Scenic Art

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Category: Paints and Scenic materials

Glazes & Varnishes

January 13, 2017 / / 0 Comments

Glazes and varnishes are the final layer added to surfaces before the production opens. They are used to protect the artwork to make it look the same in 50 performances time as it did on opening night. Like primers you need to be aware of the qualities of the glaze or varnish you have chosen and what it is for. Some questions to consider:

  • Does the surface have a lot of traffic on it (such as a floor)?
  • Does the glaze need to be water resistant?
  • What sheen level is required?
  • Do I need it to dry quickly?

As with all makes of glaze the most prevalent problem is ‘blooming’. This is nearly always caused by poor drying conditions especially when the glaze is applied late in the day and left to dry in a cold workshop overnight. The situation is worsened if the base paint has not thoroughly dried and moisture is trying to migrate out through the glaze. In many cases the bloom will gradually disappear. A gentle heat from a hair drier will normally indicate whether the glaze will recover or if the area needs re-painting.

Flints emulsion glaze

Glaze

Flints Glaze gives a good gloss level from the Gloss and a low reflectance from the Matt Glaze. It can be used as a mixer with scenic paints for extra strength and more translucency to your colour. Its easy to apply with brush or roller and it can be sprayed. It can be lightly mopped or wiped with a cloth but it is not durably water resistant. Good value and a good product for its price range

Drying Time: 1 hour touch dry

Coverage: 15-20 square metres per litre.

Sheen: Gloss or Matt

Price (ex VAT): £25.17/ 5L from Flints

Bona Mega
Bona mega

A new generation water based polyurethane, modified with natural vegetable oils using self-crosslinking technology to provide you with a one component system.

“On very pale floors Mega will draw out the colours in the same way as a solvent based varnish. Tests showed only very slight discolouration on white or pastel painted floors but users should carry out their own tests before working on very pale floors.” – Flints

Very easy to apply with brush, roller or spray. It also makes a very good metallic paint when mixed with metallic powder. It is low odour and water soluble.

Drying Time: Re-coatable in 2.5-3 hours, light use in 24 hours, full cure in 7 days.

Coverage:  8 – 10 square metres per litre per coat.

Sheen: Gloss, Silk Matt or Extra Matt

Price (ex VAT): £72.14/ 5L from Flints or £59.95 from Smith and Rodgers

 

 

 

 

Vinyl Paints

January 13, 2017 / / 0 Comments

Vinyl paints are the most common paint to be used in decorating the interior of houses. ‘Vinyl’ refers to the resin that is used as a binder in the make up of the paint. A binder is the agent in paint that serves  to make the paint stick to the support. Most trade vinyl paints are mixed as a neutral or white base and the pigment is added when ordered by the customer.

Vinyl paints can come in different sheen levels from matt, soft sheen, satin and silk.

We currently use Macpheson’s Vinyl Matt paints:

  • For white we use the vinyl matt brilliant white alternatively you can use the cheaper eclipse but we would not recommend it as it has poor coverage. Flints exhibition white is also has excellent coverage.
  • For black we use Macpherson’s vinyl matt black or the Flints theatre black
  • Although Macphersons is cost effective, the colours can be less intense  (especially their yellows and purples) than Rosco super saturated, an alternative would be crown paints which are still cheaper than Rosco.
  • Macphersons makes an excellent primer for plywood and MDF surfaces, and an excellent top coat over a primed surfaces.
  • However it is not recommend for use on canvas as the paint tends to crack on the canvas when the cloth is rolled and it is hard to un crease when hung. We would recommend using Rosco White base as a canvas primer.

You can find price lists for Macphersons, Crown and Flints paint here.

 

ROSCO

January 13, 2017 / / 0 Comments

Rosco

Specifically designed to offer the scenic artist a matt non-reflective medium that can be used indoors or outdoors. It will adhere to most modern scenic surfaces, the acrylic base ensuring that it will not crack. The paint is conveniently packaged in a concentrated form that saves storage space.

Rosco Supersaturated Paints provides the versatility of dry pigment with the permanence, ease of use and flexibility of acrylics. The paint can be used direct from the pot for maximum obliteration, but they are really designed to be diluted at least 1:1 with water. They can be further diluted up to 15:1 to provide watercolour washes and dye effects.

If you are heavily diluting the paint but want to use it on a difficult surface it can be combined with Rosco Neutral Base or convent garden primer to reinforce the binding power.

When used to paint cloths, Rosco Supersaturated has the advantage over other paints in that it remains supple allowing the cloth to be rolled or folded without cracking. It is this flexibility that makes Rosco Supersaturated the preferred choice of virtually every major theatre paint shop. The paint can be easily flameproofed by the addition of Rosco Flamex PA.

Once diluted 1:1 the paint will cover approximately 8-10 square metres per litre making it very good value.

Primers

January 13, 2017 / / 0 Comments

Before you start painting on any surface you must consider what is the best primer to use. Ask yourself:

  • What kind of surface/material are you trying to paint on?
  • What kind of action is the surface subject to? (I.e dancing, heavy handling, etc.)
  • Does it need to be durable outdoors or indoors?
  • Do you need a primer with low odour?
  • Do you need it to dry quickly?
  • Does the primer need to be clear or opaque?

