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How To Airbrush Clothing
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Published: October 5, 2006
Airbrushing clothing can make for a fun hobby with the potential to turn into something more. The clothing you design becomes pieces of wearable art that are unique to you. This is a fun craft for anyone of any age and skill level. Airbrushing clothing is very popular because it appeals to a wide range of people who want to make a unique piece or multiple pieces to sell.
Airbrushing clothing can be a profitable endeavor if you have the skills and time to perfect your craft.
To begin airbrushing clothing, having the right materials is key; design comes next along with lots of practice. Textile airbrush paints are recommended for airbrushing clothing because they are acrylic based. Once these paints are heat set, the bond forms with the fabric to become waterproof. This is important for airbrushing clothing because it has to be machine washable. For best results, these water based paints should be used with a 0.5 mm paint nozzle.
If you are just beginning, start out airbrushing clothing that is made with a natural fabric like cotton. Cotton absorbs the paint well and will help to hide any imperfections in technique. Polyester and rayon are also good fabrics for airbrushing because the weave of the fabric is tight and can easily absorb the paint. Others fabrics such as silk and satin have a looser weave. However, experimenting with other fabrics may result in some interesting textures.
Set Up
It is best to wash and dry the clothing first so that any shrinking or shape changes occur before you airbrush. Iron the fabric so that there are no wrinkles. Place your fabric over a piece of cardboard cut to size so fabric can stand easily on an easel for painting. Also, the cardboard will absorb any paint that may seep through. Do not stretch the fabric, just make sure the fabric is secured around the cardboard and taped in place either against an easel or table so that it won't move during painting.
Airbrushing clothing designs are usually simpler than an illustration. The texture of the clothing is coarser than paper so not as much detail can be shown. When the item is worn, creases and movements made by the person wearing it further disrupt the design. Movable templates, stencils, and masks really help to give a precise design. A few colors will go a long way. A good rule of thumb is to start with the central part of the design using lightest color first. Then layer applications by light to dark, finishing with the background. Make sure each layer is dry before applying the next. Textile paints dry fairly quickly.
When the design is finished, the fabric is stiff, like it had been starched. The final step in airbrushing clothing is to iron the design. When the paint is completely dry, place a damp cloth over the design and iron on medium heat. This will loosen the weave of the cloth and give it back its movable soft feel. Also, this will adhere the paint to the fabric making it waterproof. A clear textile paint can be applied to the clothing before ironing. This clear coating will brighten the paint colors and help to protect against sun damage. This step is not necessary, but it does lengthen the life of the art work.
Another popular fabric to airbrush is leather–anything from jackets to purses. This fabric is very different from cotton because it does not absorb the paint nearly at all. Airbrushing clothing made of leather requires special application.
Tips and Tricks for Airbrushing Leather
Lightly spray a base coat of opaque white where the design will be. Apply the colors in very thin layers; this will avoid any dripping from excess paint and the colors will show up brighter on darker leathers. Wait until the paint has dried thoroughly before heat setting. When the paint has dried, place a protective cloth over the design and iron for twenty or more minutes on a low to medium setting.
Airbrushing clothing creates a one-of-a-kind look. The clothing you design becomes pieces of wearable art unique to you.
Barron's Art Handbooks. Hauppauge, NY: Barron's Educational Series, Inc., 1999.
Fraser, Craig. Craige Fraser's Automotive Cheap Tricks and Specail E/X. Lakewood, NJ: Airbrush Action, Inc., 1999.
Siegel, Peter. The Complete Airbrush Book. 1989.
Shanteau, Pamela. The Ultimate Airbrush Book. New York, NY: Wastson-Guptill Publications, 2002.
Related Articles
To begin airbrushing clothing, having the right materials is key; design comes next along with lots of practice. Textile airbrush paints are recommended for airbrushing clothing because they are acrylic based. Once these paints are heat set, the bond forms with the fabric to become waterproof. This is important for airbrushing clothing because it has to be machine washable. For best results, these water based paints should be used with a 0.5 mm paint nozzle.
If you are just beginning, start out airbrushing clothing that is made with a natural fabric like cotton. Cotton absorbs the paint well and will help to hide any imperfections in technique. Polyester and rayon are also good fabrics for airbrushing because the weave of the fabric is tight and can easily absorb the paint. Others fabrics such as silk and satin have a looser weave. However, experimenting with other fabrics may result in some interesting textures.
Set Up
It is best to wash and dry the clothing first so that any shrinking or shape changes occur before you airbrush. Iron the fabric so that there are no wrinkles. Place your fabric over a piece of cardboard cut to size so fabric can stand easily on an easel for painting. Also, the cardboard will absorb any paint that may seep through. Do not stretch the fabric, just make sure the fabric is secured around the cardboard and taped in place either against an easel or table so that it won't move during painting.
Airbrushing clothing designs are usually simpler than an illustration. The texture of the clothing is coarser than paper so not as much detail can be shown. When the item is worn, creases and movements made by the person wearing it further disrupt the design. Movable templates, stencils, and masks really help to give a precise design. A few colors will go a long way. A good rule of thumb is to start with the central part of the design using lightest color first. Then layer applications by light to dark, finishing with the background. Make sure each layer is dry before applying the next. Textile paints dry fairly quickly.
When the design is finished, the fabric is stiff, like it had been starched. The final step in airbrushing clothing is to iron the design. When the paint is completely dry, place a damp cloth over the design and iron on medium heat. This will loosen the weave of the cloth and give it back its movable soft feel. Also, this will adhere the paint to the fabric making it waterproof. A clear textile paint can be applied to the clothing before ironing. This clear coating will brighten the paint colors and help to protect against sun damage. This step is not necessary, but it does lengthen the life of the art work.
Another popular fabric to airbrush is leather–anything from jackets to purses. This fabric is very different from cotton because it does not absorb the paint nearly at all. Airbrushing clothing made of leather requires special application.
Tips and Tricks for Airbrushing Leather
Lightly spray a base coat of opaque white where the design will be. Apply the colors in very thin layers; this will avoid any dripping from excess paint and the colors will show up brighter on darker leathers. Wait until the paint has dried thoroughly before heat setting. When the paint has dried, place a protective cloth over the design and iron for twenty or more minutes on a low to medium setting.
Airbrushing clothing creates a one-of-a-kind look. The clothing you design becomes pieces of wearable art unique to you.
Barron's Art Handbooks. Hauppauge, NY: Barron's Educational Series, Inc., 1999.
Fraser, Craig. Craige Fraser's Automotive Cheap Tricks and Specail E/X. Lakewood, NJ: Airbrush Action, Inc., 1999.
Siegel, Peter. The Complete Airbrush Book. 1989.
Shanteau, Pamela. The Ultimate Airbrush Book. New York, NY: Wastson-Guptill Publications, 2002.
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