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These are the steps I usually take:
1. light sanding on smooth surfaces to rough them up and give them "tooth" for the paint to bite on to
2. clean with alcohol / cloth as described
3. spray light coat of primer. Primer is important as it bonds to the surface better than top coat paint. Primer designed for plastics are better for plastics, primer for metal is better for metal. For plastic I use Krylon Fusion for plastic primer.
4. repeat another light coat of primer.
5. After the primer has dried, do the top coat (matte black, green, etc..) Again, a light coat works well
6. I'll usually do about 3 light coats total to ensure even coverage.
7. If I want a matte or satin protective finish, I'll finish it off with some Tamiya clear Matte or Satin finish. It will help protect the finish from light abrasion / scratches.
Keep in mind that Krylon is lacquer based and Tamiya / most hobby paints are enamel based. You can paint enamel on top of lacquer but not the other way around. The lacquer based paint can eat away and "melt" enamel coatings.
The key is to not rush the job, take your time and let things dry thoroughly. Spray in a ventilated space and wear a mask.
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