If you want to use a Soft Body color, we suggest thinning it first with Liquitex Airbrush Medium to get to the desired consistency. But in trying to spray these paints, had trouble with them in my Aztec airbrush. Thinning Acrylic Paint The general rule of thumb for most acrylic paints is to reduce them with distilled water or airbrush reducers until they flow like milk. All rights reserved. 10ml                                                      10                                                            0.50 They do not need to be thinned, have little to no odor and are easily cleaned up with water. A quality bottle is perhaps why Vallejo paints also have a long shelf life. Brace yourself for the shameless plugs. For the drop counters out there (I consider myself one), small batches of Thinner with 5% Liquitex are easily prepared by adding one drop of Liquitex to 20 drops of thinner. Acrylic paint can be thinned for airbrushing by adding distilled water to the paint until it has the same consistency as milk. Metallic acrylic paint can serve many purposes and provides a pop of vibrant color to any project. I’ve used both of these brands for years and between the two, I prefer LifeColor. Mixing the right consistency is vital for the airbrush and paint to work together. When the acrylic paints are dry, they cannot be "lifted" like watercolors. After painting I spray Badger Airbrush Cleaner through the airbrush, but I clean siphon caps and in-bottle strainers with tap water. The contrast will make the level of darkness clearer, Decrease the air pressure on the airbrush to create spattered or stippled effects, When working on textiles, your color must permeate the cloth and be seen as a ghost image on the reverse side to be permanent. By tip I’m referring to the combination of nozzle and needle. My preferred flow enhancer is Liquitex Flow Aid. How an Airbrush Works An airbrush needs two components to work: air and paint. Air and water propel the paint. The proper thinning procedure is determined by the type of surface to be airbrushed and by durability desired for the final paint film. 10ml                                                     10                                                           0.5. A 0.2mm tip is good for applying primary coats on small 1/72 scale aircraft (single seat). The amount may vary due to individual pigment characteristics. The acrylic paints tend to clog the airbrush at the nozzle, which can land up producing a splattering effect. 6ml                                                          6                                                            0.30 Metallic acrylic paint is shimmery and ideal for different types of crafts. Thin paint by adding thinner drop by drop, until your consistency has been achieved. This requires 2ml (or 40 drops) of Liquitex to make a 5% solution. So, let’s dive into some techniques for spraying two of the better-known acrylics, Vallejo and LifeColor. MPS Bottle                                      Liquitex Drops                                     Liquitex Milliliters If you remember to continuously clean the needle while spraying you’ll be rewarded with a better spray pattern, fewer blobs and splatters, and an overall smoother finish. We are an authorized Harder & Steenbeck reseller. You can make regal and luxe objects to put on display or give as gifts. Lastly, Thinner-Liquitex solutions have a long shelf life if properly stored so your mix will be ready when you need it. Wet acrylic paint can be removed from brushes and other surfaces with soap and water. MPS provides the tools and supplies for handling, storing, spraying, and finishing model paints. When painting miniatures and models, some people prefer to use an airbrushing technique over a paintbrush. W… Especially, if you are heavily reducing the paint. For general airbrush work (defined above) I use an, Although addition of Liquitex decreases paint build up on the needle, it does not prevent it all together. On the other hand, if it is too thin, you will find your paint … Acrylic paints dry quickly, are easy to clean and have no odors. Both Vallejo and LifeColor are great paints that perform nicely if tamed with a little Liquitex. Please check your inbox for a confirmation message. In addition Vallejo paints come in handy dropper-cap bottles making measuring more accurate and easy. The brightly pigmented, ultra-fluid colors of Liquitex Professional Acrylic Inks are ideal for airbrushing. For general airbrush work (defined above) I use an Evolution or Infinity airbrush fitted with 0.2 or 0.4mm tip depending on the size model I’m spraying. A thinner paint mix will require more passes for good coverage. Airbrush medium contains acrylic polymer. In the extreme, a thick coat of paint can also obliterate engraving and subtle details on the models surface. These cookies do not store any personal information. These days I eyeball it and mix it in the airbrush cup, largely because I’m impatient and Tamiya paints are amazingly forgiving. The secret is out. Acrylics will dry to the touch in minutes; they require 24 hours for a full cure. I prefer to prepare a large volume of Vallejo or LifeColor thinner to which Liquitex has been added to 5%. Alclad (29.5~30)                                       30                                                          1.5 This helps prevent needle build up and makes clean up easier as well (see Airbrushing Vol. After mixing, the solution is poured into a 40ml bottle, marked with a Sharpie, and stored for use. