How to Airbrush With an Air Brush Compressor Kit

There is no doubt that airbrushing is an art form. It is used to add character to a vehicle, give an old tee-shirt new life and provide personality to personal safety equipment such as a motorcycle helmet. The uses for airbrush design are limitless, but knowing how to airbrush is the key to a fabulous creation. With the help of a compressor kit, you can learn to airbrush almost anything.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Airbrush gun Compressor kit Airbrush paint

1. 
    

   Evaluate your needs. Before purchasing a compressor, you need to decide how elaborate you want to be with your airbrush design. If you are simply airbrushing as a hobby, then a small hobby compressor is what you need. If you own a body shop and want to incorporate airbrush design as a service, you will need a large shop compressor.

2. Buy the best you can afford. Airbrush compressors and kits range anywhere from fifty dollars into the thousands of dollars. No matter what your purpose for airbrushing may be, you need to purchase the best compressor and kit you can. The air supply going into your airbrush gun is the determining factor of your artistic outcome. Problems with air flow also means a problem with your artwork.

3. Pick your gun. Just as with air compressors, there are a number of airbrush guns to choose from. There are gravity fed guns, which allows you to pour your paint into a cup located on top of the gun. There is also a trigger gun, which allows you to attach the can of airbrush paint to the bottom of the gun. They come in an a wide variety and you need to buy according to your needs.

4. Hold your airbrush gun like a pen. When you begin the airbrushing process, hold your airbrush as you would a writing utensil. Be sure it is comfortable in your hand, but do not hold it too tightly. While you want to keep your wrist locked, you also want to move your airbrush fluently to achieve the best design. Being relaxed is how this will occur.

5. 
    

   Control the air flow. You need to keep your index finger on the trigger of the airbrush gun at all times, as well as keeping your compressor on at all times. You want to have a constant air flow to maintain a fluid flow of paint. If you purchase a dual action gun, the trigger will be on the top. By pushing down on the trigger, the air flows from the compressor and through the airbrush. When you pull the trigger back while simultaneously holding it down, the paint will be pushed out by the flow of air. You control the flow of air and amount of paint used by your control of the trigger.

Resources

• This site offers a wide variety of airbrush kits.