Createx reducers for water-based acrylic paints include products 4011, 4013, 4020, and 4021.
There are four main Createx reducer formulations. While they all serve the purpose of thinning (or “reducing”) the viscosity of Createx paints, each one has a formulation and set of characteristics that will make paints act differently during applications.
• Createx 4011 Reducer is the classic, water‐based thinner recommended for nearly all Createx Colors.
It’s designed to lower viscosity for improved atomization and flow and to help reduce tip dry. Most airbrush artists and painters start by adding about 10% by volume (tweaking up to 30% for smaller tips or lower psi) and then allow about 10 minutes for the reducer to diminish the paint’s water surface tension for a smoother finish. If you’re working with standard Createx Colors paints—whether you’re doing illustration work or general airbrushing—4011 is your original go-to reducer.
How exactly does this reducer work? As you may know, Createx paints are water-based. When the 4011 reducer is mixed with any of these paints, it breaks down water’s surface tension within the paint. That leads to better flow in an airbrush or spray gun, and better leveling on a surface.
How to reduce Createx paints properly? Small steps are the best approach. If too much reducer is added at once, it can shock paint and lead to seeding/chunking and clogging the airbrush/spray gun as a result. Start with 5% or so. Don’t have to be super precise, eyeballing is fine, but try to be close to 5%, no more than 10% at a time. 4011 reducer is quite effective, and even 5% can significantly change the way paint sprays. For best performance, after adding the reducer to the paint, let it sit for 10 minutes. That would allow the reducer to acclimate with the paint, and you will see the best effect. If 5-10% was not enough, you can repeat the procedure and add the reducer again. It is not recommended that more than 20% of the reducer be added. Please don’t use it to add transparency to the paint. If you’re trying to make the paint more transparent, use resins such as 4004 for harder surfaces or 5601 for flexible or fabric surfaces. 4030 or 4050 UVLS clear is also a good choice for hard surfaces. There are no pot life limitations after reducing Createx paint with 4011 reducers, but it will speed up the evaporation of the water, so make sure you keep paints in closed bottles.
• Createx 4013 Reducer is formulated with isopropyl alcohol, which makes this organic reducer evaporate faster and improve the paint's surface drying time.
The performance differences (in terms of atomization and drying times) mean you may have to adjust your mix ratios and waiting time accordingly. It can be used across all solid-color paints, including Wicked Colors, Airbrush Colors, and Illustration Colors (keep it under 10%). However, it is not recommended for candy2o and AutoBorne Sealers.
How’s 4013 reducer different from 4011? 4013 is an interesting additive. Flammable, so make sure to keep it in a fire-proof cabinet. Flammable due to isopropyl alcohol in this product. It helps to flush water from the paint which reduces drying time on the surface, and it also reduces tip drying. That’s why some artists prefer to use this reducer when airbrushing.
How to properly reduce Createx paints with 4013? The small steps approach applies here as well. If too much reducer is added at once, it can shock paint and lead to seeding/chunking and clogging the airbrush/spray gun as a result. Start with 5% or so. Don’t have to be super precise, eyeballing is fine but try to be close to 5%, no more than 10%. A 4013 reducer is effective, and even a 5% change can significantly change the way paint sprays. For best performance, after adding the reducer to the paint, let it sit for 10 minutes. That would allow the reducer to acclimate with the paint, and you will see the best effect. If 5-10% was not enough, you can repeat the procedure and add the reducer again. It is not recommended that more than 20% of the reducer be added. Don’t use it to add transparency to the paint. If you’re trying to make the paint more transparent, use resins such as 4004 for harder surfaces or 5601 for flexible or fabric surfaces. 4030 or 4050 UVLS clear is also a good choice for hard surfaces.
Should I choose 4013 over 4011? We always recommend trying 4011 first as an official “go-to” reducer. If, for some reason, it does not satisfy your needs, feel free to reach out to SprayGunner’s Support Team so we can help you figure out your case and give recommendations. 4013 could be what you need, or perhaps 4020. In short, 4013 could be a better choice for small nozzle airbrush use, while 4020 is an additive for high-humidity environments.
• Createx 4020 Reducer is identified as an “automotive” reducer.
It is typically used when painting automotive parts or other hard surfaces where the finish and durability demands are higher. In some applications—especially under humid conditions—a mix of 4011 and 4020 (often blended 1:1) is recommended to assist with paint drying, maintain flow, and extend the workable time of the mixture (as noted in the Createx Illustration Colors technical data guidelines). Its formulation is geared toward these tougher outdoor or automotive applications.
When should I use Createx 4020 reducer? 4020 reducer contains acetone. Designed to improve the drying and curing of the paint in humid conditions. It’s the most aggressive additive in Createx Colors collection and is recommended to be used as a reducer of a reducer, meaning mixing it with 4011 instead of directly to the paint.
How to reduce Createx Paints with 4020 reducer? 4020 contains acetone and as a result, it’s quite aggressive. It is recommended to mix 4020 with 4011 reducer first. Start with a 3:1 ratio (3 parts of 4011 to 1 part of 4020). If you feel that the paint is still not drying fast enough, the ratio can be brought up to 1:1. Make a cocktail of 4011+4020 first and then use it to reduce your paint the same way as you would do with just 4011. Around 5% at a time, allow it to sit for 10 minutes to acclimate before putting it into a spray gun/airbrush. Reduce only the amount of paint you plan to use the same day. 4020 significantly reduces shelf life of the paint.
• Createx 4021 Reducer is essentially a next-generation formulation that is fully compatible with all Createx paints and clears.
It’s prized for its excellent flow improvement and leveling properties and is considered an effective substitute for 4011 in many situations. However, its improved performance also means that in applications like metallic paints (for which the appearance is critical), 4021 can alter the look of the metallic finish for some water-based metallics, such as ChromaAir. When using Createx Colors or other water-based airbrush paints (including NO-NAME paints), 4021 can provide a smoother, more even coating with extended pot-life when stored properly.
When to use Createx 4021 reducer?
Well, simply put - we'd recommend anyone who's using water-based paints to have a bottle of 4021. It's inexpensive but can improve your painting experiese quite significantly in some cases.
You’ve probably noticed that we did not mention 4012 in the title of this article. That’s because Createx is discontinuing it. It’s not even on their official Createx Tech website and will become unavailable soon. We’re still carrying 4012 in our additives selection at the moment of publication of this article, but that may change any day.
In summary, use 4011 as your standard reducer for most airbrush and illustration work, switch to 4013 when a water-based system is desired, opt for 4020 when painting automotive or other hard-surface applications (especially when modified drying properties are advantageous), and choose 4021 for a high-performance flow and leveling improvement provided you’re not working with metallics. Adjust your reducer percentage according to the tip size, psi, and specific requirements of your project, and always allow a short acclimation period (about 10 minutes) after mixing.