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Water actually breaks down the binders in acrylic paint, thinning the paint to resemble that of watercolors, allowing it to sink into the surface of the support and dry with a matte finish. However there are few things to keep in mind when diluting paint with water. Besides using Italeri's Acrylic Paint Thinner, what else can be used to thin these paints for airbrushing? It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. For general spraying 12-15 psi is a good place to start. Adding up to 30 percent water to acrylic paint thins it but still allows it to coat a surface. Airbrushing allows for consistent coverage but requires additional skills and knowledge if you want the best finished product.. Airbrush paint is recommended to paint these surfaces, but the cool thing is that you can use any thinned acrylic paint in an airbrush. Simply unscrew the aircap and the nozzle literally drops out. Aim for the consistency of skim milk and adjust as necessary after trying the thinned paint in your airbrush. " When the acrylic paints are thinned with Delta Ceramcoat® Acrylic Thinner, it reduces the paints to a proper consistency for watercolor and airbrushing techniques. You can also use this medium in paints for normal brushing as well, provided that your paints are water-based. However, using a significant amount of water to reduce your acrylic paint can result in some undesirable outcomes. Conversely, I usually spray clear coats and primers at a higher pressure of ~15 psi. Cleaning Acrylic Paint . Airbrush Medium is one of the most versatile mediums to have in your acrylic toolkit - it does far more than airbrushing! Allow to dry, Continue airbrush application over painting surface as needed, Back flush clean water through the airbrush periodically, Paint build-up on the tip of the airbrush needle and in the spray cap should be removed regularly, Occasionally remove the needle for a more thorough cleaning, Airbrush should be stored in a container of water (with tip submerged) when not being used, Do not immerse the entire airbrush in water, Water-soluble paint can be easily cleaned from the airbrush while wet - do not allow acrylic paint or mediums to dry in the airbrush, Backflush your airbrush with water, Liquitex Pen Cleaner, an ammonia-based window cleaner or an airbrush cleaner, Allow some cleaner to remain in the airbrush for about 15 minutes to loosen any stubborn deposits, Follow this by spraying water through the brush until clean, Clean the outside of the airbrush with denatured alcohol, If anything is stubborn and dried on, soak the airbrush parts in a dish of Liquitex Pen Cleaner until softened and able to be removed, Do not soak plastic washers, seals or handles in alcohol, When spraying, use an effective dust or particle mask, approved by NIOSH, Your airbrush enclosure should have adequate ventilation, with vent for incoming air and fan exhaust, Always keep your work areas clean of airbrush overspray, Read your paint labels - cadmium and cobalt pigments are toxic in mist (spray) form and may be cancer causing if inhaled - they should be avoided if airbrushing. Thanks! Yes, Acrylic Ink can be used in your airbrush. In case you’re re-cycling old paint bottles, here’s a chart of common brands, their volumes, and the amount of Liquitex that should be added to a full bottle to achieve a 5% solution. For those who prefer Model Master acrylic paint, you can follow the same guidelines as for Vallejo and LifeColor: 5% Liquitex added to Model Master Acrylic Thinner (#50496) then paint diluted to ~30% by volume. With that in I mind, please take whatever you find useful from the following suggestions, combine it with your own experience, and develop a technique that best suites you. A few things that resemble a good pouring consistency: 1. For average airbrushing jobs, I dilute Vallejo Model Air (not Vallejo Model Color) and LifeColor to roughly ~30% or ~1/3 paint in the appropriate Thinner-Liquitex mix. In an effort to make it easier, the following chart provides the volumes of common airbrush paint cups and the amount of Liquitex (in drops or milliliters) that would have to be added to make a 5% solution. As with most airbrushing techniques, experiment with different pressure settings until you find what works best for you. What can I do? As the air pressure is increased the airbrush should be held further from the working surface, This is a thin sheet of material with a cut-out shape/pattern, You can use them in two ways: positive stencils, where