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Airbrush Terms
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Published: October 6, 2006
In the world of airbrushing there are some terms that may be unfamiliar to someone just starting out. Knowing airbrush terms can help you from the purchase of your airbrush, how to use it, and about the culture of airbrushing. Airbrush terms range from the materials, tools, technique, and common lingo.
Airbrush terms can sound strange and seem like a new language, but they are fairly simple and most are self explanatory.
Airbrush terms for materials and tools:
Acrylic: Synthetic resin used in water based paints. It is fast drying, long-lasting, and a very popular medium for artists and illustrators. Premixed acrylic airbrush paints come in transparent and opaque.
Adhesion: A strong bond between surface and the paint. A good adhesion should resist cracking and flaking.
Adhesion Promoter: An additive sprayed on the surface to create the proper surface to paint.
Base coat: The first application of paint, usually a solid color. A base coat is commonly sprayed over a primed surface. It may be followed by a clear topcoat.
Catalyst: A chemical added to stimulate change in a paint. A catalyst triggers a chemical reaction and causes the paint to harden.
Clear Coat: A protective layer sprayed over the paint. Clear coats can either be air-dry or catalyzed clears when used in airbrush terms.
Color Cup: The part on the airbrush where the paint is stored.
Complimentary Colors: Refers to paint colors that are opposites on the color wheel: red and green, orange and blue, yellow and purple. These colors compliment each other.
Cool Colors: These colors are blue in tone value. They can play a trick on the eyes making the object look like it is receding. Cool colors are opposite warm colors.
Dual Action Airbrush: Also, referred to as the airbrush term double-action, these air brushes allow you to control the air valve opening and the needle position simultaneously with a double action trigger. The air supply and the color flow can be regulated independently. These are great for more advanced to professionals.
Opaque: Describes paint that light can not be seen through and will not allow what is under to show through. It is the opposite of transparent.
Pigment: Tiny particles added to paint that affect such properties as the color, resistance, and strength.
Primer: The first coat, the undercoat applied to the surface to be painted. It prepares the surface with grip so that the paint will adhere to it.
PSI: Pounds per square inch, refers to the air pressure setting on the compressor.
Semi Gloss: A paint that when dry has neither a fully glossed or matte finish. Commonly referred to as a satin finish.
Single Action: Also referred to as fixed-action airbrush. Single-action airbrushes have one lever that controls both the airflow and the paint. These are great for the beginner.
Transparent: Describes paint that is thin and allows objects underneath to show through. It is the opposite of opaque.
Water Based Paint: Paint which is thinned with water, commonly acrylic or latex. The paints pigment is suspended in water and when the water evaporates the paint is dry leaving only the pigments.
Airbrush terms for technique and common lingo:
Buffing: A polishing method that removes any imperfections in the surface, usually done with a soft cloth.
Drop Shadow: An accent shadow painted beneath the design or graphic that gives a 3-D effect.
F/X: Pronounced, effects which is a common airbrush term which describes the airbrush paint pattern or texture of a design, graphic, or custom paint job.
Kandy: This is an airbrush term used in the automobile painting industry that describes a family of colors. These are highly transparent paints that are commonly used for airbrushing automobiles, motorcycles, and mural.
Kustom: When custom is spelled with a k, it it is an airbrush term that refers to any art form or vehicle from the hot rod genre.
Kuston Kulture: Having to do with the art genre of the kustom vehicle. This includes art, music, clothing, and kustom vehicle painting.
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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Airbrush terms for materials and tools:
Acrylic: Synthetic resin used in water based paints. It is fast drying, long-lasting, and a very popular medium for artists and illustrators. Premixed acrylic airbrush paints come in transparent and opaque.
Adhesion: A strong bond between surface and the paint. A good adhesion should resist cracking and flaking.
Adhesion Promoter: An additive sprayed on the surface to create the proper surface to paint.
Base coat: The first application of paint, usually a solid color. A base coat is commonly sprayed over a primed surface. It may be followed by a clear topcoat.
Catalyst: A chemical added to stimulate change in a paint. A catalyst triggers a chemical reaction and causes the paint to harden.
Clear Coat: A protective layer sprayed over the paint. Clear coats can either be air-dry or catalyzed clears when used in airbrush terms.
Color Cup: The part on the airbrush where the paint is stored.
Complimentary Colors: Refers to paint colors that are opposites on the color wheel: red and green, orange and blue, yellow and purple. These colors compliment each other.
Cool Colors: These colors are blue in tone value. They can play a trick on the eyes making the object look like it is receding. Cool colors are opposite warm colors.
Dual Action Airbrush: Also, referred to as the airbrush term double-action, these air brushes allow you to control the air valve opening and the needle position simultaneously with a double action trigger. The air supply and the color flow can be regulated independently. These are great for more advanced to professionals.
Opaque: Describes paint that light can not be seen through and will not allow what is under to show through. It is the opposite of transparent.
Pigment: Tiny particles added to paint that affect such properties as the color, resistance, and strength.
Primer: The first coat, the undercoat applied to the surface to be painted. It prepares the surface with grip so that the paint will adhere to it.
PSI: Pounds per square inch, refers to the air pressure setting on the compressor.
Semi Gloss: A paint that when dry has neither a fully glossed or matte finish. Commonly referred to as a satin finish.
Single Action: Also referred to as fixed-action airbrush. Single-action airbrushes have one lever that controls both the airflow and the paint. These are great for the beginner.
Transparent: Describes paint that is thin and allows objects underneath to show through. It is the opposite of opaque.
Water Based Paint: Paint which is thinned with water, commonly acrylic or latex. The paints pigment is suspended in water and when the water evaporates the paint is dry leaving only the pigments.
Airbrush terms for technique and common lingo:
Buffing: A polishing method that removes any imperfections in the surface, usually done with a soft cloth.
Drop Shadow: An accent shadow painted beneath the design or graphic that gives a 3-D effect.
F/X: Pronounced, effects which is a common airbrush term which describes the airbrush paint pattern or texture of a design, graphic, or custom paint job.
Kandy: This is an airbrush term used in the automobile painting industry that describes a family of colors. These are highly transparent paints that are commonly used for airbrushing automobiles, motorcycles, and mural.
Kustom: When custom is spelled with a k, it it is an airbrush term that refers to any art form or vehicle from the hot rod genre.
Kuston Kulture: Having to do with the art genre of the kustom vehicle. This includes art, music, clothing, and kustom vehicle painting.
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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