Wicked Transparent Colors

Wicked Colors are water-based, fluid acrylic colors with specialized performance for airbrush and spray-gun application. Wicked Colors are made with a durable, non-yellowing acrylic resin and lightfast pigments (except Fluorescent Colors, which are fugitive). Wicked Colors features a comprehensive line of colors and is Createx’ s largest line of pearls, metallics and effect pearl-flake colors. Wicked Colors are intended for use as interior and exterior application. Wicked Colors can be applied direct to the surface or substrate, such as when panting t-shirts and canvas. Start with AutoBorne Sealer when painting hard-surfaces, with the optional top-coat of a durable clear such as Createx UVLS Clears. For automotive (helmets, bikes and cars), top-coat with a 2k, solvent-based, urethane clear.

Transparent Colors – Standard Wicked Colors are transparent graphic colors that cover well out of the bottle due to a high pigment volume but may be extended to make a more translucent color. Spray well out of the bottle with a 0.5mm – 0.3mm tip-size and will spray a little better after thinning 5% - 25% per volume with 4011 Reducer for smaller airbrush tip- sizes. Air pressure generally set at lower 20 to 35+ psi. 

Mixing & Thinning Before Spraying

Wicked Colors can essentially be used one of 3 ways:

1. 1. Out of the Bottle
2. 2. Thin with 4011 Reducer
3. 3. Mix with 4030 Balancing Clear or 4050 UVLS Gloss Clear to create an acrylic-urethane resin paint mix that has improved adhesion, mar-resistance and leveling along with improved dry times.
   • Thin mix with 4011 Reducer 10% for spray-gun, 20% - 30% airbrush.
   • For best leveling, allow mix 10+ minutes to acclimate before spraying.
   • 4050 is newer version of mixing clear, recommended over 4030, although adding at least 10% per volume to Wicked Colors before spraying works wel

4011 Reducer is the standard thinner for Wicked Colors and what our recommended drying times are based on. Other thinners such as 4013 Reducer, may be substituted, test first for any differences in drying times if doing so.

Application

Wicked Colors are a multi-surface paint and can be used in a wide variety of applications, and are compatible for use with most any primer, paint, and clear type. Always test first before using on an actual project.

Refer to Hard-Surface Application Guide for information on use of Wicked Colors when painting hard surfaces such as plastic, urethane, wood, primer, and other non-porous surfaces or for use as automotive base-coat & graphic paint.
For best adhesion to non-porous surfaces, start with AutoBorne Sealer. Wicked Colors may be applied over AutoBorne Sealer without scuffing, with quicker coverage and drying times compared to applying Wicked Colors direct to substrate.

Airbrush

Wicked Colors spray well through any airbrush tip-size.
For out-of-the-bottle use, spray with a 0.5mm tip-size ~ 35 psi or more. For use with smaller-tip-sizes and lower psi settings, thin Wicked Colors with 4011 Reducer.

How to thin Wicked colors for airbrushing is the most asked product question we receive, and the answer is its subjective. Generally, 4011 Reducer, or other Createx Reducer, is mixed 10% - 30% per volume with Wicked Colors, with more reducer added as the tip-size gets smaller. Thinning with reducer isn’t required, and some artists may prefer no reducer while other may prefer mixing ratios different than our recommendations. Each method of thinning is correct.
What matters is atomization for a smooth looking color, and adequate drying time for adhesion and coating development.

Add 4011 Reducer in small increments of ~ 5% per volume until paint atomizes into fine particle-size droplets.

Airbrush Tip-Size Quick Guide:
Large, 0.5+ mm.              35+ psi out of the bottle.
Medium, 0.3mm.+          Reduce 15% - 20% per vol.
Small, 0.2mm or less       Reduce 25% + per vol.

Spray-Gun

Wicked Colors spray best with a spray-gun when mixed with 4050 Balancing Clear.
Mix Wicked Colors 4:1 4050 (add 4050 20% per vol.),
thin ~ 10% per volume with 4011 Reducer.

• Spray-Gun tip-size: 1.2mm – 1.3mm
• Spray at gun manufacturer’s inlet psi specification.

Mixing with 4050 UVLS Gloss Clear
Wicked Colors are made with an acrylic-resin. Mixing 4050 UVLS Gloss Clear and 4030 Balancing Clear are made with a urethane-resin; adding wither to Wicked Colors improves mar resistance, leveling, as well as adhesion and flow. While not absolutely necessary, the performance gains created adding 4030 or 4050 paint are significant.

