You're talking about tiny differences in percentage light absorption, but it makes a very big difference in well lit conditions. Fighting over fractions of a percent and the quantum mechanics of how they absorb light makes the application method extremely important, and obviously that's airbrushing. Hopefully you can try that out too, great video.
I recently used black 3.0 on a painting I did on a wood panel. Love the finish when it dries - however - if you are planning to seal the painting (which you almost have to - I'll explain in a sec) the spray varnishes/finishes will almost ruin it's matte finish. It works better over the top of a sealed painting. Also, whatever you do - NEVER, and I mean never, let it drip, spit, trickle or fall onto an area where it will stand out. The stuff stains EVERYTHING. The instant it falls onto raw wood, canvas, etc., the material will be stained. I had three drips and had to end up using a dremel tool to 'carve' out the area where the paint fell = use it over something that has been sealed - it will help with clean up and cut down on staining issues. Thanks for the video - I can't wait to try the other paints.
@@MrsRen there are no fumes. It’s just paint. I have all these paints they don’t smell any worse either. In fact there’s actually information MSDS for musou black and no information for culture hustle paints (I’m sure they’re fine they just don’t have them)
@@MrsRen i have musou black and used for spraying as well as brush work ...what smell ? little to none and what i can smell is not a horendous smell as she portrays
@@tafrog5552 Both of you are ignoring the fact that people have different noses and sensitivity to smells. Just because you don't smell something doesn't mean others won't.
Have you tried adding just a tad of water to the Black 4.0? It decreases the tackiness and improves coverage and leveling. Comparing 3.0 with 4.0 when their viscosities have been matched shows 4.0 to be less reflective in my test.
Interesting! I haven’t, I was going to do some research to work out how I could thin it enough to use in an airbrush. So you’re using just straight tap water not distilled?
@@StuffBySunshine Yes, straight tap water. Just as with regular acrylic paint, you can thin with up to about 35% water without destroying the ability of the paint to form a film with good integrity. To dilute the pigment or decrease the opacity further, it’s generally best to use a medium (matte or gloss). But because 4.0 is more matte than matte medium, the reflectivity would actually increase. So water is the ticket for improving the wettability of both the paper and the brush (dampen both, just as you would with watercolor) and for improving leveling (and hence blackness!). Distilled water would be fine, too.
I agree I have 2 and 3 and use water to make them both more workable and its fine. Also 2 works much like a regular acrylic and I saw a CH video suggesting priming with 2 - which takes well and then paint the 3 after. This might also apply to 4 but I watched the video before its release.
@@StuffBySunshine Isopropyl alcohol works well for this. It doesn't dilute the pigment and it dries faster. The only thing to watch out for is using too much alcohol if you are doing thick layers. It will dry so fast the paint can crack. I learned most of this from other graffiti artists who often thin acrylics for use in mops and markers. It also helps if they want drips in their tag. Wetting the paint lets it go on to the surface smoother and that really helps with matte colors.
This video was more interesting than I originally thought it would be. I think you also did a really good job on the last test. Must have been really hard to find a way to integrate those blacks into your “normal” works…
Geo! 😂 you may have seen in stream the three or four painting styles I tried before selling on this one. Everything else was just too blobby and dominant. I was actually considering doing a black and white portrait again but wanted to add some color. Really glad you liked it! I suspect this video will be the one I’ve put the most effort into but will get the lowest views 😂
Thankyou and no worries! I tried to make it as comprehensive as possible to a point I figured I was boring people ☺️. Thanks for watching paint dry with me!
I've been using Black 3.0 for a few years in home cinemas for touching up reflective items such as visible screws heads that just can't be physically hidden. It's superb and sensible money.
True! Although I’m hearing report that over time it looses a bit of its matte color. Ie fresh black 3.0 seems to be darker from the pot than older aged paint
Fantastic video, brilliant production quality. Informative as hell. I’m going to be painting a balrog miniature on my channel with the blackest paint I can. I’ll be sure to credit you in my research. 🤘
Thankyou! Glad you liked it. Oh nice! Are you going to use multiple blacks to get darker and darker shadows or just an ultra black for all the darks? I’ll have to have a hunt for the video when it comes out ☺️
It’d be interesting to see, I’m finding using ultra blacks work best when combined with normal blacks. The eye recognises the normal black as “black” and the ultra blacks as a deeper darker blacker black. It’s great for contrast. Good luck with your Balrog!
Now that I know the pros and cons. I'm going with black 3.0. My eldest son gave permission for me to paint murals in his room and I have been taking my brain for the ceiling until about a week or so ago. Doing a glow in the dark galaxy sky on the ceiling and I think black 3.0 would be perfect to make the glowing POP💥💥🌟✨✨💥. Can't wait to get started now thanks for the review.
No worries! Glad it’s helped! That’s a great idea for an ultra black. Are you going to use lesser blacks for star clouds and the ultra for the void? Or just all black 3.0?
Puzzles me, that i was instructed to use 3 coats and a hair dryer between every layer of black 3.0 🤔 Surely this make all of the paints better yet? Very profesionally made testing, the facemask really showed how dedicated you are 👌
That’s interesting! I usually use a hair dryer on water floor but it effects the way it drys quite substantially so I intentionally decided to not use one on the blacks for that reason. I didn’t or hadn’t read that black 3.0 suggested it, it could be that using the heat and the quick dry makes the particles stand vertical giving us more of a velvet finish? I’ll have to experiment and see. Thankyou, glad you enjoyed ☺️💜
This was a really fantastic and thorough review of the paints and certainly saved me some money ;). I have used the Musuo Black several times (mainly to eliminate any stray reflections from light barriers in photography) and I have a bottle on my desk now. I have never noticed any real odor from the paint. But to be fair I also have some Black 3.0 (my comparison of the two pretty well matched yours) and I never noticed a coffee smell. I swear I do have a sense of smell.
Really? That’s so strange? I had a headache for days. Did your smell when you initially opened it? I’m wondering if it’s something that burns off after a while. Yes my black 3.0 is the same now, no smell. Apparently it ages tho and becomes less black as time goes on so I’m assuming the smell is an indicator of that
@@StuffBySunshine No my bottle never had any real odor and a year later it's still just as black. After watching your video I saw another of a guy who painted his SUV with Musuo Black. He never mentioned a smell or wore protective gear. I wonder if you got an off bottle?
Maybe, I’d been warned about it before I got it by other artists. I’m wondering if there is a difference between the Asian branded Musou and the English? Mine still smells like death in a jar so perhaps they have difference based upon where they are intended for?
@@StuffBySunshine Mine is the English branded bottle. Perhaps that's the difference? The video of the guy painting his car is called "The World’s Blackest Car." He goes through maybe a dozen or so bottles and doesn't mention odor.
You did such an incredible job putting this video together! I love how you did the comparisons, and how much you describe everything about the process from how easily they went on to how they did being scraped off! I always just assumed that these paints were a viable alternative to vantablack, but apparently they are nowhere near it, unfortunately.
Thankyou! I’d love to get some vantablack to compare them to. I’m always curious how they film the vantablack as there are so many camera tricks to make black look blacker. Vanta black may in reality actually not be that black🤔.
this was super informing. I've been researching what paint to cover a giant concrete thumb with and I originally was going to go with black 4.0. The musou performed way better I'm so glad i saw this before I went ahead with the project!
Wow, I have no need of your other videos (not my stuff) but damn girl, Your review of those paints is deep, well thought and great connected into single video that I watch from left to right. Great job! Consider exploring other topic like those paints as your review it top ! I will sub and see what future brings.
