How to Make Masking Fluid

How to Make Masking Fluid
Written By
Leah Newman
Leah Newman
Published: Aug 9, 2011
Updated: Feb 23, 2021
1 minute read

Masking fluid is a flexible latex adhesive applied to canvas or paper before watercolor paint. Once the paint is dry, the masking fluid can be rubbed away with a soft eraser or your fingers, revealing the blank canvas underneath. While many brands of masking fluid are commercially available, you can make your own formulation from any latex adhesive. Rubber cement also works well as a masking fluid, particularly on canvas.

Things You'll Need:

Things You Will Need

  • Airtight Container
  • Water
  • Latex Fabric Cement
  • Watercolor Paint
  • Spoon
  • Brush
  • Pour equal parts of fabric cement and water into the container.

    Dip a wet brush into a water color paint, then into the container.

    Repeat until the color of the masking fluid is satisfactorily dark. Otherwise, the masking fluid will be clear and difficult to see on the canvas.

    Stir the mixture gently with the spoon. Do not shake, as it may cause bubbles and make the fluid difficult to apply.

    Leah Newman

    Leah Newman has been a professional writer since 1999, writing about fine arts both in print and online. She specializes in how-to articles covering DIY projects. Newman holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Georgia…

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