Can You Thin Acrylic Paint With Water

Adding 60 percent or more water creates a watery paint application called a wash.

Can you thin acrylic paint with water. Essentially diluting the binder to the point it struggles to do its job. Any more than this may cause the polymer in the acrylic paint to break down and lose its adhesive qualities resulting in peeling or flaking at some stage or the. Adding up to 30 percent water to acrylic paint thins it but still allows it to coat a surface. When water is used to thin acrylic paint these molecules get widely dispersed suspending the pigment molecules in water and detaching them from the polymer molecules.

The amount of water you add depends on the desired effect and the surface. When only thinning your paint slightly take your brush and wet it in clean water. Herein lies the contrast between acrylic and the more oil based paints. Losing this attachment to the polymer molecules the pigment becomes what is known as unbound since the water holds virtually no ability to bind the pigment molecules.

Too much moisture can leave your acrylic paint looking thin. Acrylic medium minimizes the need for the addition of water and allows the paint to sit on top of the surface maintaining a rich glossy appearance. That being keep the pigment in place after dry time. This much water will thin one gallon of paint.

Too little may not have much of an effect at all. Adding water to acrylic paint can cause the binder and medium to become out of sync. To significantly thin your paint pour water into a container with your paint and use your brush to mix the water and paint together. With the use of water or other paint thinning solution you can easily thin acrylic paints.

Step 3 slowly pour water from the measuring cup into the bucket containing the old paint. Pour 1 2 cup of warm water into a measuring cup for starters. If gone by a simpler definition it can be said that acrylic by its very nature is a water soluble paint medium. Add water to your paint.

When added to water it will slowly start to dissolve and become thinner in as a result. Some sources advise not to mix acrylic paint with more than 50 percent water. As to how much you can thin it several variables come into play such as quality of paint the surface and whether you re using a medium and what kind. Water can be used to thin acrylic paints but its best if you use distilled water and you use it sparingly.