How an airbrush works: characteristics, types and features

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

The work of a manicure master is quite complicated and painstaking. To facilitate and improve the method of creating a design, a special paint sprayer was made - an airbrush. This novelty resembles a miniature pneumatic panel for painting cars. Airbrushing is a method of applying a color coating, creating real masterpieces and compositions with the help of “splashes” of paint.

Thanks to the airbrush, it became possible to apply various types of gradient. Further in the article, you will learn how to properly work with an airbrush and how to care for it. If you find it difficult to draw with a brush, do not despair, with the help of an airbrush you can create beautiful and stylish nails.

How the airbrush works

In modern nail art, an indispensable assistant has appeared - an airbrush. The tool allows you to apply paint in the thinnest layer, creating smooth transitions and halftones, which the usualbrush. When working with any unfamiliar device, you first need to study the principle of its operation.

So, next we will learn how to work with an airbrush on nails:

• Having chosen the desired color of the dye, pour it into the “cup” located on top of the tool (a couple of drops are enough for nail design). Close the container with a special lid so as not to spill the paint.
• Before drawing a picture, you should check the operation of the airbrush on a blank sheet of paper, perhaps. drops of old paint left in the sprayer.
• To work correctly, you need to hold the tool at an angle of 45 degrees. As a guide, you can use the “cup” - its lid should be parallel to the table.
• Next, you need to drive the air through the airbrush system, for this, just press the trigger several times.
• Simultaneously press and move the trigger lever towards you - this action is responsible for the amount of sprayed substance. The more you pull the lever, the more intense the color density.
• When working with an airbrush, you need to constantly move the spray console to avoid a wet spot of paint.
• To draw thin lines, you need to bring the airbrush close to the surface. The farther away from the ink surface the sprayer is, the more transparent and softer the transitions become, and the width of the ink impact increases.
• To get an intensely colored transition, you need to slow down the movement of your hand with an airbrush.

Now you know how an airbrush works, so feel free to starttraining on tips or paper. When working with a sprayer, you can not only control the intensity of dye spray, but also the air output.

Airbrush cleaning process

You need to design nails in different colors, so it is important to be able to properly clean the airbrush from the coloring matter. It is important to remember that you need to rinse the tool after each use, regardless of what color of paint you use next. You need to clean the airbrush with a special paint thinner.

The tool flushing scheme is simple:

• Releasing the “cup” from paint.
• Fill the container with solvent (about ⅔).
• Take a thick napkin or piece of cloth, press firmly against the nozzle of the tool (where the paint is sprayed from) and press the air supply lever - air bubbles form in the solvent.
• Next, move the airbrush away from the tissue and rinse the tool by pressing the trigger lever and moving it towards you until the solvent runs out.
• The quality of cleaning can be seen from the transparency of the sprayed solvent. If the cloth is clean, then the wash is successful (if using pigmented paint, several washes may be necessary).

If you use the airbrush often, you need a more thorough cleaning of the tool. To do this, unscrew the upper part of the spray gun (where the needle is located) and wipe everything with a cloth soaked in solvent. It is also worth rinsing the extreme part of the nozzle, which can be unscrewed.

Airbrush watercolor

No matter how hard you try to create a smooth transition of colors with a brush, the result will be a pathetic likeness to the design that can be created with an airbrush. How does an airbrush with water paints work, because watercolor has a transparent effect? The fact is that on sale there are products that are very dense in color, which are easily applied and dry quickly. Therefore, you should definitely buy acrylic paints (water-based), which most masters advise.

You can assemble a palette of colors by hand or buy a ready-made set of colors. The consistency of the coloring composition should resemble milk, otherwise you risk clogging the nozzle.

How to airbrush watercolor? Very simple. Your task is to choose pigmented paints with good hiding power. And also you need to get used to the working consistency. It is also advisable to pay attention to the toxicity of the product, because you will have to work with it very often. The paint should dry quickly, mix well with other colors and not crack. How the airbrush works depends on the quality and consistency of the paint.

Airbrush Stencil

The next most important item for a manicure master is stencil stickers that will help you create drawings and outlines of figures on the nail plate. Like paints, stencils can be bought as a set or individually. Stickers can be single use or long term. Instead of a stencil, you can easily use ordinary lace, fine mesh or paperscotch. But with stencils it is more convenient. Various animal figures, fruits, Christmas decor, geometric and animal print, etc. are on sale.

Airbrush Compressor

For comfortable operation, you need to choose the right compressor that will fit your sprayer. Requirements:

• Maximum quiet operation of the tool.
• Optimal performance.
• Light weight.

You need to approach the choice of such an important detail with special responsibility, because an airbrush without a compressor does not work as well as we would like. Compressor performance is responsible for the volume of air that passes through the spray device, so this factor must be paid special attention.

The airbrush process

You may have seen nail design options where the paint is applied very airy and unobtrusive, where the silhouette is framed by a light haze, like fog - all this is the merit of the airbrush. How are these color transitions obtained?

Let's figure it out:

• To begin with, we carry out the standard processing of the nail plate, cover with a degreaser, primer and base.
• We cover the nails with gel polish in the standard technique. Be sure to remove the dispersion layer to get clearer lines.
• Glue the stencil with the selected pattern to the nail. On top of the sticker, spray paint with the required color density. For example, you can get an ombre effect. Next, remove the stencil sticker.
• At the end, cover all nails with top.

If you don't have stencils, then use ordinary stationery tape, and then your design options will become unique and author's.

Airbrush capabilities

Getting an airbrushed nail design can take a very long time, but if you have tested the tool, so to speak, “filled” your hand, then you can quite do it in 10-20 minutes.

With the help of an airbrush, you can get the following effects:

• Custom color combinations with a moving image effect can be achieved.
• Get new transitions and color tones.
• Apply animal or geometric prints with ease.
• Get clear and strict contours.

Familiarizing yourself with how the airbrush works, you will be able to create a flawless gradient, which is at the peak of popularity in modern nail art.

Popular airbrush nail designs

Now let's look at how to work with an airbrush to model the most unusual designs so that your work is not just beautiful, but also modern, popular and unique. Of course, ombre is the most popular nail design, with the help of an airbrush you can do it very quickly and efficiently.

There are 2 main types of airbrush design: haloing and painting. In the first case, a sticker in the form of a picture is used, which must be worked out with a spray gun and subsequently removed, leaving the frame of the picture with various transitions.colors.

The second option - painting over, happens the other way around. A stencil is glued onto the nail, which can be painted over with a dense layer of paint in the ombre or air haze style. Over time, you will become better versed in the technique, methods and options for nail design. You can easily work with an airbrush. As with any tool, you need to follow the rules of its use, then the airbrush will serve you for a very long time.

Confectionery Airbrush

Cooking never ceases to amaze and becomes a real art that requires special dexterity, caution and talent. Confectionery decorators are increasingly encouraged to use an airbrush. How to work with cakes with paint sprayer? Very simple. It is enough to choose the food coloring of the desired consistency, and decorate the culinary product in an unusual format.

After studying the following criteria, you can choose a quality airbrush:

• Single or double tool (the second allows you to control the intensity of the air supply).
• Size and location of the “cup” for paint.
• Location of eyeliner.
• Power and performance of the compressor.
• Receiver capacity.
• External or internal mixing.

Be sure to check with the seller or other users of pastry airbrushes so as not to buy an overpriced or poor quality tool.