Supplies Airbrush Paints | brands, questions, troubleshooting

From what I can tell they're the same paint.

 

from what i know it should be similar paint. Its just that the first is matt.

If you want to airbrush, I personally think medium body liquitex or Gunze Sangyo paints would be better though. I didn't use the basic ones before, but from my friend's experience I think if you want to airbrush, just buy a single tube to test first to see how you like it.

 

no no that one is a texturing medium x__x"
the kind of stuff people use to get impasto kinda look.

http://www.misterart.com/store/view...t-Body-Professional-Artist-Acrylic-Colors.htm
This is the medium body one i am refering to ^^

 

My fiance was telling me about how he did a face up for his dollfie. He told me that the paint he used is a mixture of FolkArt 421 Portrait Light and FolkArt 4009 Skintone. The exact mixture ratio is unknown, but came out to a very realistic skin color. Implement used: a 2 gallon, 1.5HP air compressor set at 35 psi and a toolshop (brand) airbrush from Menards (very cheap and the best/ most reliable one he's ever owned).

Just thought I should share the info with all of you in here.

 

My fiance and I bought an airbrush a while ago, and I have recently been toying with the idea of using it on my dolls. I just have one question: what paint should I use? My fiance has been using Createx paint, and though it works wonderfully on the Nerf gun he's currently painting, I just have no idea how safe that would be for resin. I am a total noob when it comes to airbrush paints and I have no idea what is even in the stuff (since there is no ingredients list!), let alone what works well. Has anyone had experience with Createx? (I'd be most interested in this kind since it is reasonably priced and easily available.) Which brand(s) do you use? Which ones should I NOT use? If you could also mention how much it costs for a bottle, I would greatly appreicate it.

Thanks so much in advance for the help!!!

 

you can get acrylics that are made for airbrushes

or

Golden sells an airbrush medium that thins out acrylics so that they can be used in an airbrush.

just make sure whatever you use is NOT oil based.

on the createx site it says that the airbrush colors are permanent... i personally would not go that route.

 

Thanks! I'll probably go the thinner route if I can use the acrylics I already own in my airbrush because, well, that's much cheaper! ^^ I'll look for that next time I hit the craft stores - Golden, got it. And wow, duh, I never even thought to check the Createx site. Thanks for the info, I won't let that stuff touch any of my dolls.

 

Createx pigments are homogenized into a special acrylic base which makes the colors permanent on most surfaces (I.E. fabric) I have used it on several faceups and even on my whole doll when I airbrushed him tan it comes of easily with water if its not dry, and if it is dry it comes of just as easily with isopropyl, non-acetone nailpolish remover,and/or airbrush cleaner .

 

I am picking up an airbrush and compressor this week, and Im going to have a go at blushing my doll's body with it.

Has anyone used any products in their airbrush to seal their dolls? There's a product in the Mr Hobby range that comes in a bottle/tin (non spraying kind) its either Mr Top Coat Flat or Mr Colour Flat Clear.. has anyone tried these?

Also when blushing using an airbrush, what paints should I use?

 

Any paint made for an airbrush will do (they're usually acrylic paints that are thinned to the right consistency to use in an airbrush). If you use any other type of acrylics you're going to have to water them down to a milk like consistency and then strain them, so for the sake of making it easier on your self get some paint that is made for an airbrush. i suggest createx because its most readily available (for me anyway) and has the most colors out of all the airbrush paints. Createx has 4 brown colors light brown, dark brown, peach and sand. I usually use peach as a base color for blushing and mix peach and sand together for the darker second color. Its usually a 6 to 2 drop ratio for the second color, it'll be good to get an eyedropper to mix the colors with since you'll waste paint trying to mix colors without one.



this is the only good pictures i have showing the use of the two colors i mentioned above.

I haven't use any mr.hobby paints before, and i wouldn't recommend spraying anything through your airbrush if you don't know how to clean it out of your airbrush.

also you're going to want to coat your dolls with msc or something similar since the airbrush paint will rub right off the resin after it dries without it. you could practice and test the colors though if you don't seal the doll first however which is a good thing to have in mind if you're a beginner.

 

delete please, double post.

 

Thank you, that's really helpful for me too! I never knew airbrushed paint could rub off ^^; I'm currently investing in an airbrush, and I have a lot of researching to do. So how do you get the blushing on? Do you hold the airbrush far away?

