Expert: Ellen Choate - 7/17/2007

Question
Okay, I want to paint my laptop.  I have a spare broken laptop, so that will be my test subject.  What kind of paint brand should i use?  also, im and artist and i want to place/paint a design on my laptop, how do i go about doing that? do i stencil, paint right on, etc.?

Answer
Oscar,
I'm sorry to be so long in getting back to you.  I'm going to have to do some further research on the type of paint for you to use, though.  
My experience with painting plastics extends as far as megaphones and batting helmets.  For those, I do use my Createx with good results.  They also make and AutoAir variety that I haven't tried.  When painting any type of slick surface, prep is essential.  For a laptop, I'd lightly buff the shine off with very fine steel wool, #0000 at least, then clean with a mixture of vinegar and rubbing alcohol.  Be gentle; you just want to de-gloss it, not scratch.
For your actual technique, that depends on your skill with the airbrush and the results you want. If you're doing a landscape, for example, you would probably freehand most of it.  If you want a machine-parts look, hard edges, stencil is the way to go.  If you have very good control of your airbrush, you can do almost anything freehand and it'll look good.  For the stencil material, I like clear contact paper for a very tight hold.  If you need t mask over color you have already put on, you need to use Frisket.  It's a clear stencil film with much lower tack so as to not pull up what you've already painted.  
I'll do a follow up in a couple of days with more information for you.  If you check out paints on your own, be sure that it is something that will go through your airbrush without clogging.