A very popular material among artists, designers and creative people basically. They have a very wide range of uses, from construction to painting and drawing on fabric. Unfortunately, this material has one drawback - it adheres very "firmly", it is difficult to wash or dilute it.

From this article, the reader will learn: if it is dry, what to do. To understand why it is so durable and difficult to breed, you need to know a little more about this amazing material. And also how to dilute if acrylic paints have dried up.

A little about acrylic paints

This material has a synthetic base and has existed on store shelves and in the everyday life of artists, designers and decorators for about 50 years. Its composition is extremely simple: water, pigment and binder - acrylic polymer emulsion or resin. These paints are known for their special qualities:

• They are easy to apply to the surface.
• They have a high hiding power.
• They are persistent and do not change color after evaporation of the base, for which they are loved by everyone - from amateurs to professionals. Such paint grabs very firmly, tightly.

In addition, thanks to the synthetic base, these paints are fireproof and ethical, since they do not contain animal products.

The disadvantages include cost. Acrylic paints are more expensive than the same gouache, so they are not used very often for painting. Basically, acrylic is used for illustrations, decoration of clothes, home and other decorative work. Also, it is difficult to wash hands and surfaces from the substance due to its adhesion properties, and it is difficult to reanimate it after the paint dries.

More about paint properties

Comparison with oil paints

Acrylic paints, like oil paints, are a covering material. They are applied to the surface in a similar way and have many common features when mixing different colors with each other. However, despite their similarities, they have many differences.

Acrylic dries faster, as water evaporates more easily and more intensively oil paints which can dry from several days to several weeks. It is not sensitive to changes in temperature and humidity, as well as to quantity sunlight... Acrylic paints are much more durable. They do not tarnish, crack or crumble over time, making them suitable for construction works and for decoration of clothes and exterior of the house.

Acrylic paint and watercolor

It is possible to work with this amazing material in the "liquid" technique. If acrylic is diluted with a lot of water, it will repeat the properties of watercolor, give a light delicate color and soft contours, but it will dry faster, and it will not work out after drying.

It differs in that it does not fade in the sun and is not washed off by water or rain after drying, and also gives more scope for creativity. After all, they can also work in the covering technique.

Features of working with acrylic

You can dilute acrylic paints with water or other thinners that will change their properties when they dry. For example, you can add gloss by mixing with varnish or, conversely, matte with oil. Shine can also be applied with hairspray, sprinkling it after the dye dries. Thanks to the solvent, it is possible to improve the flowability of acrylic, so that it is convenient to paint large surfaces or work with a paint roller.

They can be used for priming canvases and other surfaces. With the help of acrylic, you can get both an even base, and textured or textured.

Package

Most often in stores, this material can be found in two packaging options. Acrylic paints are sold in metal tubes and cans. In the second version, they have a more liquid consistency, and they have an increased risk of drying out, and in tubes they are stored longer.

The jars must be closed very tightly, and the remaining paint must be carefully removed from the lid and thread, so that nothing sticks together when it dries, and the container can be easily opened.

Can dry acrylic be restored?

Paints dry out due to contact with air. Water dilutes the pigment and binder to keep the paint at the correct consistency, allowing you to mix colors or paint over large areas. If it evaporates, the acrylic resin in the composition sets, and the acrylic loses its properties, hardening.

It is possible to restore them, but it is difficult. Due to carelessness, acrylic paints in cans dry out quite often, and due to their density, it is difficult to wash and dilute them. You can restore them, but most likely, they will never acquire their previous properties and color and will look more like gouache. The shade will fade and the finish will become less even, but the paint will remain paintable.

How and what to dilute dried acrylic paint

Sometimes damage to acrylic paint cannot be avoided. Sometimes the bank fails, and sometimes too much material remains on the palette. In any case, I don’t want to throw it away.

Acrylic paint has dried up, how to dilute it if it has acquired a "rubber" consistency? In this case, you can simply add a little water to it. However, if the acrylic paint for painting has dried up completely, drastic measures will be required. There are a couple of ways to bring material back to life.

