Airbrush Hints and Tips
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Alright, you've applied your first airbrushed tattoo. But things didnt go so well. Now you've got a mess everywhere and the airbrushed tattoo doesnt look too impressive either!
Here's a few tips.
Theres blow outs everywhere!
Blowouts are cause from the airbrush's spray getting underneath your stencil. The easiest way to avoid this is to make sure you've stuck the stencil down flush with the skin before you start, and whilst airbrushing, spray from the outside in. Another method I've seen other people use and have done myself from time to time, is to hold the stencil down as you go, keeping one hand on the stencil at all times, right where you're spraying. Effective, but you usually end up with a black hand by the end of the day.
My paint just isnt going dark enough!
What you've done is thin you're paint down too much. You should keep you paint as thick as possible even if it is expensive! The more you thin your paint down the quicker the tattoo will come off! Some paint manufacturers or airbrush tattoo suppliers supply it already thinned down at the right consistancy. The best bet is to buy is concentrated (undiluted). This way you can thin it down to how you like it.
Ive got a mark where the stencil was!
This is caused by over spray. Either you've gotten too close to the edge of the stencil or your air pressure is too high. The trick to stop this from happening is to place your hand where the edge of the stencil is when youre working in that area. This way the over spray goes on YOUR hand and not on your customer!
My tattoos aren't lasting very long, only one day!
The usual reason for this, is you're probably not wiping the skin down effectively enough. Picture this, try to spray paint a car with engine oil all over it. The paint would wipe straight off! Take note of your customer, if you notice that they have really oily skin, wipe them down twice. The key to a long lasting airbrushed tattoo is all in the preperation.
My stencils have lost their tack and it's hard to not get blow-outs!
Try giving your stencils a light spray with spray adhesive. Although some people claim this is a dangerous material, it is not. I have been using it on all of my stencils for years and hey, no complaints. You need to only spray a minute amount on your stencil though, just enough to leave the back tacky. Too much will end up in an awful mess on you customer.
My paint is too thick, it wont go through the airbrush. What do i use to thin it down?
First of all, make sure you're airbrush will spray a thinner kind of paint, if it does, then yes you need to thin your paint. You can do this using 100% isopropyl alcohol (often known as rubbing alcohol) Use the 100% stuff because the 70% isopropyl contains water. Be Aware, there are two types of airbrush temporary tattoo paints that you can purchase. Water-Based and Alcohol-Based. For water based, use distilled water. And for alcohol make sure you use alcohol. Using the incorrect thinner will leave you with a pot of yucky glupy paint!
I want to use different colours but emptying the airbrush, cleaning and refilling it take too much time. What can I do?
Well, first you should consider getting more bottles. This is the way I do it. Don't go buying 7 different airbrushes for 7 different colours. 7 bottles will do just as well. See my article on it - Using Multiple Jars different colored airbrush paint.