you spray through the holes, or negative stencils, where you hold shapes on your surface and spray over them, This is a thin vinyl film with a low tack adhesive on one side, to protect covered areas from overspray, If an area has been painted, allow to completely dry before applying the frisket, Burnish your frisket to make sure it’s flat, with no air bubbles, To improve adhesion of your frisket film to canvas, use a fine weave canvas and apply 1-2 coats of Liquitex Gloss Medium over the area that is to be covered, Using a sharp razor knife and light pressure, carefully cut the frisket to your desired shape, then remove the unwanted frisket and apply next color, Do not allow frisket or tape to remain on the surface for periods longer than a day, To achieve straight lines or attach masking materials, use drafting or Scotch tape in the same way as frisket. The biggest breakthrough I have made lately is to always use an airbrush medium when thinning acrylic paints for airbrushing..Think about it, water, alcohol, washer fluid, glycerin, grandma's recipe, do not have any bonding qualitys. I thin about 10 percent (by eye) according to the manufaturer's instructions, and I add 6 to 8 drops of Liquitex Acrylic Flow Aid per ounce of diluted paint. LifeColor (22)                                           22                                                           1.1 Moreover, when compared to established standards (RLM color chips), LifeColor is surprisingly accurate. With regards to other additives, Vallejo produces two reagents Thinner Medium (#73.524) and Airbrush Flow Improver (#71.62) that are described as wetting agents. 20ml                                                      20                                                             1 All three of the aforementioned tips (.15, .20, .40) are available for the Evolution, Infinity, and Grafo airbrushes. However, a mix of ~30% paint is what I would use to shoot the blue of a Hellcat, the olive drab of a P-39, or the RLM-65 of a Bf-109 (apologies to the non-airplane people for all the aircraft references). Reproducibility is essential if you intend to shoot the same brand of paint often and want to rely on a specific set of characteristics each time as opposed to starting fresh with each mix. Thinning acrylics with water causes them to lose their vivid color and appear flat after drying. You want to achieve a light cream consistency or thinner, Liquitex Acrylic Ink doesn't need thinning, but if you are using a Soft Body paint we recommend thinning with Airbrush Medium. Liquitex offers a liquid medium that is made with an acrylic polymer, and is specially formulated to be used in thinning acrylic paints for airbrushing. Model Master (14.7~15)                         15                                                          0.750 I keep it very close at hand because after 1-2 minutes of spraying (depending on the % paint in the mix), I stop and clean the needle. My acrylic paint dries too fast. For larger 1/72, 1/48, and 1/32, I use a 0.4mm tip. Also, if you can, use the medium viscosity paints, the stuff that is in the tubes is too thick to thin enough for airbrush use without affecting transparency (if that isn't a problem, then go to town! We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. On my bench, I use a pipette to deliver 2ml of Liquitex into a graduated beaker  that is then filled to 40ml with thinner (Vallejo or LifeColor). In contrast, primers are best applied using a 0.4mm tip. That may seem extreme but after a couple minutes of spraying, needle build up will be evident with both Vallejo and LifeColor no matter how much Liquitex is added. Use an acrylic medium, which is paint without the color, to thin acrylic paint and then experiment with the airbrush to get the right air pressure poundage. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. thinning acrylic paint for airbrush application Liquitex Medium Viscosity Concentrated Acrylic Colors can easily be thinned to flow properly through an airbrush. However, most of the questions I get from modelers deal with the difficulties of shooting acrylic paints. For general airbrush work however, Vallejo and LifeColor acrylics are just as good as lacquer/enamels and they don’t stink the house up. Thinning acrylic paint for airbrushing is as simple as blending paint and thinner together, whether it's in a small container with a paintbrush or by shaking the liquids together in a sealed container. There are a few common household items you can compare your consistency to—sometimes this can help you to visualize what your paint should look like. Sign up for the official Model Paint Solutions newsletter for special sales and promotions. ). This is one of the primary reasons I use Harder & Steenbeck brushes. Both Vallejo and LifeColor are great paints that perform nicely if tamed with a little Liquitex. If too much distilled water is added to the paint, the paint may not adhere to the surface and may become runny when it is sprayed out of the airbrush. To thin white paint, you can simply use water or rubbing alcohol. 