Several options for what can be done if acrylic paint is dry:

1. The easiest way is to dilute with a special agent. So, if acrylic paint is dry, how can you dilute it? For these purposes, a special acrylic thinner "Gamma", which can be purchased at art stores, is suitable. White spirit will also be effective, industrial composition for removing old paint coatings for all types of paint or solvent. When diluting with special agents, it should be borne in mind that they may not help if the acrylic paint has dried up completely.
2. There is a more radical way. A solid piece of acrylic must be ground to a powder. It should be as small as possible. Then the powder must be heated in a water bath or diluted with boiling water.
3. If hot water does not help, you can add alcohol or regular nail polish in small portions.

Irrevocably, the paint deteriorates only under the influence of very low temperatures due to the polymerization of the acrylic emulsion in the composition.

However, despite the fact that in some cases acrylic is relatively successfully reanimated, most experts strongly recommend the disposal of dried material. This is because the recovered paint will irrevocably lose its unique properties... Adhesion to the surface will no longer be so good, the coating will become lumpy, and the consistency is uneven, the color will fade, the paint itself will become less strong, stable and durable.

Restoring acrylic paint is a rather laborious task, and the result may simply not be worth the effort spent on resuscitation.

Acrylic paints are very different in composition and purpose, in each case the answer to the question of how to dilute dried acrylic paint will depend on the manufacturer's recommendations.

The general property of such paints is that they fit equally well on almost any surface and, after drying, are sufficiently resistant to temperature fluctuations and high humidity... Acrylic paints are based on 3 components:

• water;
• pigment that provides color;
• polymer emulsion.

Acrylic paints have a lot of advantages: they dry quickly on the painted surface, do not fade over time, and are very durable.

What to do to prevent acrylic paints from drying out?

1. You need to mix colors or dilute paints in a separate small container, since after the excess water evaporates, the paint dries faster.
2. Tins and tubes of acrylic paints should always be tightly closed to slow down the drying process.
3. The edges of the can (tube) must be thoroughly cleaned of paint, otherwise, when it dries, it will firmly glue them to the lid.
4. After working with acrylic paints, wash the brushes with soap and water. If you don't do this on time, the dried acrylic film will irreparably ruin your brushes.

Before you figure out how to dilute dried acrylic paint, you need to find out how the actual drying takes place. After evaporation of water (which is reversible), the polymer emulsion begins to solidify. At the same time, the structure of the color pigment does not change, but it "works" only together with the emulsion, therefore the paint diluted again loses its original shade and may fade. ...

If it has become a little thicker than you would like, just add a little cold filtered water and mix thoroughly (!) So that there are no lumps.

For some paints, water is not suitable, in which case the manufacturer indicates the name of the required thinner on the packaging. If the packaging has not survived or there are no special marks on it, you can ask a specialized store for any solvent for an acrylic polymer emulsion. By the way, they are matte and glossy, do not forget to mention this when choosing a solvent. The thinner should be poured into a container of paint little by little, kneading and stirring the lumps.

Some sources advise using heated vodka or alcohol mixed with water, but again, this is not suitable for all acrylic paints. We advise you to try this solution with a small amount of paint. It is still preferable to buy a special solvent - this will give much more guarantees of preservation of the original color.

If the paint has dried to a solid state, then in this case it must first be crumbled as much as possible. Then pour boiling water over a jar of dry paint, let it cool, then carefully drain the water through cheesecloth. Pour a portion of boiling water again, heat the mixture and drain the water. After several such warming ups and thorough mixing, the acrylic paint will absorb enough water and become liquid.

The more the acrylic paint has dried, the more difficult it is to dilute it and the more deteriorated its qualities. Even if it is possible to achieve the desired consistency and uniformity, the shade will no longer be the same. The fact is that some components of the emulsion evaporate together with water, and therefore the diluted acrylic paint will have an uneven color and lie worse on the surface.

