painting multiple graphics

Where can i find a good tut on this? I'm practicing my airbrush on small projects. the other day when i pulled my taped out graphic, it peeled up the graphic with it. Do i need to sand or scratch each color of my graphics? cause i know some of you guys can't pull off the tape as soon as you spray the color especially when you plan to airbrush on top of it. some help would be thankful.

I am no painter this is what I have learned watching my truck progress.Did you wash piece with Dawn, use some wax remover?Did you wet sand before starting to paint?Did you put tape down before the paint was dry enough? Those are questions that will help figure out what might have gone wrong.  At least its a start with my minimal knowledge.

man there's so much to say here, with out trying to pass ya off or nothen maybe you should PM me some specific questions or look me up at the other site http://www.learnairbrush.com/   i use my first name there so i am easy to find (Shane), but i have written a bunch of tips and how to's over there, as have a bunch of other airbrushers and painters, if not you can ask one at a time here and i will try and keep up with the questions. what kinda paint are you using, what kinda brush, whats the surface material, whats the surface condition. even what kinda tape you use will make a difference. if your doing fresh (tape outs 9 tape outs on fresh paint) it helps to "lo Tack" yer tape, peel off a strip of tape and stick it to yer shirt or pants to get some of the sticky taken of it taken off, then do yer maskin, this may help a ton. then dont spray real heavy on the tape and pull it as soon as you can so the paint on top of the tape dont dry out all the way

Sounds like the surface may not have been prep good enough. Use a de-greaser before you start. The base needs to be scuffed with scotch bright or about 600 - 800 grit. You need some good 'tooth' for the graphics to grab to–especially multiple layers. I've had the problem with Auto Air brand of paint so I stopped using it. Just using urethanes now.   You don't want to sand the graphics once you sprayed them if there's tones and shading. You'll cut right through it and it will show. Don't sand metallics or candies either. You should be able to just spray your graphics and wait for the paint to completely cure. Probably from 1 - 4 hours (depending on room temps, humidity, type of paint.) Then lay out your next graphic. Good luck.   Oh, you may want to check out the many airbrush forums available. I'm on www.kustomkulturelounge.com and they are always happy to answer questions. 

Edited: 6/15/2010 10:10:19 AM by sik_kreations

one common problem i see is peeps leaving shiny spots on the prep. u must have all the shine knocked down.  if not, when u go to back tape. u will more then likely peel.   and dont worry about going to other forums, the questions can be answered right here.

Ok, here is what i got. It's a laptop case, i sanded it down real good, sprayed on the primer and sanded it down good until it was nice and smooth, then i laid down my base which was a black metallic (did not sand that), taped out my design, laid down some silver then alittle skull work, then sprayed on a violet candy (this only got about an hour dry time), went to pull off the tape and it peeled the candy and silver off. That's where it stands now. All paints are automotive grade duplicolor except the candy and it's hok. I need some help cause in the future i plan to do some multicolor graphics on other stuff.

WHat do you mean by "nice and smooth?" If your base is too slick, it want hold multiple taped outs. And I'm guessing the case is plastic so you may need an adhesion promoter. Plastics don't hold paint well. It's possible the candy layer re-activated the previous layers and you pulled the tape before it had time to flash out or cure. Just not sure.

i'm thinking you're right about the candy. when i said nice and smooth,i meant that i sanded the plastic, sprayed on black primer, after it dried i sanded with 120 and then again with 320. was that wrong? i just didn't want any scratches to show through.

--------------------------------------------- Originally posted by SolarX ...base which was a black metallic (did not sand that), taped out my design, laid down some silver then alittle skull work, then sprayed on a violet candy (this only got about an hour dry time), went to pull off the tape and it peeled the candy and silver off... --------------------------------------------- So i'm lost on what and why it's peeling... So the black base didn't lift up did it? Did you have tape on TOP of the silver/kandy graphics or just masking them off and it lifted via the edge? A) If the black base lifted, it's a primer issue B) If all of it lifted all the way down to plastic... then i'm assuming "..sprayed on black primer..." consisted of wal-mart rattle can primer C) If you actually had tape on TOP of the kandy that peeled, then watch your drying time before taping D) If it lifted on the edge, then make sure your peeling the tape AWAY from the graphic at a 45 degree angle   These aren't 4 SURE answers, just a couple possibilities...    

no wal-mart stuff, duplicolor from autozone and yes it peeled from the edges of the candy. the candy also peeled up the base coat but not the primer. at what grit should the primer be sanded to before laying the base? and i think that most of it does boil down to drying times.