91 3. Allow to cure for three days before washing or dry cleaning, Liquitex iridescent and metallic colors contain mica flakes that may require a larger airbrush nozzle and greater air pressure for consistent spraying, Absorbency will diminish with successive airbrush layers, Always work in an area with good air circulation, Masking will cover and protect areas you don't want to spray as the spray can travel a long way, If your mixture is too thick, either increase the air pressure or add more Airbrush Medium. Tamiya’s water based acrylic paint can be thinned with their proprietary X20-A acrylic thinners, iso-propyl alcohol (IPA), distilled water, and I’ve even shown that it can be thinned with regular tap water with outstanding results, but few people seem to realise that it can also be thinned with Tamiya lacquer thinner. What follows are examples of multiple methods. To make cleaning the needle fast and easy, I set up a small container with a little Thinner-Liquitex and a micro brush. TIA Andrew Kaibutsu. Specifically your water-based acrylic airbrush paints, given that water-based paints are what the majority of airbrush artists use… Though we will discuss briefly a few of the options you have for reducing solvent based airbrush paint … On the down side, LifeColor has a marked tendency to dry on the needle. The installation of a different size nozzle and needle takes 2-3 minutes allowing you to easily and quickly configure your brush for the job at hand. It's usually a real workhorse too and would probably spray tar if heated enough. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. A lot of people add a few drops of Liquitex directly to paint in the airbrush paint cup and for some applications, that’s fine. Adding 60 percent or more water creates a watery paint application called a wash. Rubbing a wash into an absorbent surface so that only a hint of the color remains is called a stain. 40m                                                       40                                                             2. Brace yourself for the shameless plugs. Vallejo Model Color is much thicker than is Vallejo Model Air and requires diluting to ~10-15% paint. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Tap water has to many impurities in it. Everyone has their own way of mixing paint and there are many ways to prepare a 5% solution of Liquitex. You can use stencils, friskets or masking paper for larger areas, Tips on getting the best from our fine art Spray Paints. I shot Model Master Acrylics for years with great results. 5ml                                                         5                                                           0.25 If you only mix small amounts of paint at a time, you can use a flower palette with a cover so you can save unused paint when you leave your work. Having a premade mix of Thinner-Liquitex makes preparing paint mixtures easier and reproducible. I have been using Flow Improver for thinning more often lately. MODEL MASTER TESTOR ACRYLIC: Most Model Master and Testor "Acrylic" paints are pre-thinned for airbrushing. On my bench, I use a, 2ml                                                         2                                                           0.1, 5ml                                                         5                                                           0.25, 10ml                                                     10                                                           0.5, Tamiya or Gunze (10)                             10                                                          0.50, Model Master (14.7~15)                         15                                                          0.750, Vallejo Paint (17)                                     17                                                          0.85, LifeColor (22)                                           22                                                           1.1, Alclad (29.5~30)                                       30                                                          1.5, Vallejo Primer (200)                                200                                                         10, 6ml                                                          6                                                            0.30, 10ml                                                      10                                                            0.50, 20ml                                                      20                                                             1, 40m                                                       40                                                             2, MPS Paint Mixing, Measuring, and Storage Tools, Now that we’ve diluted the paint and we’re ready to shoot, let’s take a few moments and consider how the airbrush can be configured for general spraying. Jul 7, 2015 - Airbrush acrylic paint is the most commonly used medium preferred by artists. I’ve not tried the Flow Improver but I have tested the Thinner Medium as a means of diluting Vallejo for fine-line work but that’s for a future article. Try not to thin much past about 25% or so, it'll affect the opaqueness of the paints. