SEM colors & problems ordering...?

[Cameron Arts]

Okay, so I was trying to put together an order for SEM color horizons to paint my panel with, since I figure it's the perfect opportunity to experiment with a new system & the samples I already got at a previous TGIF party...

ANYHOO...

Problem 1: Even with my cookies enabled & all that jazz, I can't get any items to show up in my cart. Reading past threads, it seems like everybody just tried a bunch of times & it magically worked for them. I don't seem to be so lucky. What's up with that? :D

Problem 2: I have searched EVERYWHERE (or so I think) to find an online color chart for the SEM Color Horizons line. I know you can get the physical color chip charts, but I can't find just a rough example of what the colors look like online for ordering. For example, I have no idea if Sundance Candy is a light yellow, an orangy yellow, or even a yellow at all! Can somebody please point me to a source for this? :thinking:

TIA!

[Cameron Arts]

Okay, one more Q...

What are the overall outside dimensions on the Field of Screams 1 template?

That Color Horizons Mini Set is a fantastic value! That's like 25% off vs. if you order everything separate, but even then, you can't get only 1 oz of candy color! Cool. Very tempted to go that route, even though I was only gonna order black & try to get a gold pearl. (Which I see you don't have... *sob!*)

Hey, where do you recommend I get additional SEM Color Horizons products that can't be procured from you guys?

(Oops, I guess that's 2 more Q's... Heh heh.)

[mvdrae]

I have the charts.I could scan them and email them if you want.I dont know if they have them on the sem site or not?

[Head Roller]

The templates are approx 8 x 10.
If you cant get your order to go through, just give me a call. 303-828-0370.

[anderekel]

Uh oh marge, does that mean you're gonna ab the panel? :bigeyes:

[Cameron Arts]

:shhh: Shhhh. Don't tell on me!
Hubby leaves again on Sunday night for the week, so I'm thinking I can sneek out & do a temporary hookup to one of the portables, then spray during kiddie naptimes... No promises.

Nothing like cheating on your hubby with spray equipment! LOL!

[anderekel]

That's awesome marge, good luck with it. :biggthump :lmao: :approve: :love: :biglaugh: :hug: :)

[shane]

we wont tell , really, you can trust us! :bigeyes:

[Cameron Arts]

Ha ha! :naughty:

Okay, so I'm looking over the SEM technical sheets (Color Horizons Users Manual SCH-1), & I've got some questions for Mike the Master (& anybody else who'd like to chime in).

I've got a pretty rough mockup done (see pic). I really didn't want to show it before I painted it, & it might change some as I go, but oh well. Since this paint system is completely new to me, I wanna make sure I've got this right. I won't have any spare time for fixing chemistry/application issues, therefore I'm trying to head that kind of stuff off at the pass... So could you please check my process below & note anything I'd need to do differently? I’ve got questions highlighted in blue.

I'll be using a 12" x 18" aluminum sign blank, already painted white.
1.) Wipe it down with SEM 38381 World Class Low VOC Surface Cleaner. (Is that what your 169506 Surface Prep is?)
2.) Wet sand to add tooth.
3.) Create a light gray mixture by adding 1 part Base (combo of Bright White & Jet Black base concentrate) to 4 parts of Mix Clear, then mixing 1 part Base/Clear combo with 1 part Reducer. (Can I safely tint that gray mixture with a little of the candy concentrate? And is the Reducer you offer the SR20 Medium Reducer for temps between 70 & 90 F?)
4.) Spray the skull background using the light gray mixture. (Don’t waste time painting skulls where she-devil would completely cover them up.) Allow for plenty of flash time: wait at least ½ hour to spray candy.
5.) Mix up yellow candy by combining 1 part Sun Dance candy concentrate with 8 parts Mix Clear, then 1 part Candy/Clear combo with 1 part Reducer.
6.) Spray yellow candy. Of course, try to avoid overlapping layers that would create banding, etc.
7.) Allow ½ hour flash time.
8.) Repeat Steps 5, 6 & 7 with Mandarin & Apple Red candies for orange & red fades.
9.) Shoot an intercoat layer to keep candy from bleeding into white of the upcoming artwork by mixing 1 part Mix Clear with 1 part Reducer. Spray 2 to 3 coats, 5 to 7 minutes apart. Wait a minimum of 1 hour & wet sand with 600 grit or dry sand with a gray scuff pad to give artwork paint something to grab onto.
10.) Transfer drawing & mask off area surrounding she-devil, pitchfork, lettering & borders. (Cover all areas to be skull/candy background.)
11.) Spray a light gray mixture (using same Base/Clear/Reducer recipe as Step 3) as a mid-tone base layer for she-devil & pitchfork. Allow to dry at least ½ hour.
12.) Paint (freehand) she-devil & pitchfork with white & black mixures (ratios same as Steps 3 &11). Remove all masking while paint is still tacky. Allow 1 hour minimum dry time. (I know, I know… I really should use my Belly Guns for this. Don’t scold me! LOL!)
13.) Mask off border areas. Spray white for base on blue/purple border. Allow ½ hour flash.
14.) Mix up Royal Blue & Passion Purple candies for inner border. Spray both colors & remove masking while paint is still tacky. Allow 1 hour dry time before masking off for black outer border. (Would I need to protect the candy border from the tack of the mask with another layer of clear before taping off for the black border? Or can you safely mask over dried uncleared candy?)
15.) Mask off black outer border & black lettering. Spray with Jet Black mixture. Remove all masking while paint is still tacky. Allow 1 hour dry time. Outline black lettering with Bright White mixture.
16.) Allow minimum 1 hour of dry time before sneaking off to Calcutta to get my clearcoater to spray the panel.

Okay, let me know what’s jacked up here. Have I got it? Is anything overkill or unnecessary? If I’ve got it right, I’ll go ahead & order the Color Horizons Mini Kit.

Thanks for your time on this one. I know, I’m a pesky anal freak from Hell, but I really don’t want to botch this one up & I don’t have time to experiment if I want to get my panel done in time for the Swap. (You can thank my babies for that!) So please forgive me! LOL!

[shane]

ok lady!
step #2 use 600 wet if you have it!
step #3 yes you can tint it at any time,
step #7 15 min. would be fine uros can be put right on top of each other, (this depends mostly on your temp. if your any where near 70 you will be just fine)!
when you get to step 11 is where you MIGHT run into a small problem, it should be all right as long and you spray your gray down on the dry side just make light soft passes so you don't get the surface to wet other wise your going to reactivate those candy's! and also i would wait maybe a hour and a half before you do your art on it, you really what it to gas off at this point! there is no reason to scuff the inter coat clear before you put color on it the mix clear is ok to shoot over for at least a week or so with out scuffing.
step #14 it wouldn't hurt if you "low tack" your tape just to make sure but i don't think it would be a problem at all, i low tack my tapes when I'm shooting in layers like this every time but its mostly out of habit i think!
Also thru out your schedule you might be trying to do something that's unnecessary, the reason for pulling tape before its completely dry is to avoid the tape lines and to make sure you don't pull any paint up with your taps/mask's you will find that with uros this isn't as great of a concern as with the water paints, uros bond together very well and don't get as thick usually so its not really a problem, use your best judgment here if you only have a fem coats of paint on it don't sweet pulling so soon, if you have a lot of coats then yes pull as soon as you feel comfortable, and remember pull at a sharp angle against it's self and you will limit your strings and chances of pulling up paint!
Other than that you made a good plan! i never plan them this way but for a first time with a new system its a good idea i think!
you have also probably helped a ton of new painters by asking such a great set of questions here, GREAT JOB!:notworthy
o ya awesome panel by the way!

[Cameron Arts]

LOL! Thanks, Shane! :approve:

It's wierd to be asking such newbie-type questions after all these years. Good for me, ya know? You're never too old to LEARN something new! :biggthump

When I shoot my AA's, I'm pretty good at not getting much buildup. I've gotten so that I can pull my tape or masking whenever it's most convenient for me, but using a new system makes me nervous, ya know? I know that painting with OneShot is wildly different than AA which is wildly different from the PPG I rarely use at the body shop. So I wasn't gonna assume ANYTHING.

Hope Mike or Di gets a chance to answer the Q's about which reducer & cleaner they offer in the store... I know they're busy peeps & I hate to pester!

[anderekel]

You're never too old to LEARN something new! :biggthump



Especially not when you're still young. :biggthump

Shane, you're right, I learned some by reading the questions and your answers. Like the saying goes, there's no stupid questions.