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Water Drop Effect - custom paint secret, airbrush

video Water Drop Effect - custom paint secret, airbrush
This is one of the best kept secrets in the industry. How do they get that bizarre effect. It's easy.


51 comments
1-40 of 51next »
Jul 21, 2011. 3:28 PMcelticrush97 says:
Any idea if this could be done on walls?

Thanks for the ible!
Jul 15, 2011. 9:20 AMdayayohut says:
I tried this on my PS3 controller, I did it with CREATEX Pearlized Candy Blue with the CREATEX Opaque White over top as the water.

It did not turn out well. I think it may have been the combination of the colors. It also had a lot to do with the curved surface of the controller.
Jul 31, 2010. 11:26 PMMarkerMan1 says:
I bought some enamal paints but im not sure it is the right kind, it says it is water based so wouldent it just blend into the water?
Apr 26, 2010. 1:58 PMsiouxsieq says:
I'm looking for a cool idea for kids room. Can this be done on a wall??
Thanx for posting!
Apr 9, 2008. 11:20 AMmiqt says:
does anyone know how to do this effect but on water drops that are actually dripping down....kinda like long drops, i think that'd be cool.
Jun 8, 2009. 9:03 PMRobobvious says:
I haven't tried this yet, but I imagine if you took a canvas like that, and just sprayed water along one of the top edges, then tilted it you could let the drops drip down naturally, then go on to the next step with the spray paint. Not sure if it will work but hey, you don't like it, paint over it and do it again! Oh, and please tell us how it comes out!
Feb 15, 2010. 3:31 PMtspike7 says:
if that idea does not work then it may be more time consuming but still possible. have the surface you are painting be [almost] perfectly flat leaning in the direction you are wanting to have it drip. spray water onto the surface as you normally would and then use an eye dropper to add water to the surface and use a toothpick to move the water around to where you want it to be.

i havent tried it yet, but its an idea worth trying.

best of luck
~tspike7
Jan 6, 2010. 10:51 PMiMakeRandomStuff says:
 I used red paint on the water droplets so it kinda looks like "blood" drops. Great fun!

thanks!
Jan 24, 2009. 8:34 AMllamafur says:
here's the paint job. I wanted the face plate to actually have texture.
Oct 9, 2009. 1:51 PMKvath says:
 It is Dry Xbox case ?!?
or wet ?
Aug 23, 2009. 8:02 PMon a path to instruction says:
:O looks like a wet street
Mar 27, 2009. 10:55 AMac1D says:
W-O-W. I want it!
May 25, 2009. 5:34 AMMrSkary says:
SWEET Ur vid was easy and simple!! AWESOME job bro!!! Much Thanks,
Jun 7, 2008. 11:07 AMgarrettmorse says:
Hey what colors look best over white for the water drops? Thanks
Oct 26, 2008. 8:26 AMipottouch1313 says:
I used on a computer blue and white, it turned out amazing, i started with a blue base, then did light white paint on the droplits, if you want il post pics upon request
Mar 27, 2009. 12:22 PMYerboogieman says:
Can you post the pictures?
Oct 1, 2008. 7:36 AMthyubernoob says:
How about red?
Aug 7, 2008. 10:07 AMCapnTac says:
My guess would be a light blue or yellow.
Aug 14, 2008. 10:00 AMExtraMedium says:
I would go with light blue as yellow may look like pee lol
Jan 6, 2009. 1:30 PMclark says:
haha thats a nice thought
Jan 23, 2009. 3:53 PMllamafur says:
I just did this to my xbox 360, and it looks really good.
Jan 28, 2008. 12:56 PMRob K says:
Im trying to figure out why enamel paint?
Aug 30, 2008. 6:21 AMxl1500 says:
Rob K the reason you have to use enamel paint is because it will not stick to the water droplets. If you use a water base paint, it would just blend into the water droplets and give you a muddy effect.
Dec 24, 2008. 2:44 PMShut Up Now says:
correct. enamel isnt water soluble.
Feb 5, 2008. 11:06 AMw00ty32 says:
Maybe, some paints wont stay on the drop of water, and breaks the drop/slides off/etc. I don't know the propertys of paint very well, so I'm just throwing things up in the air.
Feb 8, 2008. 12:12 PMHoxer says:
I have to ask - What is enamel paint??? I'm from Denmark and it must be called something else here, because i've never heard the word before. What's the different between "normal" and enamel paint??
Feb 22, 2008. 8:42 PMBright Shadow says:
enamel paint is usually a high-gloss rust resistant. a good example is Rustoleum brand
Jan 17, 2008. 10:25 PMMadMechanicMike says:
i wanna do the top of my laptop like this but im afrade im not gonna like the result.
Oct 11, 2008. 10:40 PMyodog4444 says:
hey instead of painting on ur laptop why don't you paint on a sticker, that way if you like it you put it on your laptop, and if you don't you keep trying. (im pretty sure you can get good sized blank stickers)
Oct 1, 2008. 7:40 AMthyubernoob says:
You can always paint back over it if you don't like it! My 2 cents.
Feb 23, 2008. 11:37 PMswingline says:
Get a large adhesive roll of paper. then you can do it and apply it to your computer with no risk.
Aug 15, 2008. 7:31 AMVinstepula says:
That turned out to be way easier than what I expected. Thanks for posting this!
Aug 14, 2008. 10:03 AMExtraMedium says:
I take it only the paint that is sprayed on has to be enamel
Jun 1, 2008. 6:28 PMtrooperrick says:
Do you have to have the paint completely dry (bottle says 48 hours) or does it just have to be dry to the touch before using the drops and second color? Thanks in advance.
Feb 27, 2008. 3:48 PMdrewdoog says:
if you dont use enamel, the paint will slide off the water drops leaving you with spots that arent blended. they will simply show you the undercolor with no shadowing effects. At least this is my experience with it.
Mar 1, 2008. 11:09 AMsims01 says:
can you tell me how long to let it dry and do wipe the water off or do I let it evaporate on its own thanks sims01
May 5, 2008. 6:22 PMDr.Paj says:
Evaporate, but you can blast it with a heat gun.
Apr 4, 2008. 5:40 PMdsaavedra says:
this was really cool. nice vid. thanks for the instructions! got some paint and tried it out today. i still need improvement but its turning out nice. im gonna do this on some fishing lures:
Mar 12, 2008. 9:42 PMbigtallrulethemall says:
Thanx for the vid! Ive seen this somewhere else before fogot how 2 do it and when i tried i just messed up. So this wuz ccol!
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Author:AirbrushTricks
I'm an amateur custom painter that loves to share all the cool tricks that i learn along the way.