V modern world advanced technology, the all-encompassing flourishing of chemistry, physics and related industries, various dyes with all kinds of purposes are firmly rooted in people's lives. Nowadays, colorful shades are given not only to festive paraphernalia, bright colors can be found everywhere. In technology, fashion, design, flashy ultratones are increasingly used. Acrylic paint, due to its properties, is increasingly used not only by advertising artists, but also by masters of various directions.

Varieties of acrylic dyes and their areas of application

Organic compounds have been known to mankind for quite some time. Some of them are used in their original form, others are replaced by newer and safer substances. Acrylic paint has practically ousted its predecessor - oil paint from the sphere of construction and design - due to its exceptional properties. Polymeric water-soluble quick-drying dye without a pungent odor is used not only in painting, but also in external and internal finishing works Oh.

In turn, high art has long spread beyond the stuffy studios of unknown artists. Fearless master painters have come out and apply their talents in various fields. Art painting these days can be seen not only on canvases or objects kitchen utensils... Phantasmagoric ornaments, heroes and plots, executed by talented hands, are found in clothes, manicure, on the walls of houses and apartments, drawings adorn the shiny sides of brand new cars and designer furniture.

Everyone is his own master

The development affected not only science directly, but also people in general. More and more talented people appear who do not want to trust the creation of masterpieces to others.

Parents paint the walls of children's rooms with their little ones, desperate motorists draw bizarre shapes on the metal parts of their favorites, sleek young ladies with enviable persistence practice in applying ornaments on impeccable marigolds, young rebels, followers of Picasso and Dali, furtively dark nights decorate the walls of abandoned gray fences buildings with magnificent works of street painting.

Surely in almost every home there is acrylic paint, stocked up for certain needs. Sometimes it is forgotten due to bad experience or simply unnecessary. But at any moment, an artist who has long fallen asleep in the depths of the soul can rise up. Therefore, every master needs to know how to apply leftovers or how to dilute acrylic paint if it has dried up in order to continue creating.

Acrylic paint for painting

In the middle of the last century, mass production of acrylic paints began, and artists were the first to use them.

Among the most famous masters, we can mention Frank Stella, an American painter who pioneered the use of a new dye; Leonard Rosoman, an English artist whose work is full of realism; Paulo Rego, her works have become the standard of modern symbolism.

Many of today's ministers of the fine arts use acrylics. For painting, a dye of a thick consistency is used, which dries quite quickly. If it becomes necessary to revive old stocks, you need to know how to dilute acrylic paint. Ordinary water is quite suitable for drawing, since the dye is made on its basis. When applying the image to a waterproof surface, you can use an ordinary household spray to moisturize. However, in some cases, special solvents are required to alter the properties of the paint. To choose the one you need, you should follow the recommendations of the manufacturer of acrylic gouache.

Acrylic Wall Paint

For interior decoration, a more liquid acrylic is used. This property of the paint allows it to be applied evenly over the entire work surface. Despite its consistency, the once liquid substance can eventually lose its original moisture level and thicken. How to dilute acrylic wall paint? Again with water. Moreover, dyes on acrylic base for finishing works can be thinned to transparent. This allows you not only to save money, but also to achieve the required surface smoothness.

Before some unlucky masters, the question arises: how to dilute acrylic paint if it has completely dried out? And in this version, water is suitable, or rather boiling water. In order to recreate the previous consistency of the paint, it must be crushed. After that, pour boiling water over it, wait a little until the water cools down, drain, then repeat the procedure. In a few minutes it will return to its original properties.

Acrylic paint for textiles

With the help of the popular polymer dye, you can not only paint on canvas. It is also suitable for decorating clothes. Due to the exceptional features of acrylic paints (after drying, they acquire water-repellent properties), the patterns on clothes remain for a long time even after many washes in automatic machines at temperatures up to 60 degrees Celsius. Many large and not very large manufacturers and designers of fashion products have been using this for a long time and quite successfully.

