Acrylic Applications & Techniques Chart

*Indicates best medium to use, although all mediums listed will achieve excellent results

Technique	Medium To Use	Application
Acrylic sheets	Gloss Medium & Varnish* Matte Medium Gloss Gel Medium* Matte Gel Medium Gloss Heavy Gel Medium* Iridescent/Pearlescent Tinting Medium Glazing Medium	Use alone or mix with paint to make flexible sheets of color. Apply to glass, peel off when dry. Adhere to flat or sculptural surfaces with Gloss Medium & Varnish, Gloss Gel Medium or Matte Gel Medium.
Airbrush	Airbrush Medium*	Mix with Liquitex Soft Body Concentrated Artist Color.
Collage (light)	Gloss Medium & Varnish Matte Medium* Gloss Super Heavy Gel Medium	Use in collage for gluing lightweight materials.
Collage (heavy)	Gloss Gel Medium Matte Gel Medium* Gloss Heavy Gel Medium*	Use in collage for gluing heavyweight materials together.
Color Blending	Gloss Medium & Varnish* Matte Medium* Gloss Gel Medium* Matte Gel Medium* Gloss Heavy Gel Medium* Airbrush Medium* Slow-Dri Fluid Retarder* Slow-Dri Gel Retarder* Slow-Dri Blending Fluid Medium Slow-Dri Blending Gel Medium	Mix with paints to improve color blending and slow down drying. Slow-Dri Fluid Retarder and Slow-Dri Gel Retarder are used in combination with other mediums listed (with exception of Airbrush Medium).
Color Thinning	Gloss Medium & Varnish* Matte Medium* Airbrush Medium* Glazing Medium	Mix equal parts medium and water to improve flexibility and color depth. Omit water when using Airbrush Medium.
Dying	Flow-Aid*	Mix with Liquitex Soft Body Concentrated Artist Color.
Extender (transparent)	Gloss Medium & Varnish* Matte Medium Gloss Gel Medium* Matte Gel Medium Gloss Heavy Gel Medium* Gloss Super Heavy Gel Medium Glazing Medium	Extend volume while increasing transparency or changing paints color.
Extender (opaque)	Matte Opaque Extender Medium (Jarpaque)* Matte Opaque Extender Gel Medium (Gelex)*	Extend volume without increasing transparency or changing paints color.
Fabric painting	Fabric Medium*	Improves flow and adhesion on fabrics. Wash fabric first to remove starch.
Fine Detail	Flow-Aid Flow Enhancer* Slow-Dri Fluid Retarder* Airbrush Medium*	Mix with Liquitex Soft Body Concentrated Artist Color to improve flow, decrease friction, retard drying.
Fixative	Gloss Medium & Varnish* Matte Medium Airbrush Medium	Mix equal parts medium and water, apply with atomizer. Omit water when using Airbrush Medium.
Glazing	Gloss Medium & Varnish* Glazing Medium	Mix with paint to create transparent glazes.
Ground	Gloss Medium & Varnish Matte Medium* Gloss Gel Medium Matte Gel Medium* Gloss Heavy Gel Medium Gloss Super Heavy Gel Medium Clear Gesso	Transparent ground instead of gesso. Allows substrate to be seen. To prevent SID wash cotton or linen canvas before use.
Impasto	Gloss Gel Medium Gloss Heavy Gel Medium* Gloss Super Heavy Gel Medium Matte Gel Medium	Mix with Liquitex Heavy Body Artist Color to create thick impasto paint. As medium increases, transparency or translucency increases.
Transferring Printed Images (Decoupage)	Gloss Medium & Varnish* Gloss Gel Medium Gloss Heavy Gel Medium Iridescent/Pearlescent Tinting Medium Texture Gel Mediums	Transfer printed images into medium. Adhere to substrate with fluid or gel mediums.
Marbling	Airbrush Medium* Flow Aid Flow Enhancer	Thin Soft Body Artist Color with Airbrush Medium and distilled water. For colors that do not spread enough on the surface, add diluted Flow-Aid Flow Enhancer. More info.
Monoprint	Gloss Gel Medium Matte Gel Medium Gloss Heavy Gel Medium* Slow-Dri Gel Retarder * Slow-Dri Blending Fluid Medium Slow-Dri Blending Gel Medium	Mix with Liquitex Heavy Body Artist Color. Add Slow-Dri Blending Gel Medium to mixture to slow down drying.
Silk-screen Block Out	Gloss Medium & Varnish Matte Medium* Gloss Gel Medium Matte Gel Medium* Gloss Heavy Gel Medium Gloss Super Heavy Gel Medium	Permanent silk-screen block outs that are resistant to screen inks and solvents.
Staining	Flow-Aid Flow Enhancer*	Mix with Liquitex Soft Body Concentrated Artist Color.
Stencils	Gloss Gel Medium, Matte Gel Medium Gloss Heavy Gel Medium* Gloss Super Heavy Gel Medium	Mix with Liquitex Soft Body Concentrated Artist Color.
Textures	Gloss Gel Medium Matte Gel Medium Gloss Heavy Gel Medium* Texture Gel Mediums* Gloss Super Heavy Gel Medium	Mix sand, sawdust, etc. into mediums. Use 8 Texture Gel Mediums directly from container or mix together to create new texture gels.
Varnish	Gloss Medium & Varnish* High Gloss Perm. Varnish / Rigid Surfaces* Matte Permanent Varnish / Flexible Surfaces Satin Permanent Varnish / Rigid Surfaces* Soluvar Gloss and Matte Final Picture Varnish Gloss Varnish	Apply with wide brush, avoid air bubbles. Use Gloss Medium & Varnish and Matte Permanent Varnish for flexible and rigid surfaces. Use Satin Perm. Varnish and High Gloss Permanent Varnish for rigid surfaces. Use Soluvar Gloss or Matte Final Picture Varnish for a removable varnish and to protect surface from pollutants.
Watercolor	Flow-Aid Flow Enhancer*	Mix with Liquitex Soft Body Colors.

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