and place your brake light unit on it and spray evenly across the taillight. I usually use 3-4 coats, and it will have a consistent tint. make sure you spray evenly or it will cause runs. I have done this on several cars and it is much cheaper! One can is all you need and it costs around 7 bucks.

 

i remember that picture from quite a while back.. i believe the owner custom cut it out. i think i remember reading they mocked it up and cut it out.. not sure though

 

we do this at my shop but we use automotive clear coat and add a couple drops of black paint to darken the clear. this turns out a lot cleaner and u can buff and wax it just like your paint. it does cost more we charge around $150 for 4 lights

 

VHT Nightshades will do the job

 

I was never into the murdered/mafia look personally, but I was wondering if that is even legal in all states and is it safe in any state??????

 

Hey i have those :P The shop that did it for me painted it on not overlays. I for 1 thought it was more simple. All they did was take the taillights out, tape the white area so it doesnt affect our backup cameras at night, paint it on primer and clearcoat.

Heres what it looks like: (It looks darker than it really is because the sun was hitting the camera.)

 

nope, not at all legal since it blocks the internal red reflectors inside the tails, iirc there isnt a state that would allow that.

 

I was thinking about doing those before but at the end I did not do it, because I think I might get board of it.

 

looks good on dark colored cars. You can always get a overlay and simply cut that part out very carefully with an exacto. This is how I would do it. Get the overlays from Aerotech and DIY.