Experienced users claim that the miraculous polymer can be diluted with anything. Acrylic paint for fabrics is usually marked with a corresponding inscription; this type of dye is more resistant to external influences and often does not have time to lose its properties. If it needs dilution, then water will help. Drawings on textiles are recommended to be dried well and processed with a hot iron. This will allow them to last longer.

Acrylic manicure paint

Contrary to the modest hopes of the developers of acrylic dyes, the invention became extremely popular. Today its use is almost ubiquitous. Acrylic not only draws pictures, women of fashion are passionate about them: they decorate clothes, accessories, nails and even bodies.

Almost the same substance is used in manicure as in painting. If you have a question of how to dilute, acrylic nail paint, as well as for almost all other surfaces, can be diluted with water to obtain the desired consistency and use in a specific application technique.

It is important not to confuse paint with acrylic varnish. It requires a special thinner that can be purchased at your supermarket or specialty store. The differences between varnish and paint are that the first is designed for uniform application of one color over the entire area of ​​the nail plate, and the second, in turn, serves for the detailed application of miniature artistic elements, after which it is additionally coated with varnish or gel.

Acrylic paint for car

Despite the seeming simplicity of using acrylic paints in art, design and fashion, it is worth mentioning auto enamels, which are created on the basis of the same component, but their use is more time consuming and complicated process. Any part of the car must be durable and resistant to all climatic manifestations. The same applies to appearance. Therefore, acrylic car enamels always consist of two components - the paint itself and the hardener, which, as a result of a chemical reaction and drying, are in no way inferior in quality and durability to their counterparts based on alkyd resin.

Unfortunately, after hardening, it will not be possible to dilute acrylic paint for cars with anything precisely because of the additional component. It should be used immediately after mixing. Despite this, acrylic car enamels are the most popular precisely because of their ease of use and quick drying.

How to dissolve acrylic?

The question of how to dilute acrylic paint is not always the most pressing one. Often it becomes necessary to remove it from the surface, that is, to remove it. In this case, a suitable solvent is needed. Since acrylic paint becomes resistant to moisture and mechanical stress after drying, removing unwanted particles can become a problem. One of the ways was described above. If the surface of the material allows processing with boiling water, then it is worth using it.

Paint can be mechanically scraped off painted walls and other flat and solid surfaces. All you need is the right tool. In other cases, based on the properties of the painted surface, the quality and purpose of the acrylic dye and additional components, you need to use a suitable solvent. The most acceptable and affordable is alcohol. In any case, it is worth consulting with a representative of the paint manufacturer so as not to completely ruin the thing.

According to experts, acrylic paints are the most convenient to use. This is the secret of their popularity. In addition, they are distinguished by bright saturated colors.

Their main component is water, so the drying rate of paint applied to the surface is much higher than that of other types of dyes. But this ability can be a problem. You have to think about how you can dilute the contents of the old jar so that when you apply a layer, its color completely coincides with the color of the newly purchased jar.

Acrylic paint - the main characteristics

For the first time this type of painting materials appeared on the market more than fifty years ago. Their positive properties were quickly appreciated and within a short period of time they became the most popular finishing material.

This type of paint is perfectly superimposed on almost all surfaces, which means that walls, ceilings, floors can be painted with such a material. The paint layer adheres perfectly to wood, metal and plaster. It turns out that the material is universal.

The main advantages of this material:

• Environmental friendliness. For all materials involved in the decoration of residential, industrial premises, offices and other objects, this is the most valuable quality. The scope of application of coatings that are harmful to health is very limited. There are no hazardous components in acrylic paints.
• Simplicity and comfort in use. Most paints are harsh, bad smell, which in turn requires the use of a respirator at work. We see a completely different picture when using acrylic paints. No discomfort.
• Color palette. Very diverse. All primary colors have many shades, which greatly expands the choice.
• Short drying time. A very valuable quality, as the time for finishing works is significantly reduced.
• The resulting surface is easy to clean and does not lose color intensity.
• The surface covered with this type of dye does not collect dirt and dust.
• The layer applied to the surface is easily air permeable. The paint seems to "breathe", and at the same time for water, it is an insurmountable obstacle.
• The surface covered with a layer of acrylic paint does not need to be reapplied for ten years.