In your tests, you even called out Musou being thinner than 4.0. I had issues with the Black 3.0 and Black 4.0 when I first used them, too. However, if you thin it down with water, it ends up being more like Musou and is easier to work with (hence why you think an airbrush might be better).
I think if I ever did a project with 4.0 I’d look to use an airbrush and then thin it as well for that. I’ve since used the Musou in my gold test video (it’ll be out one day) primarily just because it’s paint and go ie I don’t have to do anything special like the black 4.0. There’s a certain charm to just grabbing a paint and going😂
@@StuffBySunshine This is true. The type of acrylic painting I do generally requires me to mix my paints anyway, so it's not an extra step. I do agree, though, that the Musou did appear blacker in your video.
Thankyou! That one did take a while 😂. It seems to be mostly artists who watch my stuff, so gotta make sure it’s comprehensive enough they can make there own minds up ☺️
First I loved this video I actually subscribed quickly in to it Ty and very entertaining. Second. I have used black 3.0 and had very good results that last for years on canvas. One thing I suggest you try is thinning it down and do multiple thin coats with even a sponge brush to reduce brush marks. As these are able to be thinned extensively for airbrush they work were well thin. Every layer seems darker than before. I do have airbrushes now but oddly have not used the 3.0 ( I guess I will give that a try soon)
Thankyou! Glad you enjoyed ☺️. Yes I’ve heard that, and apparently the black 4.0 is a lot more usable when doing so. I wanted to keep the black things as consistent as possible with this test and just followed the instructions on the bottle . One of these days I’ll get an airbrush and compare them all again using a thin layers, I think they will all most likely be much darker ☺️💜
Fantastic video. Plus it's great to find more Aussie creative RUclipsrs. Thank you for your hard work. I have Black 3.0 and had been doing some tests myself, like comparing various blacks I have, putting various matt varnishes over blacks to compare (which makes Black 3.0 look terrible) and trying crackle paint over the top of it (which just shrinks and peels itself right off). Great to find your channel and I do hope you continue to do more experimental stuff like this.
Thankyou! I think if you manage to find something you can coat on any of these specialty blacks and retain the light absorption that would be very really interesting. I haven’t heard of anything unfortunately. I’ve been slowly (slowly as work keeps getting in the way😂) making my way through everything I think that interesting so hopefully I’ll be able to get some more vids out soon ☺️💜
Thank u for this professional test! I am a scientist and u worked like one to find the most brutal colour which is blacker than the blackest black on the market....Metal🤘 So all hail to Musou 🙌
@@StuffBySunshine I appreciate it! This colours are very expensive and U are a professional artist. If I would test these I would ask myself....do I use the wrong surface, brush or technique....because on the paper of refractory index measures Black 4.0 should be the darkest. But the thing is how U measure. So what U did was a reality check. And this is easier said than done because U need to erase all of your own expectations. I really enjoyed it!
I've used the Musou Black several times and have found it to be great. It is sensitive to touch but looks great. As for the smell, it doesn't seem to be any more offensive that any other acrylic paint. I've used it mostly on 3d printed objects and have applied it with an air brush as well as using a soft brush. Both methods have given fantastic results.
I still have one of the first batches of Black 2.0 from Stuart Semple. I've heard 3.0 and 4.0 are blacker, but for the very rare occasions I paint something... why? Black 2.0 was already way blacker than any other black paint, black 3.0 is even blacker. I feel like the only selling point of Musou is bragging rights that it is blacker than Black 3.0. Musou makes you physically sick, and you can't use it in a studio without protective equipment, and it's not THAT much blacker than Semple's paints. Certainly not noticeably so unless you have samples directly next to each other, and I feel like that's really the only time Musou would really make a difference and wouldn't be worth exposure to the fumes. Musou is blacker, but Semple's paints are usable without killing yourself on fumes.
Have you found the black 2.0 has gotten less black as times gone on? I’ve heard the 3 and I’m assuming 4 ages and becomes a lighter color as time goes on.
Thank you very much for this very complete test. It confirms my test on the black 3.0 which is more a dark grey. Indeed I do artprints with sublimation and the black I get with sublimation is way blacker than the 3.0. However, sublimation printings are not as flat. I am a little bit obsessed with black color because I want my images to float in the air
No worries at all! Glad you enjoyed it. Have you done any tests to see how much blacker the sublimation ink is to acrylic paints? I’m assuming you’re using a machine so it would likely be putting down a very even coat. In think I’ll borrow an airbrush just for my own curiosity and see how back these paints are vs the brush method. Black that looks like holes in space is the ultimate goal!💜
Hi, well, sublimation is a printing technique that consists of sublimating an ink onto a specific plate (Chromaluxe) at high temperature. The result is extremely high contrast and deep blacks. However, the finish remains glossy or satin, and you don't get the flatness of the paints you've tested. I'll try to make a video that I'll invite you to watch.@@StuffBySunshine
id say the way these paints were showcased was more thorough than most videos i find, the performance of each paint was quite interesting, especially when they were overexposed to the studio light. musou still reigns supreme as the "blackest black" the shade is so...black? idk, i just rly like it compared to blck 4.0. musou black looks the closest to form a "2d" effect. well done!
Yeah it does (musou gives the best result that is), I think I’ll get myself an airbrush because I just expected so much more from Black 4.0 and it want there. Future videos!
I began using mosou black to black out the background of my marker b/w illustrations.. it’s so much darker and nicer than wasting a copic marker or similar to do this.. also I have no idea what you mean about needing ppe with mosou black.. it doesn’t smell bad at all, just smells like a faint oil paint like smell if anything.. I do my painting while shut in in my bedroom, and had zero complaints, no headaches, no bad smell, infact it probably smells less than some of the alcohol markers I have.
I have a question can you use any of these blackest black paints black 3.0-4.0 or musou on plastics and is there any way to protect that paint layer once it’s dry from rubbing off on your fingers or keep dirt sweat water etc basically anything that can damage the paint layer from destroying the paint layer like using lacquer or varnish or. Basically I’m asking is there any way to keep the paint layer of these blackest black paints from coming off once dry. Basically protecting it for a long time
Hi! Yes they will all work on plastics as long as you prime it. As to your second question, I really doubt it. Any layer over the top will add reflection thus they won’t appear as dark. I’ve tended to use them in places that have no interaction with elements, ie people don’t touch them ☺️
Yes, on 3D PLA models it does adhere even without primer, but it must be airbrushed in thin layers. I do tend to use a primer, usually grey or black, to be sure it will stick. On less detailed objects such as a pyramid, a light sanding of the plastic works too.
I am reluctant to try Musou, as I worry about the scent of it, but I may have to. I have been wanting to do a dramatic, highly contrasting art piece with a black background and heavily pigmented focal subject but have been reluctant to use my Black. Yes, it's not 2, 3, or 4. It's Semple's OG Black. It's nice but it dries quite 'chalky' looking and while it does absorb light, it's got an almost grey appearance to it when light hits it. I am a huge fan of Japanese-made art and stationary supplies however and if Musou is the most pitch-black (per say), I may have to invest in it eventually to try.
Sounds like an awesome project! Yeah in terms of the light absorption I definitely think musou would work well. If it helps, it doesn’t continue to smell once it’s dried!
