How to Airbrush Diamond Plate
Airbrushing is a fun and rewarding practice. Whether you're doing it for your own enjoyment or for a prospective client, airbrushing can be enjoyed by young and old alike. While certain basic airbrushing techniques are simply learned, more advanced methods like diamond plating can be a bit more difficult. With a stencil and a little help, you should be able to create authentic looking diamond plating in no time.
Other People Are Reading
Things You'll Need
- Masking tape
- Airbrush and airbrush paint (metallic silver, transparent black and transparent white)
- Face mask
- Goggles
- Diamond plating airbrush stencil
Instructions
-
Airbrushing Diamond Plate
-
1
Become familiar with your airbrush. The airbrush is a simple tool to use, but will take some practice to perform properly. Practice. Do so in a well ventilated room, while always wearing goggles and a face mask.
-
2
Wipe your canvas (the surface you are going to apply diamond plating to) down with a clean rag, getting rid of all debris or dirt. This will result in a cleaner, smoother looking end result.
-
-
3
Put your protective goggles and safety mask on, and spray a smooth base coat onto your canvas. For a traditional diamond plate look, use a silver paint for the base. Cover the canvas completely so that it looks like metal. If you feel the need, add a dusting of black to add a "metallic brush" look to the paint. Allow this to dry.
-
4
Tape your stencil onto your canvas. The stencil should have two or so rows of "half diamond bumps," and then multiple rows of "full diamond bumps" (half diamond bumps are half of the full diamond bumps, but split down the middle lengthwise). Cover the two rows of half bumps with masking tape while leaving the full bumps uncovered, allowing paint to flow through them. Tape the stencil onto your canvas so that it is parallel with the top and bottom.
-
5
Mix silver and black paint together in a spare container. Start by adding a small amount of silver, and then slowly stirring in the black paint with a small wooden rod. When the two paints have sufficiently mixed, add them to the airbrush reservoir, and spray the mixture over the stencil so that you are filling the "full diamond bump" holes with paint. Remove the stencil and allow the paint to dry.
-
6
Remove the tape from the two rows of "half diamond bump" holes, and cover all the "full diamond bump" holes with tape. These new holes will allow you to add highlights to the elevated-looking bumps. Adhere the stencil over the previously painted full bumps, so that only half of each of the bumps is covered with these new holes. Tape the stencil in place.
-
7
Mix together a silver and white paint mixture, and add the paint to the airbrush reservoir. Once complete, spray your highlight paint onto the stencil, adding a lighter layer to half of every bump. Move the stencil around so that you eventually add a highlight to every bump you painted before in step 5.
-
8
Redo the original masking so that the full bump holes are visible, while the half bump holes are covered with tape again. Reposition the stencil over the holes, lining it up properly.
-
9
Add a silver paint to your airbrush and spray a very quick and fine line into each of the holes. Apply the line between the dark undercoating of step 5, and the new highlights of step 7. This will blend the two together to create a more authentic and realistic look. Remove the stencil, allow the paint to dry, and you have a completed diamond plating airbrush design.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
To airbrush, simply hold the airbrush gun in your dominant hand, and poise your index finger over the lever (or button, depending on the model of airbrush) to release the air and push the paint out of the reservoir. Hold the nozzle two to five inches away from whatever it is you're practicing on, press the button and spray paint in short, even strokes, back and forth over your canvas. When you feel proficient at this, move on.
When masking your work, or adding tape to the stencil, always make sure the tape is flat and without folds. Having these imperfections may result in paint seeping under the tape, ruining the look of your design.
Diamond plating has very strong and visible edges. If you do not press down on the stencil as you airbrush you may end up with a blurred or misty looking design, which is not wanted. Press firmly on the stencil to make sure this doesn't happen.
You may run the risk of peeling off paint when adding tape to a section of your canvas that hasn't completely dried, which could ruin the look of your design.
Airbrushing should always be done in well-ventilated spots, with full protective gear on. It can be toxic if inhaled or sprayed in the eyes. Always make safety be a primary concern when engaging in any airbrushing project.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit diamond plate small copper image by pcphotos from Fotolia.com
