Fading

[bjm323]

What is the correct procedure when fading from one color to another like a traditional flame job? Do you start where the color will be the darkest and feather it out towards the lighter color? This is a great site. Don't know how I would get by without it.

 

[albertamike]

Start with your lighter colors first and then go darker.

 

[BonesFX]

There really isn't a correct way - Start with your main color - say we're doin a white to yellow to red fade, Shoot your white with a touch up gun - don't worry about getting the white where the yellow or red goes - just shoot the whole flame white. Then pull out your airbrush or dial in your touch up gun nice and tight. fill it with yellow - slightly over reduced and shoot in your yellow from the "breaking" point on the white all the way to the tips of the flames - now fill with red, slightly over reduced and fade in your red from the tips up to where you want them to break. By starting from the tip with the red you will be able to control the "orange" you want and how far up the flame you want it. The only problem with this way is that when you unmask your flames you'll have a white hairline around the whole flame, but thats what pinstriping is for --- Bones!~

 

[bjm323]

Thanks for the responses. Now, is there a way to get the colors to flow together? I guess what I am getting at is trying to avoid the mist overlap look? Maybe spraying a little straight thinner to try and melt it all together?

 

[BonesFX]

"To Get the Colors to Flow Together"

That would be one of the good reasons to have a good gun or airbrush - The gun or airbrush you're using will take the paint and atomize it into tiny drops - of course an airbrush will do a better job - with a little over reducing of the paint to make it even more transparent will make it flow together with the other colors - You'll have to practice first and get your spraying technics right, but it isn't that hard - Bones!~

 

[rmt1and1]

As usual, Bones is the man. That's also the way I feather in the colors. The fading process with an airbrush does make the job easier. The amount of flow and transparency can also be controlled by the distance from which you are shooting. Of course masking helps in that regard also. The trick with an air brush has a lot to do with how good you are on the trigger too. Most people I know fade in the colors from the tip of the flame down-darker to lighter.
Whatever you feel most comfortable with is what you will do the best with.

 

[BonesFX]

Thanx MT1 -- I see your from Newport - Are you heading toward Williamsburg next weekend for the Air-brush Action Getaway??? I'll be down there Sunday for a one day class - I figure I've had an airbrush for 6 years now - I should finally learn how to use it LOL!!!

-- Hope to meet some of you there!! Bones!~

 

[bjm323]

I will be painting flames on a car. What gun do you suggest I get for good atomization? Thanks

 

[nooshie]

Bones, I like your straight forward answer to fading colors. I am learning to use my air brush and I'm trying to learn to make really neat flames. This is a great site. If anyone knows of a class or workshop coming to the Pacific NW I would really like to go.

Thanks
Nooshie