 

The farther you hold the airbrush from the doll, the wider the paint will spray. For body blushing you're going to want to hold the gun 4 inches away for the base color and 2-3 for the secondary color. (you're going to need someone to hold the doll up or invest in a doll stand since the amount of air pressure needed to airbrush will push the doll over, or blow doll heads off a table) When it comes to heads you're going to want to be 2-2.5 inches away for the base and an inch or closer for the second colors. Always keep the airbrush moving, especially on the head. When you're close to the object its easier to get pools of paint, even if you just pause for a second.

airbrushed paint can rub off because acrylic paint is meant for porous materials (like canvas, wood, fabric, etc). Since it can't "sink in" it can be rubbed off. The more you seal the doll the harder it will be to get the paint off. Before you seal it mistakes can be cleaned up with airbrush cleaner or water. also window cleaner with out ammonia works best but its hard to find.

 

Thanks so much for all your great info and pics. I have a white skin Kiss which I'd hope to give a pinkish blush to. I will start researching airbrush paints here in Australia. I was hoping to use the Mr Hobby Top Coat or Mr Hobby Mr Colour clear flat through my airbrush (comes in a non aerosol container) as the sealer in place of Mr Super Clear, but would need to clean my airbrush with something that cleans out enamel based paints.. I can find this out when I collect my airbrush and compressor from the store.

Im getting pretty excited! I need to get my paint this week and start next weekend.

Thanks again!!

 

enamel cleaner itself is also really toxic, so you're still going to have to go through and clean the airbrush thoroughly with a cleaner/restorer and take it all apart and make sure it isn't anything left in your airbrush, let it dry and put it back together. I only use my old junky 10+ year old airbrush for enamels for this reason, its a bit of a cleaning hassle

 

On here I see a lot of lovely airbrushed faceups and all to the BJDs and I was wondering in your experiences with them what medium for airbrushing do you like best? What works best for you?

Can you please explain with type of doll, and airbrush, and favorite medium (plus any additions-like what type of thinner used, etc...)? Myself I have a Paache VLS airbrush with Liquitex acrylic and I wanted to know what works best for creating a successful, beautiful faceup for them...Thanks

 

I could understand why you would want to use Liquitex, but seriously.. acrylic made for an airbrush will get you better results since its the right consistency and you won't need any thinners/mediums. (the mistake people often make is making paint too watery or too thick, it should be milk consistency which airbrush paint already is) If the paint is too thick (which the pearlescent colors usually are) you just need to add water and they mix a lot easier.

I have a Paasche VL and an Iwata Eclipse, I use createx paints since they have the most color options of all the airbrush formated acrylics. I also use Concentrated liquid watercolors, either by themselves or mixed into the createx colors.

 

Cool I'd like to look into that because I don't want to make the mistake of clogging up my airbrush. Is Createx available through places like Dick Blick (online) or where were you able to get yours at?? Your consentrated liquid watercolors, are they a certain brand...or do you have a certain brand you like best?

Also I have the fear of blasting the airbrush paint right into the resin (therefore it would never come out---as staining/ruining the resin) do you have any tips/ideas how I can avoid that happening?

 

If you do not seal the doll before you airbrush, the paint will come off under running water. Resin is not porous so the paint will not seep in, it sits on top. If you seal the doll first, then wiping off or even running the part you aribrushed under running water there will still be a color tint on the sealant, because of how fast airbrush paint dries but airbrush paint will not stain your doll.

Createx should be available anywhere airbrush parts/paints are sold. Its the most common brand in my area (MI). It can be found on dick blick's website here, keep in mind "transparent" airbrush paints are best for spraying onto light colored objects and "opaque" colors are needed on dark colors for better coverage. Dr. Ph. Martin's Hydrus Fine Art Watercolors are the concentrated liquid watercolors I use, dick blick also has their own brand of liquid watercolors but I haven't used them yet (I want to try out their pearlescent colors on a doll eventually though)

 

Thank you CHISA.TO, I will try those. Many thanks for the help and tips. I have had an airbrush for quite some time and am delighted that it can be used successfully on the BJDs.

Thank you for your time too, helping out a newbie (ME!)

 

i've searched for this, but didn't see the answer i needed. if i missed it, please forgive me
i have an airbrush and want to get started. from what i saw, everyone says "buy airbrush paint", but... i can't wait! lol. what regular "i-bought-this-at-michaels" acrylics would people recommend?
i've heard liquitex and "anything over two dollar". what else?
sorry, i'm a newb.

 

I'd just wait. Airbrush paint is formulated for an airbrush, you might thing any old acrylic might do but if the paint is too thin you'll have problems, if the paint is too thick you'll also have problems. You should be able to buy airbrush paint at michaels.

The general rule is to thin any paint you put in an airbrush to milky consistency if you feel that you absolutely can not wait, but it already sounds as if you're rushing the whole process and learning to use an airbrush isn't an instant thing.

 

Get the thinnest Liquitex they have, and get Liquitex airbrush Medium (it looks like a white fluid in a plastic bottle). It is used to thin the paint down further.

