thanks criss, they are put on with special sign paint matt uses. it can be cleared over but the paint it self has a very high gloss and is the same paint they paint street signs and store front signs with. its is basically bullet proof, he did a striping job on my 85 electraglide custom that was unreal he used gold leafing inlaid with the striping bad assed. the coolest thing of all is he paints the strips on completly freehand with a brush its mind boggling to see him work im a professional tattoo artist with 17 years in the biz and id never even attempt his stuff his hands give new meaning to steady.