Abstract: A vacuum painting apparatus has movable entry and exit ports which compensate for bending or twisting of the strip material being painted. The entry and exit port templates are connected together by four compression struts. A spring-loaded slidable seal is provided around the periphery of each of the entry and exit port templates, sealing the templates to the box structure of the vacuum painting apparatus. The templates use either "Z" or "C" shaped parts each having first and second ends and a web therebetween, with one end having larger dimensions than the other end. A first set of guide roller assemblies is positioned at the entry port on the exterior of the apparatus, while a second set of guide roller assemblies is positioned at the exist port on the interior of the apparatus.