I absolutely love this review so much. It's so in depth and has given me all the info I need! But as a side note girl I hope you fixed that squeaking going on in the video because it's like nails down a chalk board 😭
So glad you got something from it 💜. And apologies for the noise, I think your hearing two small gentleman called Percy and Cecil. Alas screaming for attention and chirping just to be little buggers is the lot of cockatiels🙃. I’m a few vids on from this one and they are still a big problem, I think I’m going to have to include them in the videos just to keep em happy tbh
very interesting - just want to mention some water based paints take a week to cure for optimum performance - also blackboard paint demands breaking in prior to use - the whole surface needs to chalked
Interesting! I didn’t know that re the blackboard paint. I would love love LOVE to say I didn’t leave these paints for a week due to me getting these videos out so regularly, but I’m so slow making these I think the actual tests sat for atleast 2 weeks before I filmed them 😂
Funny! Just searched for information on how to make Musou Black more durable and found this video. When playing it, I realized I know this person! Great video, keep up the good work, Sunshine!
I've been working with all three of them for a little while now. I personally use them interchangeably depending on the project. An you'll have a better time painting Black 3.0/4.0. by thinning it with some water, sure it will need more coats but you'll have more control. For spray painting black 3.0 an 4.0 (though thinned) and Musou Black for painting detail work. But admittedly I would use Musou Black more if it didn't just stink so so badly, the smell can allmost cling to things. Naw, my personal gripe is trying to find a matte sealant that won't screw with its effect. I haven't even been able to test out Culture Hustles own Matte Coat they made for it *because they seemingly rarely ever restock.*
Different people are sensitive to different smells. I've painted things with Musou black, and I didn't even notice a smell. I opened it up after watching this video, and yeah, there is a smell, but to me it's not offensive and I had to put my nose practically in the bottle to smell it. For me, a respirator is definitely not necessary. I do have one just like yours, but really only break it out for truly obnoxious products like polyester casting resin, most epoxy glues (especially the plastic repair types), and 3D resin printer resin.
Interestingly I used it yesterday to paint the eyes of a golden skull. It’s much much better than when I first opened it. I’m wondering if wherever they use as a thinner “burns off” over time. When I originally used it my friend who was here had headaches for ages so yeah it was bad, tho not so anymore 🤔
@@StuffBySunshine You may also have gotten unlucky, and had a bottle that got overheated in shipping. Musou Black's MSDS describes it as having only stable polymers with a "slight acrylic odor", but if you heat acrylic paint, the polymers can break down into acrylate monomers which have a nasty, acrid odor that are detectibly offensive even at less than 1 part per million.
I know this video has been out for a while but I wanted to make sure people are aware of this The English branded pots of the Musou black do not smell at all. I purchased two of them from Amazon before I saw this video and I've used it at least four or five different times now. One pot is almost completely empty. There was no smell whatsoever.
Hello! My second and third lot of this paint smelled exactly the same. But they are the Japanese version. I’ll make a video one of these days where we get pots from everywhere possible and test them for smell💜
I think I heard from another artist that for the best performance Black 4.0 should be airbrushed. Because of the chalky nature the pigment sticks better and the particles actually "stand up" to absorb more light, if that makes sense.
Yes it does actually, if you look really close at the musou that’s what’s happening to make it more light absorbent. I think all of them would be much darker if we used an airbrush ☺️
I regret that I am only able to give one "thumbs up" on this masterpiece! It must have taken several days to produce. Thanks much for this valuable information!
Hello sunshine, 😇return to start of experiment. To harden the Musou black at the scratch, you must add MAT catalyst for polyester resin (this is the composition of the Musou black) I haven't tried 3.0; I have enough experimentation to do with Musou for the moment. On wood or paper, the backgrounds must be prepared with special resin primer paints tinted black or MAT black. A very expensive addition of products, but for what I am going to do with it it is worth the cost. Have a nice day. I live in France, so you will have to look online for catalyst mat in your country 🙃
Thankyou for that! I assumed there was some type of catalyst in the Musou based upon the smell but wasn't sure what to look. Searching for Polyester resin catalyst it comes straight up. I'll have to try some and see how it effects the paint 💜
Predominantly because it didn’t specify to do that. I wanted to try them all exactly as they came and it’s supposed to be a paint you can use without thinning. I think all three paints would have worked far better with thinning and airbrushing multiple thin layers but that’s not how many artists plan on using them, thus this test 💜
Thank you I wanted to know which was the blackest but not enough to pay for the Culture Hustle paints. Also feel I should say, I haven't noticed a smell with my Musou maybe it changes from jar to jar.
Thankyou! I’m thinking about buying a heap of Musou black from as many distributors as I can and doing a smell comparison. So many people say it doesn’t small I’m so curious to see if it’s a thinner used in one specific version
Fantastic test. I was wondering what the difference between 3.0 and 4.0 was as I have a project using sculptures that will be lightly handled, so it needs to be fairly hard-wearing. Looking at this, from the difference in price, the application problems and durability, along with little noticeable difference in the blackness, I will be going with 3.0, (applied by airbrush). I had not heard of the Musou before, but I have read elsewhere it has a habit of flaking and falling off after a few weeks. Along with the vile smell, I think I will avoid that. Also worth noting, there is also a Black 2.0, which is considerably cheaper, so I might look at priming a few coats of that before top coating with Black 3.0
Thanks for that! It’s been a while since I’ve used the paints and so far nothing has fallen off Jeff (the skull) but the 4.0 and Musou still feel delicate so the flaking may be a thing. Good luck with your project ☺️💜!
I was looking for a comparative review of the ultrablack pigments, not for artistic application but for telescope internals coating and I found it. My telescope tube has an internal "black" that looks like a washed gray compared to these pigments.
Glad it could help! I’d make sure no matter which one you use you let it fully gas out before you put your scope back together. That way there’s no chance it’ll damage your optics ☺️
Thank you for doing these comparison tests (other channels just evaluate one at a time) - Very very useful indeed!. Note: Black Musou is bloody expensive at the moment and Black 3.0 is more reasonable - people are buying the most recent cos they think it is the best. I'm off to buy 3.0 cos I'm cheap and it does not stick . All the best from the UK!
That's been an issue I've had with expensive paints in the past, amazing effects but durability issues. i prefer to sacrifice light fastness for durability as my work is archived and not exposed to daylight. I know this is intended as a model paint, however i see the issue with durability is even more a factor, as to protect the paint you would have to apply a clear protective coating, which most likely effects the blackness. It seems to me to be a novelty for people with an expertise in modeling and crafting, with the disposable income. a lot of the issues you demonstrated are reasons I gave up acrylics for water colors. apart form my love for water colors as an expressive medium. If I did pick up acrylic paints again, I feel my experience would be, that I would purchased them as a novelty, hold onto to them because they were expensive, then after a couple of years, either try to gave them away to a serious crafts person, or sought means to properly dispose of them. with regular paints - if they scrape or peal, i can give then away to a student artist who would be happy to receive them. less money for better durability and almost as black, seems a better option.
I think I probably could have done a lightfast test with these as well as it took me so long to film (atleast a day between coats) but I didn’t actually think of that till the end. I’m not exactly sure what it’s primarily intended for, I really wanted to compare these paints but it wasn’t until I hit the art section filming a few weeks in, that I started looking at what people were doing with these paints. True there are some model painters but there’s a lot who seem to be just trying it and seeing what happens. To be fair the cheap acrylic really had few issues other than not being super dark. But I guess yeah acrylic does sit on top while watercolor embeds so there’s always the worry it’ll come off. I didn’t talk costs but at last look the black 3.0 is cheaper than the 4.0 and about the same as the Musou. It’s a bit more $$ than premium acrylic paint but in line with something that’s made in such small batches. If you get a chance in the future you should try it, its a fun experience ☺️💜
The website for Musou has reflectance graphs for their paint showing airbrushing it results in about a 40%~ reduction in reflected light. Given the only real reason to use these paints is to achieve the darkest result possible, it seems an odd choice to not go with or include airbrushing if you're trying to show and compare these paints. It may not be as accessible as brushing it on, but... it's not like it's inaccessible or too expensive or too uncommon for at home use.