I wouldn't trust any of the 'craft' acrylics for airbrushing... be sure to get Liquitex or another 'artist quality' paint.

I have been using Golden Fluid acrylics and have been happier with that than the Liquitex, but I doubt Michaels will have them, you'll need a real art store for those. There are also Golden Airbrush paints, but my art store is small and doesn't have them, so I've been thinning the Golden Fluid paints with the Liquitex airbrush medium and water.

 

thanks, strangeangels! that really helps. luckily, i live by a big university so there's a "real" art store within driving distance. but i wasn't aware that michaels would carry any airbrush supplies, since mine never seems to have anything more than the basics.
everything i've read about airbrushing makes it seem like as far as blushing goes it shouldn't be too difficult. i'm not going to attempt a faceup with it, since it's not a dual action.
anyhoo, thanks for the help!

 

I use craft acrylics in my airbrush and as long as you make sure you thoroughly clean your airbrush every single time you've finished using it then it should be okay. You need to water them down quite alot though, until they're basically very very opaque water. You could use airbrush medium to thin down the paint, but the good old stuff outta the kitchen tap works fine too ^^.
Acrylic as it is tends to be too thick for airbrushes and as it is you'll clog up your equipment pretty much instantly. It's better buying paints from the highest end of the price range as cheap ones tend to not have fine... um.. particles? So yeah, high quality acrylics thinned with eithe airbrush medium or plenty of water should be fine n_n.

 

Hmm, with the idea of the pigments being too large in some paints brought up, my thought of using Ceramcoat (mixed for airbrush as the website instructs) dies. My dad would have my head. Even if he didn't know I was using an airbrush. Ugh. I've been lectured way too many times about using paints with the correct pigment size.

Good thread to have though, I'd been thinking about asking this myself somewhere.

 

I just started airbrushing face-ups. I've been using opaque paints, but was wondering if I should be using the translucent paint instead. Since the opaque paints are lightfast, the paints don't blend very well, even with the use of a blending medium.

For those of you who airbrush your face-ups, what type of paint do you use? Should I be using an extender to thin the opaque paints so that the paint is not as lightfast? Help....suggestions anyone?

 

Do you know to shake the paint before you use it? Airbrush paints need to be mixed well before use, and will also separate again over time. I've noticed the separation especially in colors I've mixed myself after only a day.

Some people/whatever may tell you not to shake the paint, but to mix it with a brush because it creates air bubbles. It's true that mixing with a brush works, but my paint bottles actually came with agitators for shaking, and the bubbles aren't too annoying. So shake it is :P

As to opaque or transparent, I use both, but always thin them. I haven't tried mixing two opaque colors together (I only have one, it's my red). I'm assuming you're using an acrylic, water-based paint, which you can thin with water.

Also- are you using a ready to use paint? I'm guessing it's concentrated, in which case you really should be thinning it anyways (that may help with your mixing problem).

I don't know if I'm weird or not, but I use a retarder/thinner I use with painting acrylics to thin my airbrush paints. I think having the retarder in there helps prevent some clogging, but maybe it's just me.

 

I shake the bottles before use because of the separation in the pigments. I've been using opaque Golden/Iwata Com-Art air brush paints and using the Golden transparent extender to reduce the opaque paints, but it tends to make the paints watery and causes airbrush splatters.

I'll need to get a set of transparent paints then. Thanks.

 

Well, translucent paints are very watery! If spattering is a problem there are some other possible causes- paint buildup in the tip of your airbrush (can come from using bent needles...which I have done)... it's hard to diagnose the problem without actually seeing the situation @__@

 

Yup, it's another one of those "is this ok" threads

I saw this airbrush paint on ebay and I was wondering if anyone else has used it or if anyone thinks it would be ok to use on resin. It says ink on the bottle but the description says its a medium bodied acrylic paint.
Link-
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250300740711

Yes I know the auction has ended but there is lot's of this paint for sale on ebay right now.

I know it's a cheap paint but at the moment I just can't find a decent airbrush paint that isn't ridiculously over priced (my local art shop is selling liquitex at £7.50 a bottle which is $13.25)

Thanks for your help and sorry for all the silly questions

 

It's BUMP time

 

i'm not sure ^^; but do you have a michaels, jo-annes, or a.c. more over there? i know the large 'art/craft' stores over in the u.s. have 50% off coupons every weekend and it may be safer to just buy a bottle a week (or harass you friends to give you their coupons) then to buy something online that you don't know about. sorry i can't help you more then that ;_;

 

I'm afraid not
There are only a few kinds of art shop in the UK. Proper professional art shops that are very expensive or places like hobby craft which only have limited supplies and are also quite expensive. No where does discounts of any sort.