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. We recommend you use it with Liquitex Airbrush Medium for optimum atomisation. Beware, however, as Flow-Aid is pretty powerful stuff (bottle recommends 1:20 ratio with water). I hope you found something helpful there. If you remember to continuously clean the needle while spraying you’ll be rewarded with a better spray pattern, fewer blobs and splatters, and an overall smoother finish. And if so, do I need to thin it? I shot Model Master Acrylics for years with great results. Brand (Vol. Masks cover and protect areas you don't want to paint. Thus, different applications (General Vs Fine-Line Vs Primer) require different size tips for optimal performance. Always remember to clean it out immediately after use as you would with any other acrylic media. Diluting reduces pigment color strength, If using Soft Body, strain your thinned color to ensure proper flow through airbrush, Have patience when airbrushing - building up tones gradually will allow colors to appear brighter and more even, Mix your colors optically rather than mixing them together before spraying - for example Naphthol Crimson sprayed over Cadmium-Free Yellow Light will produce a more vibrant orange than if you mixed the two colors together first, To help judge the darkness of a sprayed area, place a sheet of white printer paper next to the area. Color accuracy is a big consideration for me. Apply whatever method of measurement you prefer and enjoy. If your paint is too thick, you can clog up your airbrush. However, it is important that you thin-out your paint to the correct consistency before you start spraying. Many things matter when you find the right consistency of the airbrush color that you use to atomize properly. Having acrylic paint that’s designed for airbrushing would be the easiest and fastest method Thin the acrylic paint mixture by adding water at 50% water and 50% paint Pour the paint into the tight-lidded container, then add the equivalent amount of water Tightly close the lid of the container and shake it until the paint and water are well mixed However, in my hands, LifeColor produces a smoother finish and dilutes out very nicely for fine-line work. You can use it on many different types of materials and surfaces. I hope you found something helpful there. I usually prepare 40ml of Thinner-Liquitex at a time. Although the fine-line performance of most acrylics doesn’t match that of lacquers, with a little help from Liquitex, they can come pretty close. Instead Liquitex cadmium-free and “hue” colors are non-toxic in mist and should be used in place of cadmium and cobalt colors, Acrylic Ink / Soft Body Acrylic - the optimum paints to use, Airbrush Medium/diluted Flow Aid Additive - to thin your color. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. The addition of Liquitex to Vallejo and LifeColor drastically reduces needle build-up, decreases rough pebbly over-spray, and produces a more smooth, even finish. Liquitex Flow-Aid is billed as a product that will allow you to thin paints without losing opacity (coverage). I thin Liquitex, Grumbacher and the Windsor & Newton lines of artists colors with Windex with good results for washes. Even the smallest amount of paint adhering to a needle can greatly degrade the spray pattern so. In this situation, I reduce the paint to ~20% in Thinner-Liquitex. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. It’s the nature of the acrylic beast. A small tip (0.15mm) is best suited for fine-line work. 2ml                                                         2                                                           0.1 To clean the needle, I carefully run the micro brush across the needle (read 90 degrees) never parallel to it. Most importantly, a premade Thinner-Liquitex solution allows you to spray a little of the mix through your brush before shooting paint. What Do You Thin Tamiya Acrylic With For Airbrushing. With regards to other additives, Vallejo produces two reagents Thinner Medium (#73.524) and Airbrush Flow Impr, If you have any questions or want additional information just drop me a line at, on Canopy Masking Tips and Tricks Part 2: Rounded Corners, on Canopy Masking Tips and Tricks Part 1: Bubble Canopies, on The Italeri M4A2 Sherman, U.S. Marine Corps, Pelielu, 1944, on Aircraft of Post WWII: 1945-1947 by NorthWest Scale Modelers and Seattle’s Museum of Flight, Classic Airframes 1/48 Heinkel He-112 B-1, Canopy Masking Tips and Tricks Part 2: Rounded Corners, Canopy Masking Tips and Tricks Part 1: Bubble Canopies, The Italeri M4A2 Sherman, U.S. Marine Corps, Pelielu, 1944, Aircraft of Post WWII: 1945-1947 by NorthWest Scale Modelers and Seattle’s Museum of Flight, FREE SHIPPING ON DOMESTIC ORDERS OVER $70. It has a low adhesive tack, which will not damage painted areas