Glazes have been around since the days of the Renaissance oil painters. These painters developed the technique of painting a monochromatic underpainting. Over that painting, they would apply glazes, which are very thin layers of transparent color. Imagine that the glaze is a colored film that you apply over a black and white photograph. The […] Read more »
Acrylic Mediums & Additives
Learn about the variety of mediums, gels and additives that expand the performance characteristics and physical properties of acrylic paint. Read more »
Why Paint Wrinkles
Haste makes waste. I should know that by now. But in my rush to get out of the house, I laid the paint on just a little too thick. When I returned from a week long trip, I discovered that what had been a smooth finish had developed wrinkles. Read more »
Caring for Garments with Heat Transfer Vinyl
I am frequently asked how many times you can wash a garment with a heat transfer vinyl applique before it deteriorates. Durability of this material all depends on the specific type of heat transfer vinyl that you are using and garment care. If you are washing and drying the garment properly, a high quality heat transfer vinyl […] Read more »
How to Troubleshoot and Prevent Paint Problems
What makes painting a challenge for sign makers, compared to vinyl application, are all of the variables. And with each variable the chance that what can go wrong increases. In fact, it seems that that guy Murphy has stacked the odds against us. Our only recourse is to identify the causes of our failures and learn how […] Read more »
Essential Solvents for Sign Painters
Here’s detailed information on solvents used in sign painting. Solvents described include Pure Gum Turpentine, Mineral Spirits, Lacquer Thinner, Toluene, VM&P Naphtha and Xylene. Hingst extensively covers solvent safety, the new safety data sheets and the HazCom2012 standards. Read more »
Shades of Black
Using most black paints in the shadow areas of a painting can create a dull, muddy color when mixed with other colors. Here’s a recipe for chromatic black that darkens a color without changing the color’s hue. Read more »
Guardian HS7500 75% Isopropyl Alcohol Based Hand Sanitizer from Supply55, Inc.
Supply55, Inc. is pleased to announce the release of Guardian HS7500 Hand Sanitizer. Guardian HS7500 Hand Sanitizer utilizes 75% Isopropyl Alcohol as its active ingredient, it is a liquid formulation and can be sprayed, poured, or pumped for use as a hand sanitizer or surface cleaner. Packaged in one (1) gallon bottles for replenishing of […] Read more »
Surface Gilding
The first time that I saw the gilding process, I was visiting the sign shop in Disneyland in Santa Ana, California. The craftsmen were refurbishing the carved wooden horses for a carousel that dated back to the early days in the park’s history. That day they were gilding some of these antique horses, which had […] Read more »
Painting Aluminum Composite Panels
I had asked an old sign painter what primers and paints he used when painting MDO. “Why would anyone today use MDO, when you could paint on Dibond® or Polymetal™?” he responded brusquely. Read more »