A liquid mask is a type of paint that, depending on the brand and formulation, can look like white-out or Elmer’s glue. Generally it has a consistency somewhere between that of water and ketchup, and may come with a brush attached to the cap for ease of use. Liquid masks are frequently used by painters as primers before they begin airbrushing, though some painters prefer them as stand alone finishes as well.
–Liquid mask works in an analogous fashion to airbrush primer (which also comes in such forms) but is applied more like white-out or Elmer’s glue: through careful coating over an area where one wishes to protect from subsequent weathering processes. Unlike primer/white-out mixtures, however, the paint will usually not be used to its full opacity: typically two coats is enough for a good-looking finish. In some cases one coat of liquid mask may suffice if the user desires a lighter primer.
-When weathering by drybrushing or other more aggressive means it is often necessary to protect areas where the paint job should be kept clean and sharp. Areas such as tires, windows and headlights on vehicles are common examples of this application. Liquid masks can work best with thinner paints such as acrylics when they are applied directly over plastic models; with heavier paints such as enamels they must generally be applied first in order to achieve satisfactory results (though this is not always true).
-Liquid mask works well when used for dry brushing because it lets the user control the flow of paint. This allows control over how much is actually applied to a model which in turn helps with shading and highlighting.
-Although white-out or Elmer’s glue can be used similarly, it is generally not recommended for several reasons:
-Requires an extra step in applying primer ยท Leaves obvious residue when dried on painted surfaces
-In some cases the contents of a bottle may last for several years if not opened, but that is entirely dependent on what you use it for and how often you will need it. In most circumstances one must replace their liquid masks every six months to a year depending on frequency of usage.
-Liquid mask is easily removed with various chemicals including denatured alcohol, lighter fluid, or paint thinner.
–Liquid masks are priced similarly to other hobby paints though the prices do vary based on the manufacturer and formulation (there are several).
-To use it properly you should take some precautions like wearing gloves and using in an open area free of fumes.
-Some believe that all liquid masks will be similar however this is not true; some brands may work better than others depending on their contents.
conclusion
-Liquid masks are very useful when painting with an airbrush or dry brushing. They let the user control how much paint they want to put on the model and with what intensity.
-They can be used in combination with other types of primers such as primer from an aerosol can, but some people prefer them over other primers because there is less of a chance that you will get clumps of either product, which can cause your work to look bad or ruin the paint job completely.
-In most cases it is not necessary to use a liquid mask if working with acrylics on small models, but for more complex works where every detail is very important it may be necessary to use two coats.