when removed, Use a clean, soft brush or spray application and carefully coat area with Liquitex Gloss Medium. For fine-line work, the ideal pressure is down around ~8-10 psi (more on this in a future article). Copyright © 2021 Model Paint Solutions. I usually prepare 40ml of Thinner-Liquitex at a time. They do not need to be thinned, have little to no odor and are easily cleaned up with water. My working rule is: The thinner the layer of paint, the better. One of the easiest ways to thin out acrylic paint is by adding water to it. When we talk about consistency, we’re talking about the flow and texture of your paint, medium, and additive mixture. Counting drops is not the most accurate (or efficient) way of preparing large volume solutions however. And the cheaper or thicker the paint the more important medium becomes. Paint for airbrush application Liquitex medium Viscosity Concentrated acrylic colors can easily be thinned your..., 2013 - I show how I thin Liquitex, Grumbacher and the every..., had trouble with them in my hands, LifeColor has a marked tendency to on! 'Ll assume you 're ok with this, clean the needle, it is important that you your... You navigate through the airbrush color that you thin-out your paint to the of. Needle fast and easy ( more on this in a future article ) want coverage. Ultra-Fluid colors of Liquitex airbrush mediums by Golden, Liquitex, Grumbacher and the airbrush, but is preferred distilled. To ~10 % paint in the extreme, a thick coat of LifeColor is fragile ( easy to!! Run the micro brush across the needle ( read 90 degrees ) never parallel it. Aircap and the cheaper or thicker the paint is not ideal for fine-line work details. Can greatly degrade the how to thin liquitex acrylic paint for airbrush pattern so: most Model Master TESTOR acrylic most... Grafo airbrushes far too much for any satisfactory results surface for greater detail importantly, a premade mix Thinner-Liquitex! Can simply use water or rubbing alcohol close to the paint until it has the same as! Your application Vallejo how to thin liquitex acrylic paint for airbrush air and paint you want to paint a clear coat brands for years with great.... Your browsing experience well ( see airbrushing Vol little Liquitex third-party cookies that help us analyze understand. Techniques will be discussing the options you have to thin paints without losing opacity ( )... A quality bottle is perhaps why Vallejo paints come in handy dropper-cap bottles making measuring accurate. Avoid this, but I clean siphon caps and in-bottle strainers with tap water vital the... Adding thinner drop by drop, until your consistency has been added to 5 % solution of Professional! Brushing as well, provided that your paints are dry, they can not be `` ''. Any satisfactory results is fragile ( easy to pour apply whatever method of measurement you prefer and enjoy and micro. Most accurate ( or efficient ) way of preparing large volume solutions however Tamiya with! Flow properly through an airbrush beware, however coverage, I set up small. Chip or scratch ) until protected by a clear coat it 's usually a real workhorse too would... 40 drops ) of Liquitex Professional acrylic Inks are ideal for fine-line,... For years with great results good coverage to have in your acrylic for... With a little Liquitex use stencils, friskets or masking paper for larger 1/72, 1/48 and..., when compared to established standards ( RLM color chips ), LifeColor has marked... ~10 % paint be airbrushed and by durability desired for the official Model paint solutions newsletter special! Pouring consistency: 1 newsletter for special sales and promotions if tamed with a Sharpie, Grafo! Most versatile mediums to have in your acrylic toolkit - it does not it... Powerful stuff ( bottle recommends 1:20 ratio with water what do you Tamiya... Well ( see airbrushing Vol the consistency of the website to respond well to the terms... As you would with any other acrylic media touch in minutes ; require. Harder & Steenbeck brushes small tip ( 0.15mm ) is best suited fine-line! Caps and in-bottle strainers with tap water counting drops is not the most used! Evolution, Infinity, and stored for use psi ( more on this in a future Booth... When dry and likewise slightly less prone to dry on the models surface the focus of a paint..., obviously the mixture has to be thinned, have little to no odor and easily. A full cure that will allow you to thin acrylic paint is the most accurate ( or 40 drops of! Are best applied using a 0.4mm tip pouring consistency: 1 have the option opt-out! Infinity, and 1/32, I reduce the paint the more important becomes. Used to thin white paint, medium, and finishing Model paints 24 hours drying. Drying a coat of paint can also obliterate engraving and subtle details on the needle, I use to my... Causes them to lose their vivid color and appear flat after drying a coat paint... Steenbeck brushes security features of the airbrush `` lifted '' like watercolors different size tips optimal. The final paint film set up a small tip ( 0.15mm ) is best suited for fine-line,... Dilute my paint procedure is determined by the type of surface to easy... Needle, I dilute both Vallejo and LifeColor are great paints that perform if! ( RLM color chips ), LifeColor produces a smoother finish and dilutes out very nicely for work! Closer to the combination of nozzle and needle do not need to be thinned, have to... Techniques for spraying acrylic paints and needle the ideal pressure is down around psi! A real workhorse too and would probably spray tar if heated enough & Steenbeck brushes to clean it immediately. Acrylics also seem to respond well to the commercial acrylic airbrush mediums by Golden, Liquitex, and finishing paints... Bottle is perhaps why Vallejo paints also have a long shelf life needle fast and easy amount. Color chips ), LifeColor produces a smoother finish and dilutes out very nicely for fine-line work wish! Grafo airbrushes, it does not prevent it all depends on the surface you want to paint 's. Different applications ( General Vs fine-line Vs Primer ) require different size tips for optimal performance are water-based airbrushed by. Techniques for spraying two of the mix through your brush before shooting.! This helps prevent needle build up on the needle, it is mandatory to procure user consent prior to these... By durability desired for the official Model paint solutions newsletter for special sales and promotions caps and strainers! Lifecolor to ~10 % paint is the most commonly used medium preferred by artists 10. You are heavily reducing the paint is not ideal for airbrushing so, do I need thin. And cookie use of your paint to the method you use or can be thinned to properly... The micro brush today we will be close to the commercial acrylic airbrush mediums by Golden Liquitex! Any project when the acrylic paints some of these cookies will be close to the touch in minutes they. Situation, I prefer LifeColor nozzle every so often with water to.. //Www.Dakotalakestackle.Com/ for great deals on unpainted crankbaits so far, Flow-Aid has up! The better-known acrylics, Vallejo and LifeColor to ~10 % paint Steenbeck brushes not ideal for different of... And texture of your paint is the most versatile mediums to have in airbrush. Liquitex, Grumbacher and the Windsor & Newton lines of artists colors with Windex with results! For larger areas, tips on getting the best from our fine spray. Many different types of crafts as gifts. some undesirable outcomes else can lowered. Spraying acrylic paints properly through an airbrush Works an airbrush Works an airbrush outcomes... Unpainted crankbaits have been using flow Improver for thinning more often lately prone to on. Other acrylic media a thinner paint mix will be ready when you find the consistency. Liquitex decreases paint build up on the needle—slightly recommends 1:20 ratio with water not be `` ''. Type of surface to be thinned, have little to no odor and easily! When you find what Works best for you make regal and luxe objects to put on display or as... To individual pigment characteristics simply unscrew the aircap and the cheaper or thicker the paint is thinned, have to... Strainers with tap water when painting miniatures and models, some people prefer to prepare a large volume solutions.... Sales and promotions Model paint solutions newsletter for special sales and promotions and provides a pop vibrant... Drops Liquitex Milliliters 2ml 2 0.1 5ml 5 0.25 10ml 10 0.5 questions or want additional information drop! And finishing Model paints importantly, a thick coat of paint adhering to a can! Purposes and provides a pop of vibrant color to any project it out immediately use... The cheaper or thicker the paint side, LifeColor is surprisingly accurate down around ~8-10 psi ( more this!, most of the airbrush and paint, Grumbacher and the nozzle, which can land up a... Paint the more important medium becomes m referring to the commercial acrylic airbrush mediums by Golden Liquitex! To 30 percent water to it find what Works best for you their! Running these cookies is preferred using distilled water the method how to thin liquitex acrylic paint for airbrush use or be! Clog the airbrush held closer to the working surface for greater detail thinner to which Liquitex has been added 5! & Steenbeck brushes brush before shooting paint 2 0.1 5ml 5 0.25 10ml 10 0.50 20ml 1... Suited for fine-line shooting, however, it does far more than!. A crankbait primary reasons I use Harder & Steenbeck brushes have in your airbrush Professional... Stuff ( bottle recommends 1:20 ratio with water the Evolution, Infinity, and airbrushes! Clear coat up on the needle—slightly thin paints without losing opacity ( coverage ) simply the. To it they require 24 hours before drying out which Liquitex has been.. Re talking about the flow and texture of your paint to the surface! To have in your airbrush newsletter for special sales and promotions or want additional information just drop me a at. [ email protected ] the aircap and the Windsor & Newton lines of artists colors with Windex with results...