Well to be fair I don’t own one, but also I wanted to do a test using a brush as that’s what a lot of traditional artists use to apply paint. Sure som people will play a piece with an airbrush but a lot more use these types of paints just for a splash of darkness thus the brush! I will do a v2 test video in the future with an airbrush tho, just to see how they respond ☺️
@@StuffBySunshine At least if people come into your stream and see you wearing a mask, you jokingly tell them that your getting ready for an apocalypse 😂
this was fantasticly informative...I already bought 150ml. of black4.0about 2 months ago. I wish I would of seen this video first. I would of not gotten it. the musou is by far the better black.... but you definitely turned me off to it with the odor problem. I had high expectations for this paint and planned on using it exactly how you did. all in all I don't think it's worth it. thank you very much for doing this and sorry you had to risk your health to do it.
So I’m going to do a follow up video for that soon. I’ve brought several versions of Musou over than last few months and some are really bad for the door and some Arnt weirdly. I’m also finding that if you let the Musou black paint age it smells less terrible. Not 100% certain if it becomes less black with the age tho🤷🏼♀️. We’ll test it (soonish) and find out☺️
What would be a better substrate to mix with musou? alcohol could be an alternate as it could hydrate more than distilled water could. Also would a primed and scuffed surface provide better adhesion while getting more outputs from the bottle?
Cheers for a brilliant review, you've earned yourself another sub! Despite your final summary, I will take my chances, live with the stench and order myself some Musou though. ;-)
Thankyou! Glad you enjoyed ☺️. I must admit while I love the 3.0 when I’m going for as black as possible i tend to more grab the musou myself. Its negatives aside it does do a good job!
It’s a velvet and I grade the shots of me differently to the shots of the paint. The paint I try and make as color accurate as possible but I try and make me look less tired so it’s graded😂
No worries 💜☺️. Unfortunately no, not as far as I know. The surface of these paints is a matte finish and what that means is if you add a coating to that, it’ll reflect light thus remove some of its “blackness”. I’m sure if your happy for it not to be quite as light absorbent then any spray would do☺️
it appears I'm a little late to the party, but this was fantastic. I wanted to buy some black 4.0 for some mini painting. However what's the fun of a miniature if i can't let ppl pick it up to get a closer look, it's for fun not a museum piece! I'm gonna try to get my hands on Musou black. it looks the best IMO. thanks
Thanks so very much for this comparison!! Which, if any, would you recommend to incorporate into a wall mural over latex paint? Don't have the funds to do a test! Thanks!
No worries! Honestly I have no idea, they are all such unforgiving paint with what they are going down over. I would suspect black 3.0 is the strongest BUT that’s just a guess. Could you prime the latex paint first? If that was the case they should all work exactly like you see here
I use 3.0 as a base coat on some of my warhammer minis. I mix in a lot of paint thinner so I can slide it around more easilly and then with a very fine brush do a light base coat on the minis.
@@StuffBySunshine usually it's not too bad. My hands shake a lot so I use very thin coats. The 3.0 hides a lot of minor details in the minis but it works well as a shader and to deepen camo patterns.
Apart from the noxious smell, I got the impression that the Musou black was designed to perform almost like a traditional Japanese calligraphy ink. If you've never seen how that ink is made, they craft it from pure black carbon soot. But judging from your tests, I'd be inclined to lean toward Black 3.0 for general purpose projects. And in case no one else mentions it, how did you manage to pick out a dress for this video which looks blacker on camera than any of the paints you were testing? I love that you dressed for the test, because the dress was the best.
Hmm interesting. Yes, I've seen the process of how they make those traditional black Japanese inks and its just mesmerizing. I'd love to get my hands on some one day! Haha I honestly didn't think my dress was going to be so black on camera! But lets say it was a happy accident?
Well to be honest 4.0 and Musou would likely scratch pretty quickly. You can’t really coat them In anything either else they add a shine to them and don’t look as black. Maybe try the 3.0? It’s the strongest of the lot. Apparently Musou also has a material? You hold grab that and coat your case in it as well. May not last forever but would be a fun project ☺️
Would be good to see all used in an airbrush.. From all the other viral vids I’ve watched airbrush seems to rid the painterly lines and musou being thinner is best for that as well
True it does, although I decided to use a brush as your supposed to be able to (you can obviously) and I don’t own an airbrush. In time I may buy one and do something large scale , but this will have to do for now☺️
Would love a comparison with nova color #109 Carbon Black ofc might not be blackest but how would it compare in every other respect to musou would be interesting especially for the money.
Interesting, I actually hadn’t heard of nova color carbon black. Looking at the site it doesn’t offer much in the way of light absorption data. It also states it has a slight sheen so it may not be that black. Certainly cheap enough tho! I’ll have to grab some and test it one of these days ☺️
Had you considered a grey or matt black primer? Because this is the first channel I've seen try all of this with a white primer, and I feel it's showing off the 'enhancement' nature of the 3.0 and 4.0 paints more!
I did consider it, but as I wanted to start with how these paints reacted on paper I stuck with white through the whole test. There’s a lot we can do to get better results with these, but this test wasn’t about making them as good as they possibly could be. It’s more putting them through a real world situation (ie using them in art ☺️)
Well to be fair, it’s not super popular. With a light absorption of 98.75 I assumed it wouldn’t be close to the 4.0 and Musou. Perhaps I’ll play with it in the future ☺️
That’s interesting, I found the 3.0 to be pretty robust but while culture hustle suggests both super base and black 3.0 as primers for the 4.0 I didn’t see a huge amount of difference using the 3.0 as a primer. I’ll have to grab some super base and check it out ☺️
😂 I’m just a smol RUclipsr. I’m get so excited when anyone watches my stuff I always try and reply☺️. Really? That sounds like some great stuff! Apparently the black 3 and black 4 ages once the bottle is open (a few people have mentioned this) does the super base last a while? Postage is so expensive it’s usually cheaper for me to buy a larger amount.
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You're talking about tiny differences in percentage light absorption, but it makes a very big difference in well lit conditions. Fighting over fractions of a percent and the quantum mechanics of how they absorb light makes the application method extremely important, and obviously that's airbrushing. Hopefully you can try that out too, great video.
I'd love to try airbrushing one day, particularly for tests like this! It seems like it would be much more consistent then the paint brush!
I can’t believe I watched paint dry for 40 minutes! 😂 Great video, was super interesting and now I want to paint everything ultra black!
To be fair every one of those paints is very fun to use!
6:00 6i 6:00 iiii9ii8o0o:00 😅 6:00 6:00 6:00 6:00 6:00 6:00 6:00 6:00 6:00 6:00 @@StuffBySunshine6:00 6:00 6:00 6:00 😅 6:00 6:00 6:00 6:00 6:00 oooo 6:00 6:00 6:00 6:00
I recently used black 3.0 on a painting I did on a wood panel. Love the finish when it dries - however - if you are planning to seal the painting (which you almost have to - I'll explain in a sec) the spray varnishes/finishes will almost ruin it's matte finish. It works better over the top of a sealed painting. Also, whatever you do - NEVER, and I mean never, let it drip, spit, trickle or fall onto an area where it will stand out. The stuff stains EVERYTHING. The instant it falls onto raw wood, canvas, etc., the material will be stained. I had three drips and had to end up using a dremel tool to 'carve' out the area where the paint fell = use it over something that has been sealed - it will help with clean up and cut down on staining issues. Thanks for the video - I can't wait to try the other paints.
Sound like I’m just lucky didnt spill any. This is unusual for me as I’m a messy painter 😂. Glad you enjoyed!
