⚠️How to Make a *BETTER* Black Wash for Terrain - RECIPE

👇LINKS TO SPECIFIC ITEMS USED IN THIS BUILD👇

#BlackMagicCraft #Episode105

My previous black wash video is as basic as it gets, but the truth is I don't use that recipe any more. I've moved on to a better quality wash recipe using matte medium and acrylic inks.

*MY RECIPE*:
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Ingredients

Water (Use distilled if you wish)

Flow Aid (Liquitex or Jet Dry)

Matte Medium

Acrylic Ink

Mix flow aid into water at approximately 10 (water) to 1 (flow aid). Then mix water and matte medium at apox. 60/40 water to medium. Add ink until you achieve the desired results.

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[BlackMagicCraftOfficial]

Les' recipe actually called for *distilled* water, not *deionized* water like I mispoke in the way, distilled water is an option, but for terrain I really don't think you *need* it, tap water should do fine....unless you have terrible tap water.

*MY RECIPE*

Ingredients

*Water* (Use distilled if you wish)

*Flow Aid* (Liquitex or Jet Dry)

*Matte Medium*

*Acrylic Ink*


^(As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases)

Mix flow aid into water at approximately 10 (water) to 1 (flow aid). Then mix water and matte medium at apox. 60/40 water to medium. Add ink until you achieve the desired results.

[TheRunesmythe]

For those curious/interested, here's an explanation/look at the mechanics of these washes:
- The reason why distilled water is recommended is because it won't stagnate on you. This is important if you plan on either mixing up a big batch of wash or you plan on storing it for long periods of time; eventually tap water will go stagnant on you, though how long that takes depends on the quality of your tap water and the environment its being stored in. That being said, if you know you're going to be using the wash immediately and you know it won't last long then distilled water isn't necessary.
- The flow aid is used to break surface tension, i.e. its a surfactant; this is so you don't get tide marks (a.k.a coffee rings). If you only use water, it will tend to pool a lot more and, as a result, you'll find rings of color around the recesses but little to none in the recesses themselves. The surface tension of water prevents the pigment from settling in the recesses, and as the water evaporates the surface area shrinks, pulling the pigment out to the sides and forming those rings.
- If you just mix water, flow aid and matte medium and leave it this way, you know have the equivalent of Games Workshops Lahmian Medium, i.e. acrylic medium with no pigment (if you look closely, you can see that Lahmian Medium isn't actually clear, but is slightly milky), which is great for thinning paints without diluting them, meaning you can turn pretty much any color into a wash/glaze whenever you want, or just thin your paints for more translucent layers.
- I would actually recommend putting glass beads in the bottles (I also recommend this for paint bottles) as agitators. In this case, if you used the Jet Dry, it will allow you to mix up the wash without getting as much foam/soap bubbles, but even if you use flow aid instead putting agitators in is never a bad idea. When it comes to paints, this will make mixing them a good deal easier and less stressful on your hands and wrists when it comes to shaking your paints.

[TinkeringTime]

I love it when creators cite and credit the others they learn from. It doesn’t diminish the greatness of their own abilities- if anything it shows just how much we can all grow and enjoy if we share and share alike. And that sense of being able to grow individual power from collective cooperation and sharing? Intoxicating.

[JamsAlx]

Please tell me you're making your kitchen out of XPS foam and Modpodge 😆

[amdnable]

The black wash should really make the details pop in your kitchen.

[SpectrA]

I just made a trio set of washes using your method—black, brown, and green. All inks are Liquitex Professional Acrylic Inks. Here are my recipes:

Wash Base
• 1 oz distilled water
• 10 drops rinse aid
• 3/4 oz matte medium

Black Wash
• 40 drops Carbon Black ink
• 10 drops Transparent Burnt Umber ink

Brown Wash
• 40 drops Transparent Burnt Umber ink
• 10 drops Carbon Black ink

Green Wash
• 30 drops Vivid Lime Green ink
• 15 drops Transparent Burnt Umber ink
• 5 drops Carbon Black ink

I do measure so I can reproduce the washes accurately each time I make them.

[mrtonyadkins]

Hey Black Magic. I just wanted you too know that I was watching this video late at night before i fell asleep. I dozed off for a moment. My iPad slipped my grip just for a moment...it cracked my nose. Your video is so good I took my nosebleed and finished it...Congratulations, you are worth powering through.

[corwinchristensen]

A quick tip: put a glass marble in the bottom of the squeeze bottle. It will help you "swirl" the wash to mix it evenly without shaking and making foam.

[robotparts]

I picked up the ingredients I needed at Hobby Lobby yesterday, 10-5-22. FYI, here's what I spent: Liquitex Matte Medium - 16 Ounce $18.99, Master's Touch flow medium (don't recall the price but they didn't have Liquitex brand), Acrylic Inks - 2 @ $6.99 each and plastic bottles 3-pack - $3.50. Total: approximately $47.

[karlb]

With a dropper bottle, you don’t really have to worry much about bubbles. Just give the wash a good shake and turn it upside down. Wait a few seconds and the bubbles will rise to the bottom of the bottle. What comes out of the dropper should be bubble free. Also, if you use Liquitex flow improver you will indeed get less bubbles.

[HeroesBosses]

I've walked past all these ingredients in Michaels many times. I thought "meh" Nuln Oil works fine. Then I started painting the Ruins of Osgilliath and went through almost an entire bottle on just 3 of the bits of terrain. Time to make my own black wash! Great vid :)

[davinci]

Folkart Makes a medium called floating medium and it does the same thing as Liquitex flow aid but cheaper. 8 oz is around $5 usd.

[mtndewbuddy]

I have been making my own wash for the past few years using a 50/50 mix of matte medium in Windex and then add your ink to flavor. And ive had a lot of good results with it on terrain and miniatures

[harlemsar]

every year i come back to this video to make the wash when i run out, dude this is just too good. Thanks.

[bitzbox]

I've been uses Les' recipe for years. It's so good for terrain. I like the idea of mixing in a bit of brown too

hey brother, great content. got a protip for you: You can use wiper fluid instead of jet dry as your leveler. DIRT cheap for a gallon and works great. I've used it for airbrushing for years :)

[basicweech]

i know you posted this four years ago, but I really appreciate you taking the time to make it! It was super helpful for me as i'm just getting into figure painting and miniatures! I hope you're having a great day wherever you are now!

[TimothyKing-tfbh]

It worked perfectly. Thank you so much. Total cost was about $40 Can and I have enough black wash for decades.

[GeektoStudios]

This is perfectly timed. I'm about to go to the store to refresh my crafting supplies. And I haven't made a black wash yet

[leerevier]

This stuff worked great. I was having problems with my water and ink combo... but by adding the rinse aid (I was using plain dish soap) AND the matt medium got rid of my "rings" that were drying around the low spots on my models and miniatures. I was able to order the liquitex directly thru Amazon without any problems. Thanks Black Magic Craft. I have been painting minis for years but have recently ventured into the foam type terrain. I spent years of my youth working in plaster while building model and yes.... I am an old school D&D geek too. This site has allowed me to pick up some of my old crafting arts again.