"Scenic Paint FAQ"

General

• What is the coverage per gallon of Rosco paint?
• What is the shelf life of each line of Rosco paint?
• Can I intermix Supersaturated, Off Broadway and Deep colors?
• Why does Rosco have so many lines of paint?
• Which Rosco paint should I use for:
• Fabric?
• Metal?
• Wood?
• Plastics?
• What is the most effective use for each line?
• Why should I use Rosco paint rather than house paint?

Iddings Deep colors

• What is casein paint?
• How can I maximize the shelf life of Deep colors?
• Can I used Deep colors once it has spoiled?
• Can I use Deep colors if it has frozen?

Supersaturated

• What is Supersaturated made of?
• Why is Supersaturated only sold in quarts?
• What can I use Supersaturated on?
• Does Supersaturated contain dye?
• Can I use Supersaturated as a tint?
• Can I paint translucent drops with Supersaturated?
• Can I use Supersaturated that has frozen and thawed?

Off Broadway

• What is Off Broadway made of?
• What can I use Off Broadway on?
• Can I use Off Broadway once it has frozen and thawed?
• Can I use Off Broadway to paint drops?
• Can I thin Off Broadway to use as a glaze?

Fluorescent / VividFx

• What are Rosco's special effects paints called?
• What are Rosco's UV paints made of?
• Can I thin Rosco UV paints with water?
• What are the differences between Rosco fluorescents and Rosco VividFx?
• Can I mix Rosco Fluorescents and Rosco VividFx with other Rosco paint lines?
• Do I need to use a blacklight with the UV paints?

 

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GENERAL PAINT QUESTIONS

Q. What is the coverage per gallon of Rosco paint?

Under ideal conditions coverage is as follows:
1 Gallon @ 200-300 square feet
1 Quart @ 75-80 square feet

Q. What is the shelf life of each line of Rosco paint?

Off Broadway: Shelf life @ 3-5 years.

Supersaturated: Shelf life @ 3-5 years

Deep Colors: Shelf life (unopened) @ 2 years

 

Q. Can I intermix Supersaturated, Off Broadway and Deep colors?

Yes. They may be intermixed freely.

 

Q. Why does Rosco have so many lines of paint?

Because we know from painters that no one line of paint is appropriate for every project. When used in conjunction with one another the Rosco paint lines solve most scenic problems.

 

Q. Which Rosco paint should I use for:

FABRIC?

You can use any Rosco paint on fabric. All have good adhesion and stay supple on soft goods.

METAL?

Supersaturated and Off Broadway have the best adhesion to clean metal. If the metal has been primed with Tough Prime you may also use Deep Colors

WOOD?

You can use any Rosco paint on wood.

PLASTICS?

Supersaturated has superior adhesion to most types of plastic. Off Broadway may be used on many types, also, but we suggest you do a test first. Priming plastics with Tough Prime will assure a terrific result.

 

Q. What is the most effective use for each line?

Deep Colors is an excellent choice for painting soft goods. It has a completely matte finish and allows drops to stay supple. It also has excellent opacity due to the high pigment load. For additional adhesion add Rosco Clear Acrylic to Deep Colors.

Supersaturated is the paint of choice for hard to paint surfaces such as plastic, foam and metal. Due to the exceptionally strong binder Supersaturated can be let down with large amounts of water for glazing and painting translucencies.

Off Broadway is an easy-to-use, economical vinyl acrylic which adheres to most scenic surfaces. It was designed to be used right out of the bucket but may be diluted if so desired.

 

Q. Why should I use Rosco paint rather than house paint?

All of Rosco's paints are manufactured with a high volume of finely ground artists pigments. They are designed to give an artist clean, bright colors that can be mixed without greying. Rosco's paint lines where designed with scenic art in mind, they stay supple and have good adhesion to a wide variety of surfaces. Rosco paints have a matte finish which will not reflect stage light--even house paints that are labeled "flat" have a sheen which can be distracting on stage.

 

IDDINGS DEEP COLORS QUESTIONS

Q. What is casein paint?

Deep colors is a casein paint. It has a base which is made of soy protein. Because it is a natural substance, casein acts differently than vinyl acrylic based paints. One of the advantages of casein paint is its rewettability. It is often helpful, when painting drops, to be able to reactivate the paint you layed down earlier. Deep Colors also has an absolutely matte finish due to the casein base making it the first choice of scenic artists for more than 50 years.