On surfaces like metal, you must clean it before applying the primer. This can be cleaned with a de-greaser or methylated spirits. On plastics, varnished or painted wood you may have to sand the surface prior to applying the primer this will provide a ‘key’ to help with adhesion. On surfaces such as plywood or MDF,   a vinyl matt paint can be appropriate as your primer.

The prices shown here are accurate as of early 2017. You may find other suppliers or products that work better or are cheaper. Always check the price before you quote it to a production manager, designer, client.

 

Water-based primers

Zinsser Bulls Eye 1-2-3

Zinsser

Zinsser Bulls Eye 1-2-3 is a universal interior and exterior, waterbased, primer-sealer. It offers low odour application, quick drying convenience and excellent adhesion to glossy surfaces. It offers excellent adhesion without sanding to hard to stick surfaces.

Bulls Eye 1-2-3 also prevents rust formation when applied over clean steel. Bulls Eye® 1-2-3 is great for blocking stains. It permanently and completely seals graffiti, grease spots, tar and asphalt — inside and out

Drying Time: It has a 35 minute touch dry time and is recoatable in just 1 hour.

Coverage: 10 m2 per litre

Colour: White

Price: £59.69 (ex VAT) for 5L, £15.50 (ex VAT) for 1L from Flints

Flints Multi Purpose Primer

Flints primer

Flints water-based matt primer is suitable for painting wood, steel, plastics, and it is also an excellent as a substitute for etch primer. . The water base ensures there are no unpleasant fumes.

This product will provide a long lasting protection for steel. The surface of the material should be free from grease before application. Like other water based products it takes longer to cure than solvent based products.

Low odour.
No fire risk during use.
Environmentally sound.

Also available in black which can also be used for masking out the back of BP screens. It adheres well and provides a completely opaque covering.

Drying Time: It has a 35 minute touch dry time and is recoatable in just 1 hour.

Coverage: 10-12 square metres per litre.

Colour: White or Black

Price: £51.84 (ex VAT) for 5L from Flints

ROSCO Tough Prime

Rosco tough prime

This unique water based primer has special adhesion properties which allows it to bond onto hard-to-prime materials.

Tough Prime can be use on: PVC pipe, aluminium and plastics, as well as muslin, wood and foam core.

It dries to a tough, durable coating that can be over painted.

Suitable for indoor and outdoor use.

Drying Time: Although touch dry in half an hour, this paint will require between 24 and 48 hours to fully cure to its maximum strength.

Coverage: 9 – 10 square metres per litre.

Colour: White or Black

Price:£55.70 (ex VAT) for 3.79L from Flints

ROSCO Colour Coat

Rosco colour coat

It is ideal backstage for painting lighting bars, truss, steel handrails etc which would otherwise need hazardous etch primers. Even when applied with a budget brush the finish looks like it has been sprayed or powder coated. Very good adhesion to aluminium.

While Colorcoat can be used on most interior and exterior surfaces where maximum durability is required it is not suitable on soft or flexible substrates.

Rosco recommend Colorcoat for use on floors and scenery which endure heavy handling. It is waterbased, so brush cleaning is easy.

Clear Colorcoat can also be used as a heavy duty sealer over all Rosco paints.

Drying Time: Touch dry within 30 mins

Coverage:  Coverage 7 – 8.5 square metres per litre.

Colour: Clear satin and gloss. Black gloss and flat

Price (ex VAT): £41.40/3.79L from Flints

 

Covent Garden Primer

coven_garden_primer

Designed for the Royal Opera House for priming vacuum formed plastics, this water based primer can be tinted and is ideal for difficult surfaces such as dance floor, PVC, clear plastics, and rubber flooring.

Covent Garden Primer is formulated to be a first coat prior to conventional painting although adding 20% to your scenic paint will normally make it stick to dance floor materials.

The best water based primer for vacuum formed plastic sheet.

Aids adhesion of water based paints to difficult substrates.

Drying Time: Touch dry within 1 hour

Coverage:  8 square metres per litre.

Colour: Clear with a glossy finish

Price (ex VAT): £18.25/1L, £35.20/2.5L, £64.25/5L from Flints

Vinyl Matt Paint

macpherson-vinyl-matt

This applies to Macphersons Vinyl Matt paint, prices can vary for similar products from Johnstones, Dulux, B&Q etc. The ideal choice for interior surfaces where a flat matt finish is required. Ideal for surfaces such as plywood, MDF and canvas. This can also be used as a top coat over other primers.

Drying time: 2hrs (recoatable in 4 hours)
Coverage: 15-16sqm per ltr
Colours: White/ black/ colours
Solvent: Water
Price (ex VAT): White: £23.85/ 10L £12.99/ 5L Black £17.21/5L Colours £17.21/5L £10.45/2.5L
Spirit based primers

Shellac

Button Polish

This product is handmade from the villages around Calcutta and is less refined than machine made products, however this gives added strength.

Its golden colour will help the appearance of certain woods such as walnut.

It is often used to seal stains and prevent migration of fireproofing chemicals. A quick drying primer for metal and a very good primer for wood.

Drying time: 15 minutes
Solvent: Methylated Spirits
Price (ex VAT): £36.50/ 5L Flints

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