Measuring out paint ratios

Cydonia · Post by **Cydonia** » Tue Sep 02, 2014 10:01 pm

The current Kotobukiya styrene kit l am working on calls for a number of paint mixtures with a variety of ratios. Example: 95% white, 3% neutral grey and 2% red brown. I will be airbrushing this acrylic mix on the kit. Problem is; how do you accurately portion out these amounts?

My first thought would be to drip out 95 drops of white, three drops of grey and two of the red brown. However this is a long and boring process, doubly so if you need a large amount of the mix.

Second would be simply a guess-and-bygosh method--pour out an amount of white and then estimate what amounts of the other two colors are the right proportions. This smacks of being highly inaccurate and a rather sloppy way of doing this.

Is there another way--a quicker/easier way-- to pour out correct paint proportions?

Wug · Post by **Wug** » Wed Sep 03, 2014 2:28 am

Some people measure paint with a syringe.

With a recipe calling for 2% and 3%, your best bet is to mix a two to three ration of the red brown and the grey then take an easily measured amount of that and mix it with 19 times that amount of the main color.

Mike

Cydonia · Post by **Cydonia** » Wed Sep 03, 2014 8:39 pm

Yeah, that was my third thought.

Another way would be to measure out your mixing jar in marks of 10, 20, 25, 75, 100, etc. That way, you can pour an accurate amount much quicker.

Lt. Z0mBe · Post by **Lt. Z0mBe** » Sat Sep 06, 2014 10:50 pm

All of my paint recipres are ratios like this. I use gradiated droppers and count the drops as I am adding them. It really goes faster than you think it will.

Kenny

Devin · Post by **Devin** » Mon Sep 08, 2014 3:00 pm

I use those small plastic cups used to dispense medication. They have markings on the side for measuring out in various amounts, and are fairly inexpensive at drug stores.

Kylwell · Post by **Kylwell** » Tue Sep 09, 2014 10:09 am

Lt. Z0mBe wrote:All of my paint recipres are ratios like this. I use gradiated droppers and count the drops as I am adding them. It really goes faster than you think it will.

Kenny

Me too.

E-Dub · Post by **E-Dub** » Sat Oct 25, 2014 9:20 pm

I swipe used hypodermics at the vet, wash out any remaining medicine in them and just use the markings on the side. Modern hypos all have the needles screw off and they're tossed separate.

Jawarob · Post by **Jawarob** » Wed Oct 29, 2014 10:05 pm

Devin wrote:I use those small plastic cups used to dispense medication. They have markings on the side for measuring out in various amounts, and are fairly inexpensive at drug stores.

You can get multiple sizes of those small plastic cups (and lids) at places like Party City. Prices are reasonable. Lids can be used to seal the containers or on their own as shallow "pallettes" for glue or paint.

They will hold solvent based paints... For a while, but they get soft.

I recommend against using them for straight (non acrylic) thinner. Don't ask me how I know this.

Kylwell · Post by **Kylwell** » Wed Oct 29, 2014 10:37 pm

I just use these. http://www.medsuppliesshop.com/medsuppl ... -cs-02102A