The basis of this coating is formed by the following components: pigment, binder, water. The material that acts as a binder is of synthetic origin. It is called polymeric acrylic emulsion.

The secret to quick drying of paint, in fact, is not. The water evaporates very quickly and a film forms that covers the entire painted surface. The paint itself is resistant to low temperatures, does not delaminate or crumble.

All acrylic paints can be divided into groups depending on:

1. From the scope
2. Ability to withstand various physical influences
3. Whiteness level
4. Glossy surface.

Acrylic paints are successfully used for interior and exterior surfaces. They can be divided into universal and combined. Among the produced coatings there are samples with various properties, for example, with resistance to moisture, light, or mechanical damage.

The area of ​​application of acrylic paints is very wide, and is not limited only to construction and renovation works... They are widely used in their work by eminent artists and amateurs.

You can beautifully paint glass with acrylic, apply a pattern to a ceramic surface. Create a high quality image on leather, paper, canvas. All other paints are very limited in their application. Are narrowly profiled. For example, only for painting bricks, concrete, plaster, wood or varnished surfaces.

In order to obtain a high-quality coating of all surfaces in a room with optimal temperature and humidity, you must use a certain type of acrylic. It is free to lay down both on plaster and on surfaces with a relief and on drywall.

How and with what to dilute acrylic paints?

The question is very interesting and often arises for those who have to deal with this type of product for the first time. The situation when it is required to dilute the contents of a paint can is very common. The question is, what caused this need?

The paint itself has a rather thick consistency, which cannot but create problems during the application process. In this case, the paint is very unevenly distributed over the surface. If a can with paint has stood without a lid for a long time, then its use without additional dilution becomes impossible.

Another condition, when dilutions are mandatory, is the use of acrylic to restore furniture or create an artistic canvas. When using paint with a very thick consistency, traces of a paint brush or roller remain on the surface.

We can say that the structure of the surface is disturbed, and it becomes not smooth, but flawed, which in turn is very noticeable.

Since all acrylic paints are based on water, it would be natural to assume that water will also be the main solvent for them. This is very interesting fact, since after complete drying, the film formed by the paint does not allow water to pass through at all. Therefore, all tools and containers used during painting should be cleaned even before everything is dry.

Manufacturers, in addition to water, suggest using a number of other substances. But their names and method of use can only be found in the instructions attached to the container with paint. All of these solvents have the ability to change some of the properties of the paint. Most often, they have the ability to give the painted surface a gloss or dullness. These are the qualities that are inaccessible to plain water.

Therefore, when choosing acrylic paint, you need to carefully read the instructions and find out all the existing features of the product's use.

Using water as a solvent

The simplest situation is when the paint has to be diluted with water. But this important manipulation is not done by eye. It requires precise observance of proportions, otherwise, problems may arise. It is very difficult to correct the consequences of such actions.

Therefore, before starting work, you should carefully read the recommendations set out in the instructions. There is always information on the necessary ratios of water and paint for high-quality dilution. Subject to all the rules, a dye of the required consistency is obtained. In this case, all properties of the paint will remain unchanged.

Their requirements are also put forward for water, which is supposed to be used as a solvent. It must be clean and cold. Do not dilute all the paint right away. It is much safer if diluted in just a small amount. So you can empirically calculate the volume of water required for a whole container of paint. Especially if not all of the paint is used.

Two things are necessary for the process of determining the ratio of paint to water. A regular pipette and a small bottle for any drops. Most often, the dilution is carried out in a ratio of one to one, less often one to two, one to five or one to fifteen.

