Mixing & Painting Techniques
Neutralizing the paint: When you first use ChromaColour Artist’s Colors, you will be surprised at the sheer intensity of the colours. If you like to use subtle hues and muted tones, you can easily neutralize the colours by using complementary colours.
Diluting
with water: Because ChromaColour Artist’s Colors have more pigment than other paints, they need to be diluted more than you may be used to with other paints. When diluting, add water to a small amount of paint, then gradually add more paint or water to produce the transparent colour you want. This way you won't end up with a large quantity of diluted colour.
Diluting
with white: To tone down a dark colour while retaining opacity, add small amounts of colour to the white to reach the desired tint. This is less wasteful than adding white to the colour. Because ChromaColour Artist’s Colors are so powerful, it takes a great deal of white paint to achieve lighter tones.
Brushes: No special brushes are needed. but Chromacolour Artist Colours are
so pigment rich that you should wash your brushes a little more
frequently than you may be used to.
Before
opening the bottles: Shake the bottles well before use. This is important. Tap them gently on your hand or a tabletop to clear the paint from the little spigot in the lid. Please note there will be no smell to our paints.
Keeping
the paint fresh: Be sure to replace the bottle tops when not using the paint. This keeps the paint fresh and usable.
Working
with your existing stock: If you are already using water-based paints such as watercolour, gouache or acrylics, ChromaColour Artist’s Colors are compatible and will work and mix with your existing paint supply. You do not have to throw away your paint supply in order to try our paint.
All colors
in the CHROMACOLOUR RANGE are lightfast. On a scale of 1-10, with
1 being totally permanent and 10 having no light fastness qualities
whatsoever, all colors are rated at numbers 1 or 2. Because Chromacolour
is waterproof when dry, colors that dry on the palette cannot be
reused. However, colors may be removed from non-absorbent surfaces
with Chroma Brush Cleaner. Even hardened brushes may be cleaned
by soaking in Chroma Brush Cleaner and gently washing in warm soapy
water. Airbrushes should be cleaned immediately after use with water;
if this is not done, it will be necessary to strip the airbrush
down to its component parts, soak in Chroma Brush Cleaner and wash
in warm soapy water. Chromacolour is a water-based product, you
can NOT mix them with oils. You can however, mix Chromacolour with
most water-based paints including watercolors, gouache, acrylics,
plaka and poster paints. All colors are non-toxic and meet the requirements
of the US ASTM standard D - 4236: "NO HEALTH LABEL REQUIRED."
ADD RETARDER
- EXTEND DRYING TIME: Although Chromacolour is slower drying
than acrylics, it is sometimes desirable to extend the drying time
on the palette, especially when working out of doors. As much as
20% can be added without affecting color, strength or opacity and
this amount will increase working time by a factor of four. Up to
50% can be added but at this level opacity becomes less.
ADD FLOW
IMPROVER - FOR SOFT EDGES AND INK TECHNIQUES: When using Chromacolour
as an ink, flow improver helps the paint to run off the nib of a
dip pen more easily and so helps the execution of lines in one unbroken
motion. When using Chromacolour as a watercolor, flow improver helps
to control wet into wet techniques and helps to soften hard edges.
ADD
GLOSS MEDIUM - FOR AN ACRYLIC FINISH:Chromacolour
naturally dries to a matte finish; to produce an end result with
a glossy sheen simply add a small amount of gloss medium to the
colors on the palette. Gloss medium is also particularly useful
for reducing the opacity of Chromacolour when transparent glazes
are required.
USE EXTENDER
- FOR GLAZING: For painters wishing to use transparent washes
or glazes but wanting to retain the original viscosity. Simply dilute
with extender instead of water.
USE CHROMA
GESSO - FOR PRIMING ABSORBENT SURFACES: When painting on unprimed
canvas or other absorbent surfaces, it may be necessary to prime
with Chroma Gesso; this dries quickly to a matte white finish with
some 'tooth'. It can be sanded if need be and can also be diluted
and applied in several coats. It can be tinted with Chromacolour
if a colored ground is required and can even be used as a base for
oils and acrylics.