Golden : Airbrush Mediums

Golden Airbrush Medium is a 100% acrylic binder system designed for modifying the Golden Fluid Acrylics and other Golden Acrylic products for airbrush/spray application. While designed with the Fluid Acrylics in mind, Golden Airbrush Medium will also reduce the Heavy Body, Matte, High Flow, Iridescent/Interference and Fluorescent Acrylics for spray applications. Golden Mediums and Gessoes can also be blended with Airbrush Medium for spraying.

PRODUCT APPLICATION

Because it is inherently unhealthy to inhale spray mists of any kind, we recommend, at minimum, the use of a NIOSH approved disposable dust and mist respirator.

Mixing Directions:

Generally, mix equal amounts (by volume) of Airbrush Medium and Fluid Acrylic to result in a useful spraying consistency. More Airbrush Medium or water additions may be used if the mixture does not flow properly (Refer to the Quick Reference Chart for more complete recommendations).

Blending Suggestions:

Gently stir or shake Airbrush Medium to ensure homogeneity before blending with Golden Acrylics.

For thinner paint lines, the Airbrush Medium can be added in equal amounts to the paint, and then stirred until well mixed. If using paints thicker than Fluid Acrylics (such as Matte Fluid Acrylics or High Load Acrylics), continue adding more Airbrush Medium up to 1 part paint to 2 parts Airbrush Medium. Beyond this 1:2 ratio, it is best to add water for more thinning.

Although water can be used with the Airbrush Medium to help thin the paint, it also begins to forfeit some of the spray-ability that this medium enhances, and also creates a weaker paint film. High water additions will cause the paint to become fairly weak, both in pigment load and film strength. Top coating may be necessary depending on the nature of the artwork.

Thicker paints such as Heavy Body Acrylics should be first thinned with water until they reach a pourable consistency. Once the required paint and water mixture is well stirred, begin adding the Airbrush Medium at a ratio of 1 part paint/water to 1 part Airbrush Medium.

Prior to spraying, it may be necessary to strain the diluted mixture (using cheesecloth, nylon pantyhose, or #8 mesh or finer screening fabrics) to remove any large particulate materials and ensure homogeneity and smoothness. In most cases though, Golden Acrylic products are smooth and pigments ground to a uniform particle size.

Mixing products with GOLDEN Airbrush Medium will generate foam. Pre-mix colors at least 5 minutes before use. This will allow time for the foam generated by vigorous shaking to dissipate before spraying. Micro-foam can result in an irregular film.

Add a Mixing Ball:

Add a mixing ball to aid in blending. In Golden Airbrush Colors, a barundum (a barrel-shaped, ceramic piece used in pigment dispersion) is added to facilitate faster and more homogenous mixing. Reuse barundums from old Airbrush Color bottles, or use a smooth stone, marble, or stainless steel nut to perform this function. This is especially valuable when storing mixtures for future use.

Extend Paints:

Airbrush Medium also functions as an extender for applications requiring greater transparency and longer open time.We generally do not recommend using the Airbrush Medium with the pre-made Golden Airbrush Colors because this creates a very slow-drying, potentially weaker paint film, with poor frisket performance (color sticking to frisket or masking films) until the film sufficiently dries. When frisketing is of critical importance, use Golden Airbrush Transparent Extender to dilute the Airbrush Colors or other acrylics. Transparent Extender is recommended whenever a mixture requires Airbrush Medium additions greater than 2 parts medium to 1 part paint. This will yield a paint system that dries quickly, “friskets” well, and has excellent sprayability.

Additional Tips:

Paint on any non-oily surface. Remove oils, grease, or other contaminants before application. Non-absorbent surfaces should be abraded for increased adhesion. Keep tools wet during use. Do not allow the product to dry in the airbrush. Clean tools with soap and water. Clean airbrush with water, ammonia/water, alcohol or miscellaneous household cleaners (however, consider effect of cleaner on airbrush parts, such as rings and seals).

FABRIC APPLICATION

Golden Airbrush Medium can be mixed with Golden Fluid Acrylics to create an excellent fabric paint that does not require heat-setting. A blending ratio of at least 1:1 is recommended. Other Golden Acrylics such as the Heavy Body Acrylics, Iridescent/Interference Colors and Fluorescent Colors can be used as well.

