When spray-painting the key to detail is similar to that of using a selection of different brushes when painting, the thickness of the brush head and the amount of bristles it has changes the way the media is applied. Same goes for spray can caps, so I've tried to analyze them the best I can Below.
Cap selection and compatibility
Width: This one's the only one the novice pays attention to. Obviously, it's how wide your line is. The grey dot is the skinniest; the pink dot is the widest.
Hardness (or, "sharpness"): This determines whether you have a cap that distributes paint evenly across the line (hard), or one that puts more paint in the center and less paint on the edge (soft). The German caps (outline/pro/fat) are the hardest; the "dot" series is the softest. Also, the closer you hold your can to the surface, the harder the line gets. A black dot from 6 inches looks mighty soft, from 1 inch you get a much sharper line.
Weight: This is how much paint comes out. If a cap is too heavy, drips become more likely, but if it is too light, the colors beneath may show through. The brand of paint you use with your cap also makes a big difference--some paints can be light and drippy (really cheap brands often are) and some paints can be heavy and still not drip (Montana). But, all else being equal, the heaviest caps are the needle caps (we don't even carry these, they're so bad); Rusto Fats and Orange Dots are on the heavier side while the grey, black, and gold dots are probably the lightest.
Compatibility: This makes all the difference. If a cap doesn't work with your brand of paint, then what good is it? Some caps perform very differently depending the brand they're used with.
Pink Dots. Pink dots are the fattest cap available. You can make lines 6-8 inches (15-20 cm) in diameter. As you get closer, the weight can get very heavy.
Cap selection and compatibility
Width: This one's the only one the novice pays attention to. Obviously, it's how wide your line is. The grey dot is the skinniest; the pink dot is the widest.
Hardness (or, "sharpness"): This determines whether you have a cap that distributes paint evenly across the line (hard), or one that puts more paint in the center and less paint on the edge (soft). The German caps (outline/pro/fat) are the hardest; the "dot" series is the softest. Also, the closer you hold your can to the surface, the harder the line gets. A black dot from 6 inches looks mighty soft, from 1 inch you get a much sharper line.
Weight: This is how much paint comes out. If a cap is too heavy, drips become more likely, but if it is too light, the colors beneath may show through. The brand of paint you use with your cap also makes a big difference--some paints can be light and drippy (really cheap brands often are) and some paints can be heavy and still not drip (Montana). But, all else being equal, the heaviest caps are the needle caps (we don't even carry these, they're so bad); Rusto Fats and Orange Dots are on the heavier side while the grey, black, and gold dots are probably the lightest.
Compatibility: This makes all the difference. If a cap doesn't work with your brand of paint, then what good is it? Some caps perform very differently depending the brand they're used with.
Regularity: Some caps with some brands produce funny non-circular shapes. Among the caps listed above, only blue and gold dots have this problem, and even then, only with certain brands of paint. But the generic caps that come with the cans often have regularity issues.
Different Types Of Cap
Black Dots. Black Dots are the same as grey dots, but just a little bit wider.
New York Fat. The New York Fats produce a medium-wide, medium-weight, semi-soft line, much like the New York Thins but slightly broader.
New York Thin. The New York Thin cap is known by many names. New York Outlines, phantom tips, thins, micros, and skinnies. They are medium-thin, semi-soft, medium-weight.
Orange Dots. Orange dots are fat caps. They are wider than New York and Rusto Fats, and about the same as Silver Super Fats
Different Types Of Cap
Black Dots. Black Dots are the same as grey dots, but just a little bit wider.
New York Fat. The New York Fats produce a medium-wide, medium-weight, semi-soft line, much like the New York Thins but slightly broader.
New York Thin. The New York Thin cap is known by many names. New York Outlines, phantom tips, thins, micros, and skinnies. They are medium-thin, semi-soft, medium-weight.
Orange Dots. Orange dots are fat caps. They are wider than New York and Rusto Fats, and about the same as Silver Super Fats
Pink Dots. Pink dots are the fattest cap available. You can make lines 6-8 inches (15-20 cm) in diameter. As you get closer, the weight can get very heavy.
No comments:
Post a Comment