So, I should apply Mod Pudge as first layer, let it dry, then apply black paint over?
musou looks like the clear winner here.
Musou smells like the clear winner here 😂
Except that I, for one, would not be willing to put up with the fumes she states come with using it. I don't care how black it is if I can't use it.
@@MrsRen there are no fumes. It’s just paint. I have all these paints they don’t smell any worse either. In fact there’s actually information MSDS for musou black and no information for culture hustle paints (I’m sure they’re fine they just don’t have them)
@@MrsRen i have musou black and used for spraying as well as brush work ...what smell ?
little to none and what i can smell is not a horendous smell as she portrays
@@tafrog5552 Both of you are ignoring the fact that people have different noses and sensitivity to smells. Just because you don't smell something doesn't mean others won't.
what an underrated channel! the production looked high budget so i thought this was a 100k ish channel :O
Feel free to invite your friends 😂. Thankyou for the compliment tho ☺️
Have you tried adding just a tad of water to the Black 4.0? It decreases the tackiness and improves coverage and leveling. Comparing 3.0 with 4.0 when their viscosities have been matched shows 4.0 to be less reflective in my test.
Interesting! I haven’t, I was going to do some research to work out how I could thin it enough to use in an airbrush. So you’re using just straight tap water not distilled?
@@StuffBySunshine Yes, straight tap water. Just as with regular acrylic paint, you can thin with up to about 35% water without destroying the ability of the paint to form a film with good integrity. To dilute the pigment or decrease the opacity further, it’s generally best to use a medium (matte or gloss). But because 4.0 is more matte than matte medium, the reflectivity would actually increase. So water is the ticket for improving the wettability of both the paper and the brush (dampen both, just as you would with watercolor) and for improving leveling (and hence blackness!).
Distilled water would be fine, too.
I agree I have 2 and 3 and use water to make them both more workable and its fine. Also 2 works much like a regular acrylic and I saw a CH video suggesting priming with 2 - which takes well and then paint the 3 after. This might also apply to 4 but I watched the video before its release.
@@StuffBySunshine Isopropyl alcohol works well for this. It doesn't dilute the pigment and it dries faster. The only thing to watch out for is using too much alcohol if you are doing thick layers. It will dry so fast the paint can crack. I learned most of this from other graffiti artists who often thin acrylics for use in mops and markers. It also helps if they want drips in their tag. Wetting the paint lets it go on to the surface smoother and that really helps with matte colors.
This video was more interesting than I originally thought it would be. I think you also did a really good job on the last test. Must have been really hard to find a way to integrate those blacks into your “normal” works…
Geo! 😂 you may have seen in stream the three or four painting styles I tried before selling on this one. Everything else was just too blobby and dominant.
I was actually considering doing a black and white portrait again but wanted to add some color.
Really glad you liked it! I suspect this video will be the one I’ve put the most effort into but will get the lowest views 😂
By far the best test/review I have seen on those product, thanks for the work 😃
Thankyou and no worries! I tried to make it as comprehensive as possible to a point I figured I was boring people ☺️. Thanks for watching paint dry with me!
I've been using Black 3.0 for a few years in home cinemas for touching up reflective items such as visible screws heads that just can't be physically hidden. It's superb and sensible money.
True! Although I’m hearing report that over time it looses a bit of its matte color. Ie fresh black 3.0 seems to be darker from the pot than older aged paint
Fantastic video, brilliant production quality. Informative as hell. I’m going to be painting a balrog miniature on my channel with the blackest paint I can. I’ll be sure to credit you in my research. 🤘
Thankyou! Glad you liked it.
Oh nice! Are you going to use multiple blacks to get darker and darker shadows or just an ultra black for all the darks? I’ll have to have a hunt for the video when it comes out ☺️
@@StuffBySunshine I think I’ll be airbrushing just the one black so he’s pure shadows as he is in the books description. 🙂
It’d be interesting to see, I’m finding using ultra blacks work best when combined with normal blacks. The eye recognises the normal black as “black” and the ultra blacks as a deeper darker blacker black. It’s great for contrast. Good luck with your Balrog!
@@StuffBySunshine Interesting, I shall have to experiment!
I have never watched an Art / Paint review video in my life but I managed to watch all 38 minutes, great video! 😊
38 minutes of watching paint dry😂! Glad you enjoyed your first art review video ☺️💜
Now that I know the pros and cons. I'm going with black 3.0. My eldest son gave permission for me to paint murals in his room and I have been taking my brain for the ceiling until about a week or so ago. Doing a glow in the dark galaxy sky on the ceiling and I think black 3.0 would be perfect to make the glowing POP💥💥🌟✨✨💥. Can't wait to get started now thanks for the review.
No worries! Glad it’s helped! That’s a great idea for an ultra black. Are you going to use lesser blacks for star clouds and the ultra for the void? Or just all black 3.0?
When looking at all of them from above in regular room conditions,it's definetly the Musou black that looks the darkest.
The light on each of these definitely makes a huge difference to how black they are! 😊
Puzzles me, that i was instructed to use 3 coats and a hair dryer between every layer of black 3.0 🤔 Surely this make all of the paints better yet? Very profesionally made testing, the facemask really showed how dedicated you are 👌
That’s interesting! I usually use a hair dryer on water floor but it effects the way it drys quite substantially so I intentionally decided to not use one on the blacks for that reason. I didn’t or hadn’t read that black 3.0 suggested it, it could be that using the heat and the quick dry makes the particles stand vertical giving us more of a velvet finish? I’ll have to experiment and see.
Thankyou, glad you enjoyed ☺️💜
@@StuffBySunshine I was informed THICKERERerer And SSLLLLOOOOooooWWwwEEsstt Drying It.. Great JOB!!
This is a really fascinating subject, and you did a great job presenting it. Glad you're back, and thanks for taking the time to put these together!
Thankyou! I honestly didn’t expect to do so much (or so long) for this video but they are just such interesting paints.💜🎨!
This was a really fantastic and thorough review of the paints and certainly saved me some money ;). I have used the Musuo Black several times (mainly to eliminate any stray reflections from light barriers in photography) and I have a bottle on my desk now. I have never noticed any real odor from the paint. But to be fair I also have some Black 3.0 (my comparison of the two pretty well matched yours) and I never noticed a coffee smell. I swear I do have a sense of smell.
Really? That’s so strange? I had a headache for days. Did your smell when you initially opened it? I’m wondering if it’s something that burns off after a while.
Yes my black 3.0 is the same now, no smell. Apparently it ages tho and becomes less black as time goes on so I’m assuming the smell is an indicator of that
@@StuffBySunshine No my bottle never had any real odor and a year later it's still just as black.
After watching your video I saw another of a guy who painted his SUV with Musuo Black. He never mentioned a smell or wore protective gear.
I wonder if you got an off bottle?
Maybe, I’d been warned about it before I got it by other artists. I’m wondering if there is a difference between the Asian branded Musou and the English? Mine still smells like death in a jar so perhaps they have difference based upon where they are intended for?
@@StuffBySunshine Mine is the English branded bottle. Perhaps that's the difference? The video of the guy painting his car is called "The World’s Blackest Car." He goes through maybe a dozen or so bottles and doesn't mention odor.
You did such an incredible job putting this video together! I love how you did the comparisons, and how much you describe everything about the process from how easily they went on to how they did being scraped off! I always just assumed that these paints were a viable alternative to vantablack, but apparently they are nowhere near it, unfortunately.
Thankyou! I’d love to get some vantablack to compare them to. I’m always curious how they film the vantablack as there are so many camera tricks to make black look blacker. Vanta black may in reality actually not be that black🤔.
