hey everyone. just had a job doing a window splash and it turned out good except for the fact that the paint started flaking off before i was even done. this was my first window splash job and i wasn't sure what kind of paint to use or what to use to prime the window. i ended up putting a base coat of white tempera and then painting the color on top of that with tempera. i used rich art window paint for one color and it seemed to work a lot better but it's expensive and i would have had to spend a lot more on supplies if i used that for everything. if anyone can help it would greatly appreciated, i would like to do more of this work but i may have to redo this job and probably won't make much of anything on it, live and learn i guess. thanks!
Posted by AdrienneMorgan (Member # 1046) on :
Tempera...that's the problem... won't stick to windows...
OK...
First off.....you need a base coat of latex paint. White, flat latex house paint (Home Depo's 'Behr' is good)
Roll on with small 3 inch rollers (also from Home Depot)
Roll on your colors over that (tempera is ok here, but acrylics are better
Outline with black acrylic... your good to go!
If the window is exposed to rain, spray with a clear enamel)
When it's time to remove, get the window wet, wait a few seconds, scrape off with a wide scraper (I use a wallpaper scraper)
Rich Art is expensive, and I don't care for the colors, I think it's the casein (sp?) in it that makes them look dull.
P.S.,,,donate that tempera to your local kindergarden class
[ November 04, 2004, 03:03 AM: Message edited by: AdrienneMorgan ]
Posted by Si Allen (Member # 420) on :
Adrienne has pretty much nailed it! Tempra paint is not designed for glass windows!
Use the latex she describes...they work very well, I use the same brands.
For temporary 'spashes' I use the flourecent colors Radiant or DayGlo) as they REALLY stand out...the down side is that they will start to fade after 3 months... a clear coat will give an extra couple of months.
With a little pracvtice, you can do everything with the 3" rollers, except the outlines. Many people use the disposable foam brushes...I preffer the Langnikle Nocturnas.
PS......... I you think RichArt is too expensive...you are not charging enough for your work!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by Michael Latham (Member # 4477) on :
thanks for the info, I always wanted to know how to do a splash, what to use etc. this is good stuff!
Posted by Susan Banasky (Member # 1164) on :
Adrienne painted a pet store window at our 'Splash in the Pacific' letterhead meet over a year ago, doing as she has described in her post. It is inside a mall and 'touchable' by the public, so she coated it with clear.... it looks as good today as it did the day she did it. No fading at all. Great job, Adrienne.
Posted by AdrienneMorgan (Member # 1046) on :
Good to know it's still there Susan!
Other than the color issue with Rich Art...I also don't like how it separates in the container to the point it's nearly impossible to remix....
I know there are others who use it, but it just doesn't fit my taste.
Radiant is my favorite for flouresants, artistic colors for outline black.
I use Mack brushes (for waterborne paints) for flat outliners, Nocturnas for rounds.
A:)
Posted by Matt Minjares (Member # 4685) on :
thanks for the help everyone, now maybe i can get some more work for the hoidays and it will still be there at christmas. thanks!
Posted by Jon Butterworth (Member # 227) on :
We average at least 10 window splashes a week!
We no longer paint directly onto the windows.
Both Avery and Callon have a "Window Splash" Vinyl. 4ft wide. Figure it would be less than $2 ft in USA. Its a matt white low tack Vinyl that accepts any kind of paint.
The beauty of it is that the splashes can be done in the workshop regardless of the weather and there is no waiting around for paint to dry etc.
Instal is a breeze using a soft squeegee. I did a 4ft x 12ft install in 10 minutes by my self yesterday.
Clean up? None!!!! The customer just peels it off the window!
PS: You mcan even cut it to size and put it thru your plotter to trace patterns on it.
Hint: If you want to cut outlines on the design, leave it in one piece. Easier to instal. Then cut the outlines with an acto knife on the window.
Try IT!!!!! Posted by Matt Minjares (Member # 4685) on :
one more question on pricing. the window i did was about 143"x 45", i painted some lettering that pretty much covered the whole window. just wondering if anyone could give me a ballpark estimate of what they would charge for something like that, i'm sure underbid myself but this was my first job so i wasn't sure. anyone else ever use the vinyl film? i've seen it done around my area and was just wondering what the other pros think about. thanks again guys!
Posted by Jane Diaz (Member # 595) on :
I used to teach grade school and High school Art. We didn't have much of a budget. We used to use Tempera and it would stick if you added a few drops of dishwashing liquid (like Ivory or Pamolive). It wasn't as good as what is suggested above but it was a quick fix and cheap. What a mess to clean off the windows when you had to take it off though!! Scaping gets you lots of crumbly pieces everywhere and wetting it was even worse...colored goo everywhere!
[ November 04, 2004, 05:43 PM: Message edited by: Jane Diaz ]
Posted by AdrienneMorgan (Member # 1046) on :
Jon, I asked my supplier about that vinyl and they have never heard of it, maybe I should contact the manufacturers and see if it's available here.
I've done splashes on vinyl before, thought I had a great idea, warm shopwork....a breeze to install....until the clients started to complain that I bought them somewhere else and charged them as if I handpainted them!!!
I guess it was lacking the 'magic'....they didn't SEE me paint it, and that's the part that seems to impress them the most.
I'm still going to give it another try as it's WAY too cold for me to paint on location here...in fact I'm headed to California tomorrow to do windows!
A:)
Posted by Randy Campbell (Member # 2675) on :
Pierre Tardif uses Tyvec for his splashes and they look great.I did a window with Rich Art and is was up for 2 years befor they took it off.
Posted by AdrienneMorgan (Member # 1046) on :
I don't want a window splash to last that long.....it's ment to be a temporary ad.....and I rely on it's short shelf life to generate repeat business.
I tell the client it should last them 6-8 weeks, a bit longer if it's not in direct sun.
As for pricing, that's tricky.. I have a $200 minimum, for that they get the basic message (ie.'PANT SALE') plus a line of subcopy ie. "Two legs for the price of one" and a graphic ( a pair of pants?)
If it's really big it will be more. How much more is determined by how fast you work, how difficult the job is (is there obstacles in front of the windows? Bushes? rocks?) If there is ladder work, and if so how high? Will you need a scaffold? a cherry picker? a step stool?
Will you have to spray the work with clear?
I did this job today, simple copy, lots of uneven rocks in front, fish eye on the glass was really bad,that was irritating... But the job went well, client happy, $250 Took me 2 1/2 hrs. Dimensions were aprox 12 feet long, 4 feet high (graphic)
You will have to do a few jobs, keep track of you time and see if you are getting an hourly rate that suits you. I try for $65 an hr or more.
It will take you more time at first as you learn the ropes. That's expected.
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