if you use the paint right it wont affect it atall. the trick is not to spray it directly at it.(makes the paint go in the fins to deep) paint at a 45 degree angle or a little greater from the face that way only the verry tips of the fins get painted. only the edges are generaly exposed to enough light to show up shiny so thats all ya need to hide, and dont use much! just haze it. otherwise you can block some airflow too. I did it to mine and obviously nobody ever sees it coming