An airbrush is a small, air-operated tool that sprays the paint and foundation by a process of nebulization. Spray painting developed from the airbrush and is considered to make use of a type of airbrush.

Types Of Airbrushes

Airbrushes are generally classified by three characteristics. The first characteristic is the action performed by the user to trigger the paint flow and the second is the mechanism for feeding the paint into the airbrush and the third is the step at which the paint mix.

Trigger

The simplest airbrushes work with a single-action mechanism where the depression of the trigger activates air flow through the airbrush. The airbrush's color flow and spray pattern are adjusted separately from the trigger actions. This is done with an adjustment of the airbrush's needle placement within its paint tip, by the turning of the paint tip on an external mix airbrush or a needle setting dial on an internal mix airbrush. The color quantity and spray pattern are maintained at a fixed level until the airbrush user re-adjust the setting. Single-action airbrushes are easy to use and usually less expensive, but there are some limitations of these airbrushes in applications in which the user wishes to do something more artistic than simply apply a uniform coat of color.

Feed system

Paint can be fed by gravity from a paint tank sitting atop the airbrush (called gravity feed) or siphoned from a tank mounted below (bottom feed) or on the side (side-feed). Each feed type carries exclusive advantages. Gravity feed instruments need less air pressure for suction as the gravity pulls the paint into the mixing chamber. Side and bottom-feed instruments are used to see over the top, with the former sometimes offering left-handed and right-handed options to suit the artist. A bottom-feed airbrush holds a larger capacity of paint than the other types and is often preferable for larger scale work such as automotive applications.

Mix point                

With an external mix the air and paint exit the airbrush before mixing with each other, this creates a larger atomization pattern. This mix airbrushes are cheaper and suitable for covering larger areas with more viscous paints or varnishes.

Airbrush Techniques

Airbrush technique is the freehand management of the airbrush, air pressure and distance from the surface that is being sprayed. Airbrush techniques will differ with the type of airbrush used (single-action or dual/double-action).

The double-action airbrush technique contains depressing the trigger on the top of the airbrush with the finger to discharge air only and drawing it back gradually to the paint discharge threshold. The most important procedure is, always begin with air only and end with air only.

In a single-action airbrush technique, only one activity is required. The single action of depressing the trigger discharges a fixed proportion of paint to air. The most significant point of the single-action airbrush technique is to keep the hand moving before the trigger is depressed and after the trigger is released.

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