Too bad I can't catch any pics. Yeah, I always put on a final protective coat over the auto air. For my budget, I simply use a couple coats of laquer paint. Walmart for $2 a can. If I need to put a clear coat on it or am using a transparent color and don't want a dark background, I will use clear laquer. Otherwise, I will hit it w/ a couple of coats of either black or white, depending on the color I spray. I have had great results using the laquer as my protectant over the auto air. The only thing you have to do is to make sure that the createx is completely/thoroughly dry. I usually wait several days before I put on the protectant coat.
Anyway, it sounds like you were able to dye the chrome. Good job.
Later...