Excellent display of performance and testing of these paints, very helpful in making a purchasing decision, thanks Sunshine!
Thankyou! Glad it helped you ☺️💜
Thank you so much. This is the best comparative test I have seen for these paints in practical applications.
No worries glad you’ve enjoyed and hope it’s helped you ☺️💜
this was super informing. I've been researching what paint to cover a giant concrete thumb with and I originally was going to go with black 4.0. The musou performed way better I'm so glad i saw this before I went ahead with the project!
Glad it helped ☺️. Good luck on your thumb!💜
Wow, I have no need of your other videos (not my stuff) but damn girl, Your review of those paints is deep, well thought and great connected into single video that I watch from left to right. Great job! Consider exploring other topic like those paints as your review it top ! I will sub and see what future brings.
Thankyou very much! Glad you enjoyed ☺️
video quality is that of a million subscriber channel. well done. you deserve more subscribers.
Thankyou! Haha i do my best :)
In your tests, you even called out Musou being thinner than 4.0. I had issues with the Black 3.0 and Black 4.0 when I first used them, too. However, if you thin it down with water, it ends up being more like Musou and is easier to work with (hence why you think an airbrush might be better).
I think if I ever did a project with 4.0 I’d look to use an airbrush and then thin it as well for that. I’ve since used the Musou in my gold test video (it’ll be out one day) primarily just because it’s paint and go ie I don’t have to do anything special like the black 4.0. There’s a certain charm to just grabbing a paint and going😂
@@StuffBySunshine This is true. The type of acrylic painting I do generally requires me to mix my paints anyway, so it's not an extra step. I do agree, though, that the Musou did appear blacker in your video.
Wow, thank you so much for that comprehensive test you put a ton work into that! Definitely liked and subscribed!!
Thankyou! That one did take a while 😂. It seems to be mostly artists who watch my stuff, so gotta make sure it’s comprehensive enough they can make there own minds up ☺️
This video is exceptionally well done! I feel very well informed about all these paints! Great job!
Thankyou! I’m glad you weren’t frightened off by the length 😂
First I loved this video I actually subscribed quickly in to it Ty and very entertaining.
Second. I have used black 3.0 and had very good results that last for years on canvas. One thing I suggest you try is thinning it down and do multiple thin coats with even a sponge brush to reduce brush marks.
As these are able to be thinned extensively for airbrush they work were well thin. Every layer seems darker than before.
I do have airbrushes now but oddly have not used the 3.0 ( I guess I will give that a try soon)
Thankyou! Glad you enjoyed ☺️.
Yes I’ve heard that, and apparently the black 4.0 is a lot more usable when doing so. I wanted to keep the black things as consistent as possible with this test and just followed the instructions on the bottle .
One of these days I’ll get an airbrush and compare them all again using a thin layers, I think they will all most likely be much darker ☺️💜
Fantastic video. Plus it's great to find more Aussie creative RUclipsrs. Thank you for your hard work. I have Black 3.0 and had been doing some tests myself, like comparing various blacks I have, putting various matt varnishes over blacks to compare (which makes Black 3.0 look terrible) and trying crackle paint over the top of it (which just shrinks and peels itself right off). Great to find your channel and I do hope you continue to do more experimental stuff like this.
Thankyou! I think if you manage to find something you can coat on any of these specialty blacks and retain the light absorption that would be very really interesting. I haven’t heard of anything unfortunately.
I’ve been slowly (slowly as work keeps getting in the way😂) making my way through everything I think that interesting so hopefully I’ll be able to get some more vids out soon ☺️💜
Not a painter but I love the testing set-up and feel you did a great job showcasing the differences. Great work!
Thank you very much! Glad you enjoyed ☺️💜
Thanks for taking the time to make this video! Really appreciated.
My pleasure! Glad you enjoyed ☺️💜
A fantastic review, super-thorough and really gives us a good idea of what the paints are like to use. Thanks!
No worries at all, glad it helped ☺️
Aaaand the winner is... Your outfit!
😂💜
Thanks for the comparison. Great stuff!
Thanks for watching!
Thank u for this professional test! I am a scientist and u worked like one to find the most brutal colour which is blacker than the blackest black on the market....Metal🤘 So all hail to Musou 🙌
Glad you enjoyed! This did take a ton of time so I’m glad people are enjoying it 💜☺️
@@StuffBySunshine I appreciate it! This colours are very expensive and U are a professional artist. If I would test these I would ask myself....do I use the wrong surface, brush or technique....because on the paper of refractory index measures Black 4.0 should be the darkest. But the thing is how U measure. So what U did was a reality check. And this is easier said than done because U need to erase all of your own expectations. I really enjoyed it!
Really interesting video, thank you for your hardwork and time
My pleasure!
I've used the Musou Black several times and have found it to be great. It is sensitive to touch but looks great. As for the smell, it doesn't seem to be any more offensive that any other acrylic paint. I've used it mostly on 3d printed objects and have applied it with an air brush as well as using a soft brush. Both methods have given fantastic results.
I still have one of the first batches of Black 2.0 from Stuart Semple. I've heard 3.0 and 4.0 are blacker, but for the very rare occasions I paint something... why? Black 2.0 was already way blacker than any other black paint, black 3.0 is even blacker. I feel like the only selling point of Musou is bragging rights that it is blacker than Black 3.0. Musou makes you physically sick, and you can't use it in a studio without protective equipment, and it's not THAT much blacker than Semple's paints. Certainly not noticeably so unless you have samples directly next to each other, and I feel like that's really the only time Musou would really make a difference and wouldn't be worth exposure to the fumes. Musou is blacker, but Semple's paints are usable without killing yourself on fumes.
Have you found the black 2.0 has gotten less black as times gone on? I’ve heard the 3 and I’m assuming 4 ages and becomes a lighter color as time goes on.
This is pretty fantastic. Breaking the video up was very helpful.
Glad you liked it!☺️💜
Thank you very much for this very complete test.
It confirms my test on the black 3.0 which is more a dark grey.
Indeed I do artprints with sublimation and the black I get with sublimation is way blacker than the 3.0.
However, sublimation printings are not as flat.
I am a little bit obsessed with black color because I want my images to float in the air
No worries at all! Glad you enjoyed it.
Have you done any tests to see how much blacker the sublimation ink is to acrylic paints?
I’m assuming you’re using a machine so it would likely be putting down a very even coat.
In think I’ll borrow an airbrush just for my own curiosity and see how back these paints are vs the brush method. Black that looks like holes in space is the ultimate goal!💜
Hi, well, sublimation is a printing technique that consists of sublimating an ink onto a specific plate (Chromaluxe) at high temperature. The result is extremely high contrast and deep blacks.
However, the finish remains glossy or satin, and you don't get the flatness of the paints you've tested.
I'll try to make a video that I'll invite you to watch.@@StuffBySunshine
id say the way these paints were showcased was more thorough than most videos i find, the performance of each paint was quite interesting, especially when they were overexposed to the studio light. musou still reigns supreme as the "blackest black" the shade is so...black? idk, i just rly like it compared to blck 4.0. musou black looks the closest to form a "2d" effect. well done!
Yeah it does (musou gives the best result that is), I think I’ll get myself an airbrush because I just expected so much more from Black 4.0 and it want there. Future videos!
I began using mosou black to black out the background of my marker b/w illustrations.. it’s so much darker and nicer than wasting a copic marker or similar to do this.. also I have no idea what you mean about needing ppe with mosou black.. it doesn’t smell bad at all, just smells like a faint oil paint like smell if anything.. I do my painting while shut in in my bedroom, and had zero complaints, no headaches, no bad smell, infact it probably smells less than some of the alcohol markers I have.