 

Q. How can I maximize the shelf life of Deep colors?

Deep Colors begins to degrade when water is added. To maximize shelf life scoop out only as much paint as is needed and reseal the can immediately (you may also cover the surface of the remaining paint with a thin layer of liquid Lysol™). Adding 4 ounces of liquid Lysol per gallon of mixed color will help retard the growth of bacteria.

 

Q. Can I used Deep colors once it has spoiled?

NO! Many believe that once spoiled Deep Colors dries the smell vanishes. It does not. The smell will stay forever.

 

Q. Can I use Deep colors if it has frozen?

Yes. Allow the paint to return to room temperature and use it as you normally would. You may find that the product needs less thinning, however.

 

SUPERSATURATED ROSCOPAINT QUESTIONS

Q. What is Supersaturated made of?

Rosco Supersaturated is made of a vinyl acrylic binder, finely ground artist pigment and water.

 

Q. Why is Supersaturated only sold in quarts?

Rosco Supersaturated is a very concentrated paint. We recommend thinning at least 1:1 before use. Supersaturated may be thinned up to 20:1 with water and still retaining its binder strength and clean color. For this reason Supersaturated is very economical.

 

Q. What can I use Supersaturated on?

Almost everything. Because of its superior binder strength, Supersaturated is an excellent choice when painting hard-to-paint surfaces, including vinyl dance floor and rear projection screen.

 

Q. Does Supersaturated contain dye?

No. Supersaturates gets its intense color from a heavy load of finely ground artists pigments.

 

Q. Can I use Supersaturated as a tint?

Yes. Because Supersaturated is so concentrated it makes an excellent tint. It can be used in conjunction with any other Rosco paint or coating including Tough Prime, Foamcoat and Flexbond.

 

Q. Can I paint translucent drops with Supersaturated?

Yes. Because Supersaturated can be let down with large quantities of water it can be used when painting translucencies. It acts much like dye in this application.

 

Q. Can I use Supersaturated that has frozen and thawed?

Maybe. Allow the paint to thaw slowly, coming up to room temperature. If the paint has a normal consistency, with no lumps or curdles, it is fine. If it has "curdled" it has been ruined and should not be used.

 

OFF BROADWAY QUESTIONS

Q. What is Off Broadway made of?

Rosco Off Broadway is made of a vinyl acrylic binder, ground artists pigments and water.

 

Q. What can I use Off Broadway on?

Off Broadway can be used on many of the scenic surfaces found in the entertainment industry. If used in conjunction with Rosco Tough Prime, Off Broadway can be used on almost everything.

 

Q. Can I use Off Broadway once it has frozen and thawed?

Maybe. Allow the paint to thaw slowly, coming up to room temperature. If the paint has a normal consistency, with no lumps or curdles, it is fine. If it has "curdled" it has been ruined and should not be used.

 

Q. Can I use Off Broadway to paint drops?

Yes. Off Broadway has excellent adhesion and flexibility so your drop will not crack when folded of rolled.

 

Q. Can I thin Off Broadway to use as a glaze?

Yes. Off Broadway can be used as a glaze. If additional adhesion is desired add clear acrylic when thinning.

 

FLUORESCENT / VIVIDFX QUESTIONS

Q. What are Rosco's special effects paints called?

Rosco has two lines of special effects or ultraviolet paints. They are: Rosco's Fluorescent line and the VividFx line.

 

Q. What are Rosco's UV paints made of?

Rosco's Fluorescent and VividFx lines are made of finely ground fluorescent pigments, a vinyl acrylic binder and water.

 

Q. Can I thin Rosco UV paints with water?

Yes. Rosco Fluorescents and VividFx are water based paints. They are designed to be used straight from the can for maximum UV effect; the addition of water to them will dilute the fluorescence of the paint under blacklight.

 

Q. What are the differences between Rosco fluorescents and Rosco VividFx?

Both lines are made with a vinyl acrylic binder for good adhesion and flexibility. The primary difference is the "pigment load" or amount of pigment in the can. VividFx has a higher pigment content.

 

Q. Can I mix Rosco Fluorescents and Rosco VividFx with other Rosco paint lines?

Yes. The binders of all the scenic paint lines are compatible with both the UV lines. The fluorescent pigments in the UV lines are especially helpful when an artist is matching bright colors and needs some extra "pop".

 

Q. Do I need to use a blacklight with the UV paints?

Yes and No. Rosco's UV paints are clean and bright under regular light giving a "dayglo" effect. Using a "blacklight" or Ultraviolet Light Fixture makes the paint fluoresce.