In addition to what Jack already offered, which is the most likely explaination, there's also the possibility you have dirt or some other contaminant in your paint , or you didn't properly clean the surface you're painting, or some paints, like exterior deck over paints actually have texture material in them to great a ...
In short, that rough texture that you feel is basically a mix of micro-level dirt that has stuck to your clear coat that won't come off with a simple wash. It can be things like industrial fallout, paint overspray, metal shavings, dust, etc…
Things from the environment and things that kick up from the road stick to and get embedded in the vehicle's paint. This might be things like road grime, micro dirt, tiny metal shavings, over spray, hard water deposits and a myriad of other things that find their way into the clear coat of your vehicle's paint.
You have streaky brush marks.
Using a quality brush or roller makes a big difference in paint jobs, says Chris Gurreri, product manager for Valspar. “A high-quality brush will help provide smooth, straight lines, while a high-quality roller will give better paint coverage and a smoother finish,” he says.
In general, today's vehicles are painted using a spray gun. Air within the gun propels the pigmentation to the car's surface, where it attaches and spreads out into a thin, even layer. However, sometimes the paint doesn't set evenly, and it takes on a bumpy texture similar to orange peel.
To begin, clean and dry the problem area, then box it in with automotive masking tape. Do an initial sanding with wet and dry 300-grit sandpaper. Finish by smoothing with a wet and dry 1200-grit sandpaper. Wipe off the sanded area to ensure you've smoothed out the paint glob and then remove the masking tape.
Skim coating is a technique used to create a smooth surface on textured walls. It involves applying multiple thin layers of joint compound or drywall mud to fill in the texture, followed by sanding and priming to achieve a flat finish.
To restore a smooth finish to the wall, sand down all the uneven areas until they are smooth. Then wipe the walls down completely to remove all dust. Prime and follow up with an even coat of paint using an interior paint roller cover with a ⅜-inch nap, like this one from Purdy (available on Amazon).
The quicker you can get the surface covered and “tipped off”, the more time the paint has to smooth out as it dries. Don't go back and mess with drips that you notice while things are drying. You'll have to fix it later with the next coat. Put it on, smooth it out and leave it alone.
While paints dry to the touch/re-coat within a matter of hours, most paints do not fully cure for up to 30 days. Paint is most sensitive within the 30-day curing process, so it is important to use caution with newly painted surfaces.
If you spray too far away from the substrate you are painting, the paint will atomise and dry before it actually hits the substrate. This will leave a grainy feel on the top surface. You should be able to sand this back and reapply for a much smoother finish.
The clear coat feeling coarse or leaving a sort of misty effect can be due to a few things such as the clear being applied too light, too far, or in high temperatures. Unfortunately you will need to sand the surface before applying clear coat in order to avoid cracking when applying a fresh coat of clear.
Typically, interior walls only need two coats of paint: a first coat and a finish coat. However, dark paint colors may require an additional application to ensure an even finish.
Professional home painting services can tell you that, generally speaking, rollers provide smoother, more even results with less effort than brushes. This makes sense, considering the size, capacity, and mechanics of rollers allow for more coverage with fewer strokes.
Walls, Wood, and Metal - Small 1/4″ nap roller covers or foam rollers will produce the smoothest finish. Light to Medium Textured Surfaces - Microfiber rollers are best. Smooth Surfaces - Use a white woven short nap roller for an ultra fine finish.
And Sarah Lloyd adds: 'We recommend starting with a 120 – 150 grit sandpaper to sand down the raised edges and smooth out the bumpy bits. You just need to do this very lightly until the raised edges are smoothed down. If you sand too hard, you might end up taking off the flat paint underneath. '
SOLUTION. To fix paint wrinkling scrape or sand to remove the wrinkled coating and sand the surface smooth to blend it into the surrounding coating. Make sure the surface is thoroughly clean. If needed, prime bare areas with the appropriate primer, allowing it to dry according to package instructions.
There might be some instances where you can paint over textured walls sooner; however, these are isolated cases. Keep in mind; you should probably use a primer before painting. Some textures will soak up some of the paint, leaving blotchy spots. To avoid this, apply a good coat of primer and some quality paint.
Use a coarse-grit pole sander across the whole surface. The popcorn wall finish should loosen and fall off easily. Be sure to sand evenly, starting in one corner and moving across the wall.