The fluidity of watercolour, oil or acrylic can be very useful in creating certain effects. To create translucent washes or feathery colour transitions, an artist must know how to properly bind the paints with mediums to achieve the desired result.
One such medium that has become popular is masking liquid UK. Often used in illustration and animation, masking fluid is a water-soluble transparent paint. It also works as a resist when applied to drawing media such as graphite and charcoal. However, it can be easily removed with many solvents, including soap and water, because it’s water-soluble.
There are several brands of liquid h20 on the market. Different brands have different consistencies, so it’s important to know which one is best suited for your specific needs before committing to one brand.
Below are some of the most popular masking fluids available today:
Marabu Aquacover (Germany)
This medium has a thick paste-like consistency that can be applied with a stiff brush or toothpick. It can remain on the paper for several hours without smearing, but it will dissolve quickly once water is used.
Marabu Stencil (Germany)
This medium has a thin gel-like consistency and comes in handy in situations where you need total flexibility. It’s very similar to Miskit, but it dries completely while Miskit remains tacky.
Winsor and Newton (UK)
This medium has a thicker consistency than the Aquacover brand and is more useful for larger areas that require close detail work. It may remain on the paper for several days without smearing, but it dissolves immediately when water is applied.
Letraset (UK)
This medium has a gel-like consistency that comes in handy in situations where you need total flexibility. Like Winsor and Newton liquid masking h2o, this medium dries completely while Miskit remains tacky.
Miskit (UK)
This medium has a liquid consistency and comes in handy when you need to cover large areas quickly. While it dries very quickly, it’s also easily removed with soap and water before drying completely. However, this quality makes it great for quick cleanups of mistakes. Miskit also offers an artist’s paintbrush, which is very useful for creating extremely fine detail work. When using the brush, be sure to shield the bristles with a piece of paper while waiting for it to dry because it tends to drain watercolour or other liquids that come in contact with it while drying the masking fluid.
Maskell (UK)
This medium has a paint-like consistency, so it may tend to drip while being applied. However, it’s great for large areas requiring close detail work because it won’t smudge or blur whatever is in its path when used correctly. It tends to remain tacky on the paper, so waiting for it to dry completely is recommended before adding additional layers of paint.
Toxic Art (USA)
This medium comes in a spray can and provides total protection for your drawings. It dries quickly and withstands any amount of water you throw at it, so be sure to protect areas near any surface you don’t want to have paint on.
Deco-Film (USA)
This medium is a two-step process that requires the use of a water spray bottle and squeegee. It’s best suited for fine detail work because it needs to be applied in thin layers, but it can create extremely fine details.