Pigment is always too light

[Squidge]

First question of many, I'm sure. I'm still practicing my lines, dots, and daggers, but I also like to try and do simple t-shirt scenes with names on my practice paper (standard computer copy paper). However, my names and such NEVER look anything like what I see others doing. The lines always turn out to be more of a gray color (primarily talking about black paint). I use Createx with about a 1:2 reduction ratio, reducing with water, through an Iwata Eclipse HP BCS siphon feed. I would imagine that less reduction would give me a more defined black, but it gets really hard to spray if I do. I spray at about 30-40 psi. I spray fairly close to the paper to get my fine lines, and I have to make several passes before its dark enough. If I use more paint, it just spiders everywhere. I understand this hobby takes a ton of practice, but I just want to make sure I'm not missing something simple
EDIT:
I tried some of my comart paints and it sprays amazingly well. I also went back to my createx black without reducing it and it does really well up close for fine lines and lettering but I've noticed that when I tried to shade anything, I get an unwanted stippling effect. Could this be because the paint is drying before it gets to the paper, and is this why it requires higher psi?

 

[HCP-draggin]

are you using the standard Createx, or one of their newer paints (Wicked, Wicked Detail, Illustration, AA, etc)?

The "normal" Createx paints are notoriously difficult to get to spray well. I would recommend either the Wicked Detail or Illustration lines and using the W500 reducer. Both are much higher quality pigments in MUCH less finicky bases. Both can be reduced to ridiculous amounts before they start losing their chroma, but I try to keep my paint about the consistancy of 1% milk. Reduced any more than that, and I start running into more tip-dry, spidering, etc.

Hope that helps.

edit- I almost forgot, straining the paint through panty hose (or actual paint strainers) can help a lot as well.

 

[RebelAir]

^ As he said, try a different paint, you'll notice a BIG difference..GL

 

[Mr.Micron]

Also through the brush you are using , Do not reduce the paint, Turn up the pressure to 60-80 PSI That is how most t-shirt artist work .
You are running a .5 set up aka firehose it can handle the paint straight out the bottle.

Kent Lind White T Lettering from CoastairbrushTV on Vimeo
you can find more of Kent Lind videos here Createx Colors™ Technical How To's

 

[Squidge]

Also through the brush you are using , Do not reduce the paint, Turn up the pressure to 60-80 PSI That is how most t-shirt artist work .
You are running a .5 set up aka firehose it can handle the paint straight out the bottle.

Kent Lind White T Lettering from CoastairbrushTV on Vimeo
you can find more of Kent Lind videos here Createx Colors™ Technical How To's

Kent Lind is a pretty good teacher. I bought one of his create dvds from Hobby Lobby. About the air pressure, my little compressor can't handle that much so I'm kind of stuck there. I tried spraying it straight out of the bottle but it kept spitting and clogging up. I'll try straining the paint when I can get my hands on the materials and see if that works. I've also got some comart paints that came with my Eclipse that I'll try and see if they work better. I had always read that createx were pretty good paints, and do you the guy who asked, I believe I'm using the standard createx paints

 

[Squishy]

Createx paints are great for what they are designed for, which is textiles. As Herb says above they are for guns with larger nozzles, and high pressures. It's fairly common for people to get them and not realise this. The com art and the eclipse will be a great combination.!

 

[Anastasia]

Try another paint - Pro Color - they have great opaque colors, especially black and white. The black one is very "clean", comparing to Createx one. And the second advise is - it will be funny, but sometimes our airbrushers use spirit/vodka for reducing paints (Createx).))

 

[silverstar]

Vodka you say Anastasia ? I will try this and see how it works


Can't is not an excuse .

 

[Squidge]

Createx paints are great for what they are designed for, which is textiles. As Herb says above they are for guns with larger nozzles, and high pressures. It's fairly common for people to get them and not realise this. The com art and the eclipse will be a great combination.!

I would eventually like to paint a few t-shirts so createx would be useful to me eventually. Kent Lind paints shirts between 40 and 60 psi I believe. Does the higher air pressure keep the paint from clogging as much? I run my compressor at the highest it can go which is supposed to be about 40 psi. I see him shoot it out of the bottle, but if that's the case, I can't see how he strains it or anything like that that would give him better results than what I get

 

[jgny1]

Try another paint - Pro Color - they have great opaque colors, especially black and white. The black one is very "clean", comparing to Createx one. And the second advise is - it will be funny, but sometimes our airbrushers use spirit/vodka for reducing paints (Createx).))

Oh my, that is alcohol abuse.....
If you are in the states, for T-Shirts I would use SpectraTex by Badger flows very well right out of the bottle. I have a .3 needle in my Vega and I have used standard Createx on T-Shirts but you must bump the pressure up there. No less than 40 to 60 psi is what I have used. For the Spectra-Tex I have used around 30 psi with my .3 needle with success. Both of the paints mentioned I reduce with water if I need to reduce no reason to use anything else....especially vodka (means less to drink). Do a shot of the vodka then add water to your paint. That is my personal recommendation.:loyal:

 

[Squishy]

I would eventually like to paint a few t-shirts so createx would be useful to me eventually. Kent Lind paints shirts between 40 and 60 psi I believe. Does the higher air pressure keep the paint from clogging as much? I run my compressor at the highest it can go which is supposed to be about 40 psi. I see him shoot it out of the bottle, but if that's the case, I can't see how he strains it or anything like that that would give him better results than what I get

The higher pressure will definitely help, and if your compressor is set at 40, you will probably lose a couple of pounds by the time it comes out of your brush. I don't know much about how T shirt artists paint I'm afraid, but it may be that they are also using additives to help with the flow, and also I think they have nozzles as big as .7 sometimes too.

 

[jgny1]

The higher pressure will definitely help, and if your compressor is set at 40, you will probably lose a couple of pounds by the time it comes out of your brush. I don't know much about how T shirt artists paint I'm afraid, but it may be that they are also using additives to help with the flow, and also I think they have nozzles as big as .7 sometimes too.

Good point I don't think that was mentioned, how to set your pressure. You want to push on the trigger so air is coming out and set it. If you set it without holding the trigger for air you will lose quite a lot of pressure.

 

[Mr.Micron]

You need a compressor that can handle 60 to 80 PSI , Or switch out to the Wicked , Being you stated you have a hobby lobby in your town they carry Wicked and buy some W500 reducer. You will be happier and can shoot at lower pressures

 

[Squidge]

You need a compressor that can handle 60 to 80 PSI , Or switch out to the Wicked , Being you stated you have a hobby lobby in your town they carry Wicked and buy some W500 reducer. You will be happier and can shoot at lower pressures

Hey thanks guys for all the info. Sounds like I know what I'm doing with my next pay check. Might have to pick up some more comart too. That stuff is so much nicer than the createx. I just wish hobby lobby carried bigger bottles of it.

 

[Mr.Micron]

Hey thanks guys for all the info. Sounds like I know what I'm doing with my next pay check. Might have to pick up some more comart too. That stuff is so much nicer than the createx. I just wish hobby lobby carried bigger bottles of it.

I do too but on Com-art looking at all the web site who carry it 2 ounces is all the make.
The wicked it would be great if they carried at least the 8 ounces bottle.

 

[Squishy]

Wicked does work well on t-shirts (though I'm not expert as I've only done a couple). With the createx matte topcoat, and heat setting, it seems to hold up to washing, and last well.