Golden Fluid Acrylics Vs High Flow Acrylics (Consistencies Explained)
Fluid acrylics have a high viscosity (thinner consistency) that is perfect for fine line work and glazes, while Golden High Flow Acrylics have a lower viscosity (thicker consistency) that makes the acrylic paint act more like an ink and is less opaque.
For those who want to read a little more…
Fluid acrylics
Fluid acrylics have a thinner consistency (high viscosity) compared to high flow acrylics, which makes them easier to spread and manipulate on the canvas.
Fluid acrylics are used for fine brush work and glazes, think of it like a watered down acrylic paint but one that has kept its paint integrity without being watered down.
High Flow Acrylics
Golden high flow acrylics are slightly thicker than fluid acrylics and have a much lower viscosity. They have a similar consistency to ink.
This makes them more manageable for artists looking to layer their paint or create texture. They also provide a richer, more vibrant color range compared to fluid acrylics due to their higher pigment concentrations.
Golden’s high flow acrylics are known for their fast drying time and intense colors that last longer than many other brands.
Golden is a paint brand that offers High Flow Acrylics as well as many other acrylic paint products such as GAC 100. Both acrylic products offer two distinct styles of acrylic paint.
Both are great options for artists, but it’s important to understand the differences between them so you can choose the best one for your project.
Which type of paint is suitable for me?
If you’re new to acrylics, start with heavy body acrylic. Once experienced, consider high flow or fluid acrylics for fine line work without diluting the paint.
To make things easier for you I have summarized the key points of both paints in the table below. Feel free to share it.
No matter which type of acrylic you choose, both fluid and high flow acrylic paints offer a quality product for artists.
Fluid acrylics provide vibrant colors with a smooth finish, while high flow provides an intense color range perfect for texture and layering.
Either way, golden’s products and fluid acrylics are sure to meet your artistic needs.
Can you mix fluid acrylics and high flow acrylics together?
Yes, you can mix golden fluid acrylics with golden high flow acrylics.
The combination of the two paints will give you an even thicker opaque coverage than either alone.
With this mixture, you can create bold and vibrant hues that are close to a thin bodied acrylic paint.
Joseph Colella (Joe Colella) is an Editor and Writer at WastedTalentInc. As a frustrated artist with over 40 years experience making art (who moonlights as a certified Business Analyst with over 20 years of experience in tech).
While Joseph holds a Diploma in Information Technology, in true wasted talent fashion he spent years applying for various Art degrees; from the Accademia di Belle Arti (Napoli), to failing to get into the Bachelor of Arts (Fine Arts) at the University of Western Sydney.
While he jokes about his failures at gaining formal art qualifications, as a self-taught artist he has had a fruitful career in business, technology and the arts making Art his full time source of income from the age of 18 until 25.
His goal is to attend the Julian Ashton School of Art at The Rocks Sydney when he retires from full time work. Joseph’s art has been sold to private collectors all over the world from the USA, Europe and Australasia.
He is a trusted source for reliable art advice and tutorials to copyright/fair use advice and is committed to helping his readers make informed decisions about making them a better artist.
It seems you mixed up the qualities of the two?
– High Flow is more like an ink, and Fluid is better for fine line/detail work
-Fluid is more opaque than High Flow
– High Flow is better for staining, Fluid is easier to mix around on the canvas
You are correct!