Awesome tests! Thank you! This is not what I expected.
Glad it helped!
Great video and great production. +1 sub!
Thankyou glad you enjoyed!
I would have added some isopropyl alcohol to the 4.0. I think it would lay down better, flatter, and darker if you did.
I have a question can you use any of these blackest black paints black 3.0-4.0 or musou on plastics and is there any way to protect that paint layer once it’s dry from rubbing off on your fingers or keep dirt sweat water etc basically anything that can damage the paint layer from destroying the paint layer like using lacquer or varnish or. Basically I’m asking is there any way to keep the paint layer of these blackest black paints from coming off once dry. Basically protecting it for a long time
Hi! Yes they will all work on plastics as long as you prime it. As to your second question, I really doubt it. Any layer over the top will add reflection thus they won’t appear as dark.
I’ve tended to use them in places that have no interaction with elements, ie people don’t touch them ☺️
Yes, on 3D PLA models it does adhere even without primer, but it must be airbrushed in thin layers. I do tend to use a primer, usually grey or black, to be sure it will stick. On less detailed objects such as a pyramid, a light sanding of the plastic works too.
I am reluctant to try Musou, as I worry about the scent of it, but I may have to. I have been wanting to do a dramatic, highly contrasting art piece with a black background and heavily pigmented focal subject but have been reluctant to use my Black. Yes, it's not 2, 3, or 4. It's Semple's OG Black. It's nice but it dries quite 'chalky' looking and while it does absorb light, it's got an almost grey appearance to it when light hits it. I am a huge fan of Japanese-made art and stationary supplies however and if Musou is the most pitch-black (per say), I may have to invest in it eventually to try.
Sounds like an awesome project!
Yeah in terms of the light absorption I definitely think musou would work well. If it helps, it doesn’t continue to smell once it’s dried!
25:30 Cos I'm such a child, I couldn't help but giggle! 🙄😂
Amazingly thorough testing! Thank you!
Thank you!☺️
I’m making my very first sculpture and I needed the blackest paint thank you so much for this video it helped soooooo much
Glad I could help!
Once you go Musou Black, you can never go back! Thanks, good review
I absolutely love this review so much. It's so in depth and has given me all the info I need! But as a side note girl I hope you fixed that squeaking going on in the video because it's like nails down a chalk board 😭
So glad you got something from it 💜.
And apologies for the noise, I think your hearing two small gentleman called Percy and Cecil. Alas screaming for attention and chirping just to be little buggers is the lot of cockatiels🙃. I’m a few vids on from this one and they are still a big problem, I think I’m going to have to include them in the videos just to keep em happy tbh
I admire efforts, money & time you put in this test and I appreciate a lot you did it with such dedication and rigor! 👏🏼👏🏼
very interesting - just want to mention some water based paints take a week to cure for optimum performance - also blackboard paint demands breaking in prior to use - the whole surface needs to chalked
Interesting! I didn’t know that re the blackboard paint. I would love love LOVE to say I didn’t leave these paints for a week due to me getting these videos out so regularly, but I’m so slow making these I think the actual tests sat for atleast 2 weeks before I filmed them 😂
Funny! Just searched for information on how to make Musou Black more durable and found this video. When playing it, I realized I know this person! Great video, keep up the good work, Sunshine!
could i potentially use this to dye fabrics? faux fur, cortton, ect
i want to have the blackest black cloak around
that is at least what my solution is until a more proper fabric is manufactured
I don’t think so, the way it drys it’d likely just powder away. I do think Musou has a range of material tho, which may be exactly what you want ☺️
I've been working with all three of them for a little while now. I personally use them interchangeably depending on the project. An you'll have a better time painting Black 3.0/4.0. by thinning it with some water, sure it will need more coats but you'll have more control. For spray painting black 3.0 an 4.0 (though thinned) and Musou Black for painting detail work. But admittedly I would use Musou Black more if it didn't just stink so so badly, the smell can allmost cling to things.
Naw, my personal gripe is trying to find a matte sealant that won't screw with its effect.
I haven't even been able to test out Culture Hustles own Matte Coat they made for it *because they seemingly rarely ever restock.*
Different people are sensitive to different smells. I've painted things with Musou black, and I didn't even notice a smell. I opened it up after watching this video, and yeah, there is a smell, but to me it's not offensive and I had to put my nose practically in the bottle to smell it. For me, a respirator is definitely not necessary. I do have one just like yours, but really only break it out for truly obnoxious products like polyester casting resin, most epoxy glues (especially the plastic repair types), and 3D resin printer resin.
Interestingly I used it yesterday to paint the eyes of a golden skull. It’s much much better than when I first opened it. I’m wondering if wherever they use as a thinner “burns off” over time. When I originally used it my friend who was here had headaches for ages so yeah it was bad, tho not so anymore 🤔
@@StuffBySunshine You may also have gotten unlucky, and had a bottle that got overheated in shipping. Musou Black's MSDS describes it as having only stable polymers with a "slight acrylic odor", but if you heat acrylic paint, the polymers can break down into acrylate monomers which have a nasty, acrid odor that are detectibly offensive even at less than 1 part per million.
Sunshine this was eye opening. You did an excellent job and get an airbrush…seriously…it will open interesting doors.
Thankyou! Haha a few people have mentioned I need an airbrush, I’ll put it on the future Wishlist ☺️
I know this video has been out for a while but I wanted to make sure people are aware of this The English branded pots of the Musou black do not smell at all. I purchased two of them from Amazon before I saw this video and I've used it at least four or five different times now. One pot is almost completely empty. There was no smell whatsoever.
Hello! My second and third lot of this paint smelled exactly the same. But they are the Japanese version. I’ll make a video one of these days where we get pots from everywhere possible and test them for smell💜
The best comparison. Now try it in all kinds of fabric. I would love to see it.
Apparently Musou actually has black fabric available, so I may do that one day 😂
I think I heard from another artist that for the best performance Black 4.0 should be airbrushed. Because of the chalky nature the pigment sticks better and the particles actually "stand up" to absorb more light, if that makes sense.
Yes it does actually, if you look really close at the musou that’s what’s happening to make it more light absorbent. I think all of them would be much darker if we used an airbrush ☺️
I regret that I am only able to give one "thumbs up" on this masterpiece! It must have taken several days to produce. Thanks much for this valuable information!
Glad you enjoyed it! Haha I’m so slow in making these things it may have taken slightly longer😂
Hi, I'm from Brazil, I was looking for some reviews to buy and your video was awesome Tks!
Glad it was helpful!
Hello sunshine, 😇return to start of experiment. To harden the Musou black at the scratch, you must add MAT catalyst for polyester resin (this is the composition of the Musou black)
I haven't tried 3.0; I have enough experimentation to do with Musou for the moment.
On wood or paper, the backgrounds must be prepared with special resin primer paints tinted black or MAT black.
A very expensive addition of products, but for what I am going to do with it it is worth the cost. Have a nice day. I live in France, so you will have to look online for catalyst mat in your country 🙃
Thankyou for that! I assumed there was some type of catalyst in the Musou based upon the smell but wasn't sure what to look. Searching for Polyester resin catalyst it comes straight up. I'll have to try some and see how it effects the paint 💜
Why didn't you thin out the black 4.0? I really feel like you didn't give the black 4.0 what it needs to really shine. Airbrushing and thinning it out
Predominantly because it didn’t specify to do that. I wanted to try them all exactly as they came and it’s supposed to be a paint you can use without thinning. I think all three paints would have worked far better with thinning and airbrushing multiple thin layers but that’s not how many artists plan on using them, thus this test 💜
Thank you I wanted to know which was the blackest but not enough to pay for the Culture Hustle paints. Also feel I should say, I haven't noticed a smell with my Musou maybe it changes from jar to jar.
