If you’re new to making cosplay and are shopping around for the tools you need, you might be struggling to decide which is right for you. Everything from efficiency, results and cost matters when you’re starting up with cosplay and you have to buy all these new tools. When it comes to painting your foam, fabrics and Worbla, you need the tools that work best for your needs. So if you’re currently in the battle of airbrush vs paint brush, I’ll show you the pros and cons to help make choosing easier.
Airbrush
An airbrush system consists of the airbrush, a compressor and hose. You will mainly utilize specifically airbrush paint but can mix other paints with reducers or thinners to make them work for your airbrush. These can be used for detailing, painting large areas and weathering. You have a variety of options for size airbrushes to use.
Airbrush Pros & Cons
- Pro 1.) Efficiency & speed – If you’re on a con crunch and need to paint fast without compromising the quality, an airbrush is the way too go. An airbrush will give you the speed you need without sacrificing the end result, thus making it far more efficient than paint brushes. It can also save you a wrist cramp too.
- Pro 2.) Result quality – In the battle of airbrush vs paint brush, the end result they create is by far the most important factor. Airbrushes bring precision and speed, but also very clean applications of the paint.
- Con 1.) Cost – An airbrush can be very expensive. Even a smaller, low powered can be $30 or more. Or if you want to get one with more capacity and power, the compressors can start anywhere from $100 and if they don’t include a good airbrush gun, you can be looking at an additional $20 or more. The paint itself specific for airbrush is also rather costly.
Paint Brush
Paint brushes can be used for detailing, painting large areas and weathering for cosplays. There is a variety of paint options to use with a paint brush such as acrylic, oil and watercolor. There is also a wide variety of brands, shapes and sizes for paintbrushes to choose from.
Paint Brush Pros & Cons
- Pro 1.) Cost – When it comes to the cost, paint brushes are by far more affordable. Even a nice set of paint brushes can run between $10 – $60. Paints such as acrylic are also very affordable in comparison to airbrush paints.
- Pro 2.) Control – I personally feel more in control when painting by hand with a brush than with an airbrush. It’s easier to speed through or have large blasts that can cause mistakes. Where as my hand guides every single brush stroke.
- Con 1.) Efficiency – Painting with brushes is far more time consuming and requires much more energy than an airbrush.
- Con 2.) Result quality – The problem with paint brushes is they leave visible brush strokes. These might seem invisible from far away, but if you’re competing and have judges looking closely, they will see them.
Applications for Airbrush & Paint Brush
In terms of which you can use for which mediums in cosplay, both can be used for everything. From 3D prints to EVA foam, or from fabrics to Worbla, both airbrushes and paint brushes can be used on them. The biggest thing you need to keep in mind is the type of paint you use. Things like EVA foam need very specific paints used on them to avoid deteriorating.
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