• Dry times in the Hard-Surface Application Guide are set with 4050 mixed with color.
• All hard-surface paintjobs at Createx are with 4050 mixed with paint.
• 4030 Balancing clear may be used as a substitute for 4050, especially when using an airbrush. 4030 is a bit thinner so the mix requires less thinning with a reducer. 4030 is the original urethane-resin mixing clear, and works well, much better for hard-surface compared to Wicked Colors alone.
• Mix 4050 UVLS Gloss Clear with Wicked Colors, generally 10% per vol. for airbrush, 20% per vol. for spray-gun. Reduce this 10% - 20% 4011 Reducer.
• Colors mixed with 4050 can be stored indefinitely, for several months. Spray within 48-hours after thinning with 4011 Reducer.

Thinning with A Reducer
4011 Reducer is the standard thinner for all Createx paints including Wicked Colors. Times for drying, taping and top-coating in the Createx Hard-Surface Guide are set with colors thinned with 4011 Reducer.

Allow reduced mix 10+ minutes to acclimate before spraying as reduced breaks down water surface tension for improved flow and leveling.

Drying and Cure Times

Times set at ~ 70⁰F (21⁰C), 50% Humidity.
Allow for more dry time in cooler or more humid conditions.

Minimum Dry Times:
Re-Coat Time: 10 – 15 minutes
Time to Tape: 45 – 60 minutes
Time to Clear: 60 minutes, 4-hours better, overnight best.

Use warm, dry air to assist drying.
Do not force cure with heat; doing so will affect adhesion.
If using heated air, do not force air direct at paint. Its best to allow initial wet coat start to dry matte before using warm air to assist drying. Full cure is after 48-hours.

Sanding

Dry sand only. Sanding not required prior to top-coating with clear or other paint type. When mixed with 4030 or 4050, Wicked Colors shave best when sanded with 800 - 1000 grit sandpaper. Scratch marks will show through final clear after sanding. Hide scratch marks with a light coat or two of color.

Compatibility

Wicked Colors are compatible with all other Createx paints and clears. Wicked Colors are also generally compatible with any other type of water-based and solvent-based paint.

Scuffing Createx paints is often not required for adhesion before applying another Createx paint, such as Wicked Colors over AutoBorne Sealer. Only when Wicked Colors is applied over 4050 UVLS Gloss Clear (ex. 4050 used as inter-coat for taping & masking over), may scuffing be required.

Over solvent-based paints and primer, scuff those paints 600 – 800 grit sandpaper before applying Wicked Colors, or AutoBorne Sealer.

When using Wicked Colors with solvent-based paints & clears, allow each to cure, (dry thoroughly for an extended period of at least 1 hour), prior to applying the next paint-type.

Always make a test panel prior to using a new paint, primer,
cleaner or clear. A test panel is the best way to determine whether any compatibility issues exist between materials.
Achieving a great looking paintjob often starts with a test panel. If the results are off, email us at techsupport@createxcolors.com to see if we can help.

Storage & Shelf-Life After Reducing Paint

Best practice is to only thin Wicked Colors with 4011 Reducer, or other Createx Reducers, in amounts that will be sprayed within 24-hours after mixing. Although Wicked Colors do not have a true pot-life after reducing, (i.e. are not a reactive paint-mix which, at some point after, become unusable), there is an eventual loss of spray-performance due to an increase in viscosity of paint as it loses water through evaporation and flashing of solvent (alcohol) from Wicked + Reducer mix.

Keeping paint air-capped air-tight, at all times unless actually pouring paint from the bottle, minimizes.

Mixing Wicked Colors with 4030 Balancing Clear or 4050 UVLS Gloss Clear does not promote loss of water-content when mixed, its only when 4011 Reducer or other reducers are added that shelf-life is shortened.

If paint that was reduced for more than 1 day does not spray well due to a change in viscosity, i.e., is too thick to spray well, mix paint with 4004 Transparent Base, the resin-base extender of Wicked Colors, in any amount.

• Best practice is to strain this mix with a 190-micron mesh strainer.

Cleaning from Airbrush or Spray-Gun

Wicked Colors are best rinsed from the airbrush or spray-gun with 5618 Airbrush Cleaner or 4011 Reducer. Use 4008 Restorer as a rinse for final clean to remove dried paint from airbrush or spray-gun. Rinse with water after.

Cleaning Wicked Colors With a solvent-Based Degreaser

Wicked Colors should only be cleaned after the paint has thoroughly dried, best 48 hours. Use a solvent-based degreaser or odorless mineral spirits to clean Wicked Colors.

Health & Safety

Use in a well-ventilated area.  Avoid contact with eyes. Wash hands thoroughly with soap and warm water after use.  Do not ingest. When spraying or sanding, use a properly fitting NIOSH approved respirator per the manufacturer’s instructions. Eye contact: Rinse with clean water for 15 minutes.  Seek medical attention. Inhalation: Use in in well ventilated areas and wear a NIOSH approved respirator. Refer to Wicked Colors SDS for additional information.