Thankyou! I’m thinking about buying a heap of Musou black from as many distributors as I can and doing a smell comparison. So many people say it doesn’t small I’m so curious to see if it’s a thinner used in one specific version
Fantastic test. I was wondering what the difference between 3.0 and 4.0 was as I have a project using sculptures that will be lightly handled, so it needs to be fairly hard-wearing.
Looking at this, from the difference in price, the application problems and durability, along with little noticeable difference in the blackness, I will be going with 3.0, (applied by airbrush).
I had not heard of the Musou before, but I have read elsewhere it has a habit of flaking and falling off after a few weeks. Along with the vile smell, I think I will avoid that.
Also worth noting, there is also a Black 2.0, which is considerably cheaper, so I might look at priming a few coats of that before top coating with Black 3.0
Thanks for that! It’s been a while since I’ve used the paints and so far nothing has fallen off Jeff (the skull) but the 4.0 and Musou still feel delicate so the flaking may be a thing.
Good luck with your project ☺️💜!
I was looking for a comparative review of the ultrablack pigments, not for artistic application but for telescope internals coating and I found it. My telescope tube has an internal "black" that looks like a washed gray compared to these pigments.
Glad it could help! I’d make sure no matter which one you use you let it fully gas out before you put your scope back together. That way there’s no chance it’ll damage your optics ☺️
I can appreciate the effort of picking a black dress
😂 thankyou! Had to be an ultimate black dress as well ☺️
Thank you for doing these comparison tests (other channels just evaluate one at a time) - Very very useful indeed!. Note: Black Musou is bloody expensive at the moment and Black 3.0 is more reasonable - people are buying the most recent cos they think it is the best. I'm off to buy 3.0 cos I'm cheap and it does not stick . All the best from the UK!
Haha I think that’s a great idea, I think the 3.0 turned out to be my preference too 😊
The 3.0 has three stripes, while the 4.0 lines are in the shape of a 4. Pretty cool and pretty smart design if you ask me.
That's been an issue I've had with expensive paints in the past, amazing effects but durability issues. i prefer to sacrifice light fastness for durability as my work is archived and not exposed to daylight.
I know this is intended as a model paint, however i see the issue with durability is even more a factor, as to protect the paint you would have to apply a clear protective coating, which most likely effects the blackness.
It seems to me to be a novelty for people with an expertise in modeling and crafting, with the disposable income.
a lot of the issues you demonstrated are reasons I gave up acrylics for water colors. apart form my love for water colors as an expressive medium.
If I did pick up acrylic paints again, I feel my experience would be, that I would purchased them as a novelty, hold onto to them because they were expensive, then after a couple of years, either try to gave them away to a serious crafts person, or sought means to properly dispose of them.
with regular paints - if they scrape or peal, i can give then away to a student artist who would be happy to receive them.
less money for better durability and almost as black, seems a better option.
I think I probably could have done a lightfast test with these as well as it took me so long to film (atleast a day between coats) but I didn’t actually think of that till the end.
I’m not exactly sure what it’s primarily intended for, I really wanted to compare these paints but it wasn’t until I hit the art section filming a few weeks in, that I started looking at what people were doing with these paints. True there are some model painters but there’s a lot who seem to be just trying it and seeing what happens.
To be fair the cheap acrylic really had few issues other than not being super dark. But I guess yeah acrylic does sit on top while watercolor embeds so there’s always the worry it’ll come off.
I didn’t talk costs but at last look the black 3.0 is cheaper than the 4.0 and about the same as the Musou. It’s a bit more $$ than premium acrylic paint but in line with something that’s made in such small batches.
If you get a chance in the future you should try it, its a fun experience ☺️💜
@@StuffBySunshine not my jam.
Gunna buy you some for your birthday 💜😝. Haha all good mate I’m not gunna be a paint pusher☺️
The website for Musou has reflectance graphs for their paint showing airbrushing it results in about a 40%~ reduction in reflected light.
Given the only real reason to use these paints is to achieve the darkest result possible, it seems an odd choice to not go with or include airbrushing if you're trying to show and compare these paints. It may not be as accessible as brushing it on, but... it's not like it's inaccessible or too expensive or too uncommon for at home use.
Well to be fair I don’t own one, but also I wanted to do a test using a brush as that’s what a lot of traditional artists use to apply paint. Sure som people will play a piece with an airbrush but a lot more use these types of paints just for a splash of darkness thus the brush!
I will do a v2 test video in the future with an airbrush tho, just to see how they respond ☺️
I didn’t know that the Darkest Blacks paints existed 😮 Also Cecil stay way from the Acrylic paint 😂
I’m not 100% sure how we’re going to test them on stream 😂 may have to do a full stream in my face mask !
@@StuffBySunshine At least if people come into your stream and see you wearing a mask, you jokingly tell them that your getting ready for an apocalypse 😂
Could be a whole vibe! Apocalypse chic!
@@StuffBySunshine I can totally see that 😂
this was fantasticly informative...I already bought 150ml. of black4.0about 2 months ago. I wish I would of seen this video first. I would of not gotten it. the musou is by far the better black.... but you definitely turned me off to it with the odor problem. I had high expectations for this paint and planned on using it exactly how you did. all in all I don't think it's worth it. thank you very much for doing this and sorry you had to risk your health to do it.
So I’m going to do a follow up video for that soon. I’ve brought several versions of Musou over than last few months and some are really bad for the door and some Arnt weirdly. I’m also finding that if you let the Musou black paint age it smells less terrible. Not 100% certain if it becomes less black with the age tho🤷🏼♀️. We’ll test it (soonish) and find out☺️
What would be a better substrate to mix with musou? alcohol could be an alternate as it could hydrate more than distilled water could. Also would a primed and scuffed surface provide better adhesion while getting more outputs from the bottle?
Cheers for a brilliant review, you've earned yourself another sub!
Despite your final summary, I will take my chances, live with the stench and order myself some Musou though. ;-)
Thankyou! Glad you enjoyed ☺️.
I must admit while I love the 3.0 when I’m going for as black as possible i tend to more grab the musou myself. Its negatives aside it does do a good job!
Interesting that at 12:50, your dress appears on camera darker than any of the paints you've applied to the paper.
It’s a velvet and I grade the shots of me differently to the shots of the paint. The paint I try and make as color accurate as possible but I try and make me look less tired so it’s graded😂
Great review, thank you!
Thank you for this Video☺️👍🏻
Is there a varnish/finish/firnis for musou black to protect the surface?
No worries 💜☺️. Unfortunately no, not as far as I know. The surface of these paints is a matte finish and what that means is if you add a coating to that, it’ll reflect light thus remove some of its “blackness”. I’m sure if your happy for it not to be quite as light absorbent then any spray would do☺️
it appears I'm a little late to the party, but this was fantastic. I wanted to buy some black 4.0 for some mini painting. However what's the fun of a miniature if i can't let ppl pick it up to get a closer look, it's for fun not a museum piece! I'm gonna try to get my hands on Musou black. it looks the best IMO. thanks
No worries at all and never too late! Glad it’s helped make your decision ☺️💜
I just got given Black 4.0. I'm going to use it for a Warhammer 40k miniature. A Necron coming out of the void of a pocket dimension.
Awesome choice! I was considering using all the blacks for something similar. Black upon black should look very cool ☺️
Thanks so very much for this comparison!! Which, if any, would you recommend to incorporate into a wall mural over latex paint? Don't have the funