Abstract: A method for surfacing panels, such as automobile panels or the like, includes the steps of applying a thin, reflective, flexible sheet to a panel to be surfaced, illuminating the sheet and comparing differing levels of brightness on the sheet in order to identify irregularities in the panel underlying the sheet. Thereafter, removing portions of the sheet that are overlying the identified irregularities in order to expose irregular portions of the panel, correcting the identified irregular portions and removing a remaining portion of the sheet from the corrected panel.