The resulting paint consistency has its own characteristics:

• The ratio is one to one. The resulting paint consistency is most suitable for creating a base coat. It has a fairly high degree of density, but at the same time it is easy to lay down on the surface to be painted, spreading over it in a neat even layer.
• The ratio is one to two. Acrylic turns out to be more liquid than in the first case. Likewise, it is easy to lay down on the surface, but the layer formed as a result is thinner.
• The ratio is one to five. With this amount, the water content in the paint is significant. The resulting dye is more like colored water. Having such a consistency, the paint easily penetrates between the pile forming a brush. The layer of paint applied to the surface has a lighter shade compared to the original one. Such paint is usually used to paint the details of the texture, since the liquid contents of the can are easily absorbed and do not linger on the protruding parts of the surface.
• The ratio is one to fifteen. In this proportion, the paint is closer to water, which contains only a small part of the pigment. With this consistency, it is used to create a smooth color transition between two tones. Or to create a color gradient.

Features of acrylic paints for creating murals on the walls

Paints packaged in small boxes are available for painting on the walls. They are only suitable for decoration and artistic painting. Also, many artists like to use them to create paintings on canvas.

The rules for diluting these paints are very different from those for acrylic paints intended for large surfaces.

In this case, a pipette is also used to determine the required ratio. The paints are diluted using a palette, both dry and wet. You can use special caps for these purposes.

A damp palette works best. The drying rate of the paint depends on its moisture content. The ratio of water to paint depends entirely on the desired paint shade. The lighter, the more water you need to add. If you need a rich bright color, the ratio will be one to one.

The nuances of the process of diluting acrylic paint

Very often water contains additional chemical elements and chemicals that, during dilution, can affect the quality of the acrylic. Therefore, it is best if the water used to prepare the dye must be allowed to settle for several hours.

In the process, paint can get on surfaces that are not intended for painting. In this case, until it dries, it can be easily removed with water and a cloth.

It is very convenient to apply paint with a spray gun. The coloring matter used in this method must have a uniform consistency and be of high quality. For these purposes, it is best to choose products from the most renowned manufacturers... Only if this condition is met, the application of a layer of paint will be performed efficiently. It is better not to use water as a solvent at all, but only the substances recommended in the attached instructions.

Such solvents, unlike water, can affect appearance the resulting surface. The applied layer will be able to change its color and shade and will be more durable.

Solvents can be selected in such a way that they can change the appearance of the applied layer. It is unacceptable to use substances not specified in the instructions from the paint manufacturer as a solvent. In this case, the marketing company cannot guarantee the quality of the resulting paint coat. All imperfections will become noticeable after the surface has dried out or a little later in the process of service.

Solvent addition should be done slowly with constant stirring.

It is very convenient to use a construction mixer to mix paint and solvent. You can change the original paint color if necessary. For these purposes, special toners are used. If you add it in small quantities to the paint, you can get any color and shade. The result obtained is best determined on the surface to be painted. A thin layer of paint is sufficient to obtain the result. If the obtained shade does not match, additional toner is added.

Traditional paint application methods

To do this, use brushes, rollers, spray gun. The working tool is chosen depending on the surface to be painted, not the last role is played by its structure and area. It should be remembered that the shade of the applied paint will differ slightly from the shade of the already dried one. Therefore, you should take your time and always check the final color of the resulting paint.

Very often it becomes necessary to dilute an additional amount of paint of exactly the same shade. To do this, a little paint is left at the bottom of the old can to compare shades.

What to do if acrylic paint remains dry?

Due to the fact that acrylic dyes have water in their composition, they dry very quickly. This quality is not always useful. In a container that is not sealed tightly, paint can lose water. Because of this, the consistency of the substance will change. With the complete evaporation of water, the paint will polymerize.

1. It is very difficult to return the contents of the can to its original state, but it is quite possible to make such an attempt, but only on condition that a sufficient amount of water has remained in the paint. If there are small clots in the contents of the container, and the paint has not completely thickened, there is hope to fix everything. To do this, you need to add a little of a suitable solvent recommended by the manufacturer or water along with alcohol.

2. In case of strong drying of the paint, you can try to grind it into powder, add a small amount of boiling water and drain it after a few seconds. Then repeat this procedure. All this is done so that the paint warms up well. After the third time, the boiling water is not drained, but left in the jar along with the paint, which must be thoroughly stirred.

The paint returned in this way will no longer be of the same quality as before drying. Part of the lumps will still remain in it. This will make the applied layer less durable.

3. Strongly dried paint, which is a lump, is best thrown away immediately, since it will most likely not be possible to get anything worthwhile out of it. You can act as in the method mentioned above, only after the second time, not boiling water is added again, but water with alcohol. The quality of this remanufactured paint will be very low.

How to work properly with acrylic paints

The most important thing when working with acrylics is the preparation process. The better and sufficiently thinned the paint, the better the result will be. Do not use very thick colorants. Strongly noticeable roller or brush marks will remain on the surface, especially after everything is dry.

Important!

Acrylic is the paint that requires careful dilution and no less thorough stirring. When diluted with a solvent, especially water, the recommended proportions must be strictly observed.

You cannot start your work without reading the instructions. If a film has formed on the surface of the contents of the can, it must be completely removed. It is unacceptable to mix it with the rest of the paint, because of this, the quality of the paint will significantly decrease. If you plan to apply several layers, it is necessary to pause between painting to allow the paint to dry.

When carrying out renovation work in the house, it is often necessary to thin the paint that is too thick in order to create the necessary consistency for application with a brush, roller or. Moreover, for each type of paint you need to use your own solvent.

Acrylic paint: characteristics, dilution features

Paints for finishing works are alkyd (enamel and oil) and water-dispersive. The latter are the most popular today and are distinguished by a special variety of species. Acrylic paint is the most demanded among water-dispersion paint. It is an environmentally friendly material that contains a binder, pigment and water. After the paint dries, the binder becomes transparent and the paint layer is very strong. Acrylic is used to paint various surfaces inside or outside the room.

Since acrylic paint is a water-based dispersion, it is diluted, if necessary, most often with water, which must be clean and free of impurities. For dilution, you need to pour some of the paint that you are going to use into a bucket or other convenient container, add a small amount of water and stir with a construction mixer until smooth. If it was not possible to achieve the desired consistency, then you need to add a little more water and stir again. After the required density has been obtained, a dye is added to the composition, stirred to obtain a uniform color of the desired tone. After that, you can start staining.

Important! The acrylic paint dries after the liquid has evaporated. After drying, the binder and pigments form a strong film that does not flake off, crumble, crack or wash off with water. Therefore, the brushes that you want to use again must be thoroughly rinsed with water until the paint has dried on them: after drying, this will no longer be possible to do.

Thinner for acrylic paint

One should not think that acrylic can only be diluted with water. Manufacturers of varnishes and paints produce special thinners for acrylic paints, which provide the painted surface with a matte or glossy texture, and also significantly accelerate the drying process. If you want the surface to shine after staining, use glossy compositions, but if a matte surface is required, use an appropriate thinner.

Acrylic paint thinner is clear liquid, which has a specific smell. It differs in the drying time of the paint layer (fast drying, medium, slow). One or another option is used depending on the humidity and temperature in the room: in hot weather, a composition with a low level of evaporation is usually used, and in cold weather it is better to use a solvent with a high drying rate. One of these solvents is Relocryl acryl used for acrylic paints, primers, varnishes.

By adding more or less thinner, you can achieve different effects of the painted surface: from a thin, transparent layer, reminiscent of watercolor, to a thick, imitating oil; from bright, saturated, intense tones to faded, muted shades.

Store such formulations closed in an upright position in cool, well-ventilated, dark rooms, in compliance with sanitary and fire safety standards.

Important! After finishing work, you should tightly close the jar with a lid to protect the paint from drying out. Before that, you need to thoroughly clean the edge of the can from the paint, otherwise the dried paint will make it problematic to open the container next time.