Golden Airbrush Colors are not recommended for fabric use. However, if using these colors is desired, blend with GAC 900, a thin heat-settable medium expressly designed for fabric applications. This mixture will not perform as well as the Airbrush Medium/Fluid Acrylics mix.

QUICK REFERENCE CHART Use the table below to determine ratios of Airbrush Medium to paint for GOLDEN's wide variety of paint systems:

Paint Type (1 Part Paint addition in all mixtures)

Water ( Add in small increments to the paint before additions of Airbrush Medium)

Airbrush Medium (Add after the addition of water, if applicable)

Fluid Acrylics

N/A

1 part

Heavy Body Acrylics

3 Parts

4 parts

Matte Acrylics

3 Parts

4 parts

High Load Acrylics

1 Part

2 parts

Iridescent/Interference Acrylics (Heavy Body)

1 Part

2 parts

Fluorescent Acrylics

1 Part

2 parts

Mediums (GACs, Polymer, Matte)

0-2 parts, depending on product consistency

1-3 parts, depending on product consistency

Gessoes

1 Part

2 parts

The above ratios are intended as starting points for use at air pressures of 40 p.s.i. or greater. A greater or lesser amount of Airbrush Medium may be required for your particular equipment and/or application, especially if lower air pressures are used.

Suggested Color Choice s for Fluid Acrylics

While every Golden Fluid Acrylic Paint may be used for spray application when blended with the Airbrush Medium, some colors perform better because of their pigment size and structure. Larger pigments, such as Raw Umber and Ultramarine Blue, do not spray well through smaller detail airbrushes. Dense, coarse pigments also tend to settle quickly when thinned to a sprayable consistency, so mix small amounts and avoid long-term mixture storage.

Below is a listing of Fluid Acrylics with their rating of sprayability next to them.

Suitable for all tip sizes

Alizarin Crimson Hue

Naphthol Red Medium

Quinacridone Magenta

Anthraquinone Blue

Naples Yellow Hue

Quinacridone/Nickel Azo Gold

Cadmium Red Medium Hue

Nickel Azo Yellow

Quinacridone Red

Cadmium Yellow Medium Hue

Permanent Green Light

Quinacridone Violet

Carbon Black

Permanent Violet Dark

Sap Green Hue

Cobalt Teal

Phthalo Blue (Green Shade)

Titan Buff

Diarylide Yellow

Phthalo Blue (Red Shade)

Titanium White

Dioxazine Purple

Phthalo Green (Blue Shade)

Transparent Pyrrole Orange

Green Gold

Phthalo Green (Yellow Shade)

Transparent Red Iron Oxide

Hansa Yellow Light

Prussian Blue Hue

Transparent Yellow Iron Oxide

Hansa Yellow Medium

Pyrrole Orange

Turquois (Phthalo)

Hansa Yellow Opaque

Pyrrole Red

VanDyke Brown Hue

Indian Yellow Hue

Pyrrole Red Light

Vat Orange

Jenkins Green

Quinacridone Burnt Orange

Naphthol Red Light

Quinacridone Crimson

Suitable for tip sizes of .30mm or larger

Bone Black

Interference Green

Micaceous Iron Oxide

Burnt Sienna

Interference Orange

Paynes Gray

Burnt Umber Light

Interference Red

Primary Cyan

C.T. Interference Green-Blue

Interference Violet

Primary Magenta

C.T. Interference Green-Orange

Iridescent Bright Gold

Primary Yellow

C.T. Interference Violet-Green

Iridescent Bronze

Raw Sienna

Cerulean Blue Deep

Iridescent Copper

Raw Umber

Cerulean Blue, Chromium

Iridescent Copper Light

Red Oxide

Chromium Oxide Green

Iridescent Gold

Ultramarine Blue

Cobalt Blue

Iridescent Gold Deep

Ultramarine Violet

Cobalt Turquois

Iridescent Pearl

Violet Oxide

Interference Blue

Iridescent Silver

Yellow Ochre

Interference Gold

Iridescent Stainless Steel

Yellow Oxide

DO NOT SPRAY-APPLY genuine cadmium pigments or any colors containing zinc white as these have trace amounts of cadmium as well. Cadmium is listed as a chemical known to the State of California to cause cancer.

The following Fluid Acrylics contain Zinc White and should never be sprayed:

Manganese Blue Hue

Viridian Green Hue

Zinc White