How to Airbrush Neon Effect Lettering
Airbrushing techniques can take some time to perfect, but using stencils and airbrush-ready paints makes it relatively simple. Craft stores now supply airbrush paints in bright neon-effect colors. It may be possible to buy stencils with the looped-lettering commonly associated with neon signs, but it is not difficult to design them yourself, or download a font from the Internet and create them on a computer.
Things You'll Need
- Stencil
- Computer with printer (optional)
- Paper (optional)
- Pen (optional)
- Thin card (optional)
- Craft glue (optional)
- Craft knife (optional)
- Masking tape
- Double-action airbrush with air hose and air source
- Airbrush-ready neon colored paints
Instructions
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Buy or make a lettering stencil. To make your own, either draw the outlines of the lettering on a blank sheet of paper with a pen or download a neon font onto your computer, type the letters, increase them to the desired size and print them out. Glue the piece of paper with the letters on it onto a piece of thin card and use a craft knife to carefully cut out the shape inside the letter outlines.
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Attach the stencil with masking tape to the wall or other surface you wish to airbrush.
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Attach the airbrush to the hose, air source and paint according to the manufacturer's instructions.
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Hold the airbrush in your hand as if it were a pencil. Your index finger should be on the trigger on the top.
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Apply the paint to the cut-out areas of your stencil by pressing down and pulling back on the airbrush trigger, and then lightly moving the airbrush across the area you wish to cover. The denser you wish the color to be, the farther back you must pull the trigger.
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Hold the airbrush close to the surface of the wall or surface to produce intense clear coverage. For larger letters, you will need to hold it farther back from the surface.
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Leave the stencil in place until the paint is completely dry to ensure the lettering does not smudge. However, if you wish to create a slightly uneven outline to give the impression of a neon "glow," remove the stencil immediately after applying paint.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit neon sign image by Karin Lau from Fotolia.com
