Before starting a painting project, it is important to understand how long the paint will take to dry. This will give you an idea of how long the project will take in total and how long you will need to wait between each coat of paint before adding another.
Vallejo paints are acrylic and water-based, so they will generally dry quickly. It should only take between twenty and thirty minutes to be dry to the touch and ready for the next layer. When you add all of the layers, it is recommended to let it dry for at least 24 hours before moving it to prevent the development of fingerprints.
There are a few factors that impact how quickly the Vallejo paint will dry. It depends on the surface you are painting on, the thickness of the coats you apply, and the humidity and temperature of the room it is drying in. The best thing to do is paint with Vallejo paints inside so you can control the environment.
How Long Does It Take for Vallejo Acrylics to Dry?
The drying time of Vallejo acrylics will depend on different factors. First, the type of paint you are using matters. For example, Vallejo Game Color and Model Color are typically dry to the touch in just a few minutes. This makes it easy to apply additional coats in a short amount of time without having to worry about ruining it.
It can take anywhere from 24 to 48 hours for these paints to reach maximum dryness and durability. If you try to move your painted object too soon, there is a risk of denting or scratching the surface of the paint.
As for airbrush paints, such as Model Air, drying takes much less time. Since these coats are applied very thinly, the layer will be dry to the touch within seconds. This allows you to apply more coats immediately without having to wait several minutes.
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Why Is Dry to the Touch Not Fully Dry?
While Vallejo acrylics are dry to the touch in just a few minutes, this doesn’t mean they are fully dry. Acrylic paints like Vallejo are water-based and dry through the process of evaporation. As the water evaporates from the paints, the leftover paint starts to harden. Even though the paint feels dry, it could still be in the drying process.
When a paint is dry to the touch, it is still at risk for damage. Since Vallejo is most commonly used for model and figurine painting, this means you shouldn’t move the figurine until you are certain it is fully dry. If you touch it and move it too early, you can ruin the entire paint job with fingerprints, scratches, or dents.
Factors That Impact Drying
You might notice that Vallejo paints dry faster in some conditions than others. This means that you can control the environment that your model is drying in to speed up or slow down the process of drying. There are a few different things that can impact the dry time of Vallejo acrylic paints.
Humidity
Moisture in the air has a huge impact on how quickly your Vallejo paints will dry. Increased levels of humidity will cause the paint to dry more slowly, and decreased levels of humidity will make the paint dry faster.
It is best to work with Vallejo paints inside where you can control the humidity level. Air conditioners and heaters have the ability to remove humidity from the air, and a humidifier can add humidity to the air.
Temperature
The temperature of your workspace will also impact the drying time of Vallejo paints. Higher temperatures will cause the water to evaporate more quickly, making the paint dry faster. If your workspace is very hot, you might have a hard time keeping your paint from drying out too quickly. It is best to keep the temperature below 80-degrees Fahrenheit for the best results.
Airflow
Blowing wind can make your paint dry way too quickly. This wind can be from a window, an air vent, or a fan. Some airflow is beneficial, but too much can result in cracked paints. It is best to control the amount of wind that comes in contact with the paint to prevent it from drying too quickly.
Thickness of Layers
The thickness of the layers you paint will have a very large impact on how quickly Vallejo paint will dry. Thick layers of paint will take longer to dry than thin layers will. If you are using Vallejo with an airbrush, the layers will be very thin already and won’t take long to dry. When using a brush, you can paint thin or thick layers, but it is best to make them as thin as possible.
Final Thoughts
Vallejo paints are acrylics, so they will generally dry at a very fast rate. In most cases, they will be dry to the touch in just a few minutes. This allows you to add more layers of paint sooner without having to wait a long time for the first layer to dry. There are factors that need to be considered when it comes to the dry time of paints. The temperature, humidity, airflow, and thickness of the paint all play a role in how the paint will dry.
It is best to keep layers thin, so they dry faster and more evenly. It is also important to understand the difference between a paint being dry to the touch and fully dry. Vallejo paint will usually be dry to the touch in as little as 20 minutes when using a brush or a few seconds when using an airbrush.
Even though the paints may feel dry, they are still at risk for scratches, dents, and fingerprints. It is best to leave the project to dry for a minimum of 24 hours before you try to touch it. This will prevent anything happening to the paint that can ruin all of your hard work in just a few seconds.