How To Mask Like a Pro

In our continuing series of paint related articles it's time to discuss how you create those crisp and clean color separations when performing a multi color paint job.

Choosing Tape

There is nothing that ruins an otherwise perfect paint job faster than having colors bleed underneath the mask that you thought was going to provide a perfect seal. For even the simplest paint jobs using normal masking tape to provide a color separation just won't do. Masking tape is fine as a secondary mask, meaning it can be used to cover large areas but not as the actual edge to provide the color separation.

To provide the crisp clean edge that is the mark of a professional paint job you use a tape that is usually vinyl based. This material is flexible, low tack, (it won't pull up the base colors underneath it) and because of it's flexibility, seals the edge of the surface so the paint can't seep underneath.

The hobby industry offers a product called "Flex Mask" and we also sell a 3M product called "Fine Line" that works great. Both these tapes come in various widths depending on how tight a radius you need to go around. If it's primarily straight lines you are masking I would suggest using the wider tapes because they are much easier to run in a straight line than the thinner ones.

Once you have your design laid out you can then use the traditional masking tape as the mask to cover and protect the rest of the model. A word of caution, don't scrimp on the quality of the tape you buy. The cheap stuff sticks far too aggressively and you will run a serious risk of pulling up the base surface paint when removing it.

Liquid Mask

For most paint work the vinyl tape will work fine but in some cases where you have very complicated shapes to protect a liquid mask is required. This product is a latex-based, brush-on material that I would only recommend if you've got shapes that just can't be masked in the traditional ways. You brush the product onto the surface like paint, wait for it to dry and then using a sharp X-Acto knife, cut away the areas that you want exposed to the paint. It's a lot of work to apply and then to cut free-hand, so save it for those jobs where there are no other options. (canopies, cowls, lettering etc.)

Gerber Mask

Another masking technique gaining popularity is the use of vinyl material called "Gerber Mask" that is used in the sign making business. With the popularity of PC's, professionals will now design complicated graphics and lettering on the computer and then use a plotter with a knife installed to cut the image into the vinyl material. You are left with your design cut into the material that is then stuck onto the surface you wish to paint.

Complicated graphics can be done quickly and professionally this way. The only stumbling block for use in modeling is the cost of the knifed plotter. A good compromise is designing the graphic or lettering in the same way but instead of cutting it on a plotter, print the design on the vinyl using your ink jet or laser printer and then cut it out with a sharp x-acto. Certainly more work than using a plotter but about 3,000 dollars less money!

Fabric Tip

A final note. If you are painting a fabric surface use the vinyl tape but to keep the paint from seeping under the surface, take some clearcoat, a fine paint brush and brush the clearcoat along the edge of the tape to seal the uneven surface. It works great!

That concludes our paint series, hope you've found it helpful. Now get out there and paint something!