I do a combination of rattle cans and HVLP. I took a finished part, sprayed from a can, to a body shop supply house and they matched that. Took a couple of tries, but now they have the formula down.
Smaller parts that become ready for paint in ones and twos...I rattle can. On the big stuff like the hood and fender pan, you are never going to achieve the best finish that way. The little nozzle simply can't get the paint onto the work in a wide enough, or generous enough pattern. HVLP is the way to go with the bigger stuff.
Then, when the inevitable chips occur down the line, your paint is all matched up so that rattle can touchups blend right in.
