AIRBRUSH TECHNIQUE - LEARN TO AIRBRUSH - View Single Post

fontgeek · 01-13-2008

The pearls and metalics are touchier, but you will need to thin them or use an airbrush with a larger nozzle, and maybe more air pressure.
Each paint will be different in ratios of reducer/thinner to paint, even within one brand or type of paint. Createx has mucked about with the forumulas for their paints over that last several years, so some is really thick, some is already watery. For most airbrushes, the ideal viscosity for the paint is about the same as skim milk for the finished product. You may find that using Golden Transparent Reducer will help you out, it will let you reduce your paint without losing the adhesive quality. The metalic and pearl pigments may still be a bit of a problem, to get the effects of those paints, they need a fairly decent coverage, so while you may be able to reduce them so that they can spray, you may have to make several passes with the airbrush to get the desired effects.
As Brushbyair has pointed out, if you are only having the problem with the thicker paints, then that helps narrow down the cause. You may find that using coffee stirs to make sure you have the paint well mixed will help. Mixing and reducing the paint in a separate container from the brush itself will help too. I grab the little cups with lids from the fast food places I like, they give me good mixing containers that can last a good while without spending my money on expensive cups. They can be washed and used again and again.
Good luck!

01-13-2008	#5 (permalink)
fontgeek magazine subscriber Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 420	Re: strange "spit" The pearls and metalics are touchier, but you will need to thin them or use an airbrush with a larger nozzle, and maybe more air pressure. Each paint will be different in ratios of reducer/thinner to paint, even within one brand or type of paint. Createx has mucked about with the forumulas for their paints over that last several years, so some is really thick, some is already watery. For most airbrushes, the ideal viscosity for the paint is about the same as skim milk for the finished product. You may find that using Golden Transparent Reducer will help you out, it will let you reduce your paint without losing the adhesive quality. The metalic and pearl pigments may still be a bit of a problem, to get the effects of those paints, they need a fairly decent coverage, so while you may be able to reduce them so that they can spray, you may have to make several passes with the airbrush to get the desired effects. As Brushbyair has pointed out, if you are only having the problem with the thicker paints, then that helps narrow down the cause. You may find that using coffee stirs to make sure you have the paint well mixed will help. Mixing and reducing the paint in a separate container from the brush itself will help too. I grab the little cups with lids from the fast food places I like, they give me good mixing containers that can last a good while without spending my money on expensive cups. They can be washed and used again and again. Good luck!