UPDATED (ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED MAY 17, 2020 8:23 PM
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Acrylic paint is extremely versatile thanks to its compatibility with a variety of other media that serve myriad purposes. Among these add-ins are flow enhancers, also known as flow aids, which thin acrylic paint without affecting its color or finish. While acrylics, being water based, can be thinned with water, this may weaken the paint’s binding agents and lead to uneven coverage and subsequent flaking. Flow enhancer, on the other hand, breaks down the surface tension of the water in the paint, resulting in a thinner paint that brushes or pours on smoothly with no loss of color strength or consistency. In addition, flow enhancers extend drying time, allowing painters to work more slowly on their creations. Flow enhancers are ideal for thinning paints for pouring or staining. Browse our selection of the best acrylic flow enhancers below.
1. Liquitex Professional Flow Aid Medium
Liquitex’s flow enhancer is ideal for prepping acrylic paints to go on porous surfaces such as wood, untreated canvas, or linen. When mixed with acrylic paint, this product increases the absorbability of paint and decreases film tension, making it perfect for creating fluid effects. This solution comes in a 4-ounce bottle and should not make up more than 25 percent of a paint mixture; otherwise it can weaken the integrity of the paint.
2. Golden Acrylic Fluid Release
Formerly called Golden’s Acrylic Fluid Release, this is another concentrated medium made to reduce surface tension and help paint brush on smoothly without beading or sticking. A versatile wetting agent, it can be used in a variety of ways, including as a first wash to achieve wet-into-wet watercolor effects with acrylics, an additive to prevent beading of paint on non-porous surfaces, and to prepare paint for pouring or staining. The 16-ounce bottle features a convenient nozzle tip for easy mixing.
3. Flood Floetrol Additive
A hardware store alternative to specialty flow aids, Floetrol was designed to improve flow and leveling of water-based interior and exterior latex paints and to reduce brush and lap marks. But it is also ideal for art applications like pouring, and can be used to thin water-based paints for use in airbrushes. Though it is meant to be used without dilution, Floetrol quart bottle of flow-enhancing additive is is priced well for how much area it will cover.
4. Winsor & Newton Flow Improver
This 4-fluid-ounce bottle of acrylic flow improver increases the flow of paint without altering pigment strength and without a color shift from wet to dry. Excellent for producing flat areas of color, it is ideal for hard-edge painting. It slows drying, letting artists to leave paints on the palette longer prevents paint from drying on small brushes when painting models and miniatures.
5. Mont Marte Acrylic Flow Medium
Mont Marte is known for quality student-level products, and this flow aid is all most students will need. Like the other products here, this medium thins paint without affecting color or finish. Great for painting minis, when you need thinner, but still saturated, paint for detail work, and for blending colors on canvas. Note that this medium only marginally slows down drying time. Like some of the other selections here, it can also be used to adapt acrylic paints for use with airbrushes.
FAQs
If that doesn't work for you, consider making the paint more fluid by adding some Acrylic Flow Improver or Acrylic Wetting Agent (these link to Blick Art Materials, and if you make a purchase I get a small commission that helps support this site).
What makes acrylic paint flow better? ›
Adding a few drops of flow improver to the mixing water will also help the paint to flow off the brush much better. Be careful not to add too much or you could have problems with the paint getting frothy or making small bubbles when you spread it out.
Can you use a flow improver for acrylic paint? ›
Note how a very watery application of acrylic paint will bead up but adding flow improver helps smooth out the colour.
How do you make acrylic paint more drippy? ›
How do you do a drip paint effect? To make a drip paint effect, mix your acrylic or watercolor paints with water to dilute them. Then, lean your canvas or paper upright, and paint the top of your chosen canvas so the paint drips down the surface.
How do you make acrylic paint more vivid? ›
To achieve vibrant color blends in acrylic painting, ensure your colors are well-mixed on the palette, use a wet-on-wet technique for smooth transitions, and consider layering translucent colors.
What can I add to acrylic paint to make it more liquidy? ›
Add water.
Dip your paintbrush in a cup of clean water and then gently tap the water from your brush onto the paint. Carefully work the water into the paint using your brush, adding more water if necessary, until the paint becomes more liquid. Add a product like Flow-Aid Fluid Additive or Acrylic Flow Improver.
What medium makes acrylic paint flow? ›
Flow improver is an additive that decreases the surface tension of acrylic paint and increases its flow. Some brands have their own name for flow improver such as; flow aid and wetting agent, but they are all inherently the same thing.
Is Flow Aid the same as Floetrol? ›
A hardware store alternative to specialty flow aids, Floetrol was designed to improve flow and leveling of water-based interior and exterior latex paints and to reduce brush and lap marks. But it is also ideal for art applications like pouring, and can be used to thin water-based paints for use in airbrushes.
What is a flow enhancer? ›
Flow Enhancer 1 is a premium slow reducer specially formulated for conditions of high heat and humidity. It consists of a quality blend of Glycol Ethers and Ester Solvents.
What is the best acrylic paint thickener? ›
Add baking soda to your acrylic paint to make the paint thicker and more textured. The more baking soda you add, the chalkier and more heavily textured it will become.
It works! 60% Slow-Drying Medium with 40% Flow Improver makes Acrylic act like Oil Paint. At least whilst your painting, it does dry faster but there is plenty of working time. Mixed together the two mediums feel a bit like wallpaper paste.
What should I add to my acrylic paints to make them easier for pouring? ›
Mix two parts Floetrol to one-part paint. Once fully mixed, check the consistency and then add a few drops at a time and re-mix until you get the desired consistency.
What can I use instead of a flow improver? ›
I use other substances sometimes for flow aid, a trace amount of dish soap works or glycerin. I've also read in more than one forum where Vallejo flow aid works in AK.
How do you get acrylic paint to flow? ›
If your acrylic paint is thick it will retain brush marks and make blending more of a challenge. You can lower the viscosity with water or a fluid medium. I prefer using the slow-dri medium as it will increase the flow of your paints as well as slow down drying time.
