Any color and virtually any type of paint can be made transparent and used for a variety of decorative and faux effects. Many decorative painting techniques call for thinned-down paint. Merely thinning paint with water results in a runny, uneven finish. Mixing paint with faux glazing medium or paint additives allows you to use the paint to give it a translucent, transparent look that doesn't drip or run. Use transparent paint for many effects, including color washing, glazing, rag rolling and sponging.
Instructions
1. Choose a glaze or additive. Faux glaze is basically interior paint without colorant and can be mixed with interior paint in any ratio depending on how transparent you want it to be. Add a product such as Floetrol paint additive for less-translucent paint for either interior or exterior use.
2. Use eggshell, satin or semi-gloss paint to mix with your glaze or additive.
3. Mix the paint and the glaze or additive together in a large, clean bucket. Experiment with the ratios and check the instructions on the label because not all paint-thinning mediums are alike. Mix enough to do the whole job, with a little left over for touch-ups.
4. Test your transparent paint mix on a painted card or an unobtrusive part of the wall. Let it dry before deciding whether you've mixed it the way you want it or if it needs adjusting. The mix will darken as it dries.
5. Pour what you need into your paint bucket or tray as you work. Keep the transparent paint mixture covered so it doesn't dry out.
Related posts
Transparent paint is thinner than regular paint.Muralists and decorative painters use transparent paint to create a variety of different effects. Since ancient times, artists have employed the tra...
Faux WallsAdding a faux finish to your walls can add beauty, elegance and sophistication to your house. Faux finishes can increase the overall value of your home, making it more attractive to home...
Mix your own custom paint colors.Custom colors are easy to do at home, though you may have difficulty hitting the exact mark on a particular swatch or color sample you are going for. One reason is...
Milk paint is an eco-friendly way to give a shabby-chic or vintage look to furniture.Milk paint is an environmentally-safe way to paint furniture to give it a weathered, antique look. An ancient d...
Basic paints come from natural minerals found within the earth. These minerals are crushed and pulverized to a fine powder than mixed with water or oils to produce a paint. The addition of metalli...
