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 Choices 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