Createx illustration reducer question

RichardH

Detail Decepticon!
Hi all. I am just curious to how much reducer people use. I have received the illustration set and I have spent a couple of days playing with them. I have to reduce mine some but wondering how much other people use. So far I am reducing about 8 drops reducer to 2 drops color. I haven't tried to do a scene. Just playing with air pressure and dilution rate for now. I tried it straight with out reducer but it tip dried very fast and it just didn't spray very good. I did add the transparent base to the color and it helped the tip dry but just for now the thinner the better. I know everyone has different, style, airbrush, technique but just wondering.

Richard
 
For me I use no reducer and around 22 psi

But in the past I have used a similar ratio of 4/1 reducer to paint
 
For me I use no reducer and around 22 psi

But in the past I have used a similar ratio of 4/1 reducer to paint


Hey musicmacd, Thanks ,I'm a little curious as to why you went to straight paint. Is it your style changed or what subjects you paint now? How do you deal with the tip dry. When I tried it straight I couldn't get but a few passes and had to clean the tip. I am using a HP-SB +.
 
All good Richard, it was aimed at Musicmacd. He hasn't given all the info- he could be using a 1.0 spray gun for all we know :D
But I know what he would like to be using lol
 
Hey jackEb, mine is iwata HP-Sb + with the .2 needle. Don't know what musicmacd uses.

He uses the Micron SB with 0.18 needle;)

But reducing is a simple matter of what works for individual, when starting out you'll go through a lot of trial and error, you'll find that you will probably use several different ratios on one full painting so it's difficult to list these ratios since they will also depend on the specific project you may be working on.

I use etac paints which can be thinned with just water (no special reducer) but as a starting point I'll use 1 drop paint, 3 drops transparent medium and three drops water, this at around 15 psi, if I get in close for detail I may add a little more water and drop the pressure to around 7 psi, when blocking in large or dark areas, I may leave out the transparent medium and use 1-1 water and paint around 20 psi, this is useless to you though, you'll find all your own sweet spots soon enough:)
 
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He uses the Micron SB with 0.18 needle;)

But reducing is a simple matter of what works for individual, when starting out you'll go through a lot of trial and error, you'll find that you will probably use several different ratios on one full painting so it's difficult to list these ratios since they will also depend on the specific project you may be working on.

I use etac paints which can be thinned with just water (no special reducer) but as a starting point I'll use 1 drop paint, 3 drops transparent medium and three drops water, this at around 15 psi, if I get in close for detail I may add a little more water and drop the pressure to around 7 psi, when blocking in large or dark areas, I may leave out the transparent medium and use 1-1 water and paint around 20 psi, this is useless to you though, you'll find all your own sweet spots soon enough:)


Thanks Madbrush. I know it will be trial and error until I get what style and mix I like. Paper will make a big difference also I think. I also bought yesterday some wicked primary set but haven't tried them yet. This is a new airbrush to me also and trying to get the feel of it at the same time. Soon, I hope, I can start on a picture and maybe post the progress. Might be file 13 on a lot of paper first. lollollollol
Richard
 
Hey musicmacd, Thanks ,I'm a little curious as to why you went to straight paint. Is it your style changed or what subjects you paint now? How do you deal with the tip dry. When I tried it straight I couldn't get but a few passes and had to clean the tip. I am using a HP-SB +.
After attending Dru's course and being told he does not use reducer - i thought one of the finest artist's in the world could be onto something!
What brush / needle set up - no good only giving half an answer :p
Sorry JackE as Madbrush has posted
Iwata custom SB 0.18

Another angle regarding not using reducer is that its another step not to have to worry about, on the downside you have a lot more tip dry.
 
After attending Dru's course and being told he does not use reducer - i thought one of the finest artist's in the world could be onto something!

Sorry JackE as Madbrush has posted
Iwata custom SB 0.18

Another angle regarding not using reducer is that its another step not to have to worry about, on the downside you have a lot more tip dry.

I think also since you're using the synthetic paper, the lack of reducer seriously reduces or possibly eliminatesend the chance of soldering and skating.

@JackEb many moons ago when @musicmacd told us what airbrush he had, I was listening and you wasn't, I was paying attention when you was looking out the window, I was engrossed in the lessons when you was tormenting that geek with all the freckles, which all means, I got the gold star and you didn't, na na na.....na.......naaaaa:)
 
Haha
It still can skeet and make little stars :) just not as easy. Im learning now that everything you do to adjust paint has a trade off somewhere - can not get away from it. Its just finding your own sweet spot, which I still am.
 
Haha
It still can skeet and make little stars :) just not as easy. Im learning now that everything you do to adjust paint has a trade off somewhere - can not get away from it. Its just finding your own sweet spot, which I still am.

I have absolutely no doubts about your abilities, it's the rest of these buggers I'm bothered about:):):):):)
 
Reduction is a matter of preference, paint, airbrush and painting style.

For me....
Transparent Paints:
For detail and mapping out my painting, usually around 10:1. Higher reductions are generally used for freehand work.
Shifting tones and darkening areas of no detail, around 2:1 or 3:1

Opaque Paints:
No reduction or 1:1 for heavy coverage. For lighter coverage and higher detail areas maybe 3:1. Even with a 3:1, I generally use some sort of mask or shield because, it's still not very consistent spraying with it for freehand detailing. Reducing the hell out of an opaque paint pretty much voids out the reason for using it.
 
Reduction is a matter of preference, paint, airbrush and painting style.

For me....
Transparent Paints:
For detail and mapping out my painting, usually around 10:1. Higher reductions are generally used for freehand work.
Shifting tones and darkening areas of no detail, around 2:1 or 3:1

Opaque Paints:
No reduction or 1:1 for heavy coverage. For lighter coverage and higher detail areas maybe 3:1. Even with a 3:1, I generally use some sort of mask or shield because, it's still not very consistent spraying with it for freehand detailing. Reducing the hell out of an opaque paint pretty much voids out the reason for using it.


Thanks jagardn. That info helps me understand what I need to do. Test, test practice, and practice.
I've read about people using 4G paper. What is the equal of it in the USA? Right now I am using photo paper and watercolor paper. I used to use Bristol when I was drawing with pencil and tried it. It's very absorbent.

Richard
 
Yep, I have to agree....totally depends on what surface Im painting on. If you go to the Createx web site, it gives you the recommended mixing solutions....BUT, I dont follow it, because, depends on the surface.
 
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