 

bah, that's no fun have you looked up the company on the bottle and looked to see what they put in it? i know some companies put that stuff on their web page

 

I can't find a website for it at all
I think the brand is called Yifei (I think thats the name of a Chinese famous painter O_o )

 

I'd be wary of the Ink part...but it says its for acrylic nails...I don't know what to tell you lol

 

So I just got an airbrush for Christmas and I want to try doing a faceup and blushing on my less expensive dolly, an Abio Angel Ba. Now, what paint would I want to put in the airbrush for her?

Also I'm looking for airbrushed faceups/bluching/tanning ANYTHING tutorials for dolls, or any good airbrush tutorials that don't have anything to do with dolls.

 

I dont use any particular 'airbrush' paint. Ive found that if I fill my bottle with half acrylic paint and half water, then shake the crap out of it, it sprays nicely. Give it a try, its a lot cheaper than trying to find and afford all the createx airbrush colors and stuff you need.

Justin

 

hello, I just brought a airbrush and a compressor,soooo expensive

I also brought four tamiya acrylic paints drom DOA (not sure if it is acrylic paint or something else.....)

they are all on the way.
1.so far I know I still need some thinner t clean the airbrush. Do I need anyting else? such as airbrush cleaner?

2.also, what is the differences between tamiya flat paints and tamiya paints. is it because one is glossy?

3.also, is there any differences between tamiya paints and mr.color? which one is better for airbrush face-ups?

4. sooo far do I need anything else before I do th face-up??? I don't want to stop in the middle of my faceup haha~~~~

5. is there any good place to buy paints online? VolksUSA are always out of STOCK TAT~

 

bump for an answea~~~=D

 

I'm intending on changing the skintone for my Homme Ducan, from the standard base to white... But I cannot figure out what paint I ought to use?
If this has been asked before I'm sorry, but I haven't been able to find any indications on these threads of what to use
Please help?

 

*lonely bump?*

 

I'd recommend Acrylic.

 

Acrylic would work out okay in an airbrush? Hrm, never would have thought of that actually.

 

Acrylic is what is used to do faceups with an airbrush. Check out SDink she uses an airbrush for her faceups which happen to be amazing. Not to mention alot of BJD company faceup artists use airbrushes with Acrylic.
Too bad you need to go lighter not darker because you could have then dyed your dolls resin. This only works going darker. There is a tutorial in the Painting/customizing section.
Good luck and practice before you jump in with both feet.

 

Thank you very much.
I may actually shoot SDink a PM to see what her mixing ratio for paints to (totally blanked on what the term for whats used to thin acrylics is), just in case.
Admittedly as strange as it sounds, I figure I don't have a lot to lose - Johnny's turning white one way or another, so I figure I might have a bit of leeway *fingers crossed*
I intend to practice practice practice on paper beforehand.

 

Oh man, where do I start? mixing paints for airbrushing is an art all in itself O_O it depends on if there is magic in the air that day, seriously, I have been doing this for a couple of years now and it is very delicate.

So I use all kinds of paint and all kinds of mediums as I am always trying to find that "magic" paint, I have used acrylics and also tried "solvent" based but boy you better wear a mask O_O I get claustrophobic so that is out but the end results are really nice! I was then on a Mission to find those same results but with water based paints so I am currently trying Com Art which so far I really like! I also mix it with Folk Art yes the cheap paints you can find at Michaels! they do not have as much pigment so it goes on somewhat transparent and you have a lot of control!

I used to use Golden and I'm sure I still will but I have found that the more saturated the color is it will splatter no matter what medium I use with it.

Anyways it's good to experiment and find what works best for you!

Good Luck!

Tsukidoll: Thanks for the compliment

 

lol I tried asking this question from BearAir, the company I ordered my airbrush from and it's the first time I've found them really so unhelpful, they basically said I'd just have to experiment and see. And all I was asking was what I should avoid to avoid ruining it with something permanent like I imagine enamel is bad for.

 

Alright, so is there a certain amount of thinner you should put in the paint before airbrushing it?

 

For airbushing I would suggest using water based paints unless you have a special airbrush that allows solvent based. I know there are airbrushes that are solvent-proof Teflon.

 

Are you using solvent based paint? if so then you really have to experiment, it should have the same consistency as non-fat milk, same goes for water based paints.

 

Nothing is working .____. perhaps I have a bad airbrush or bad paints or something..
I've got acrylic paints and the thinner did nothing really, and the airbrush won't spray it.
This is pretty frustrating ._.

 

Well, are you using thinner for water based paints???? you should only use thinner with solvent based.

 

I believe I just bought the wrong kind of thinner, ah well I'll just have to get a different kind later in the week~
It says "thinner for oil based paints" maybe that's the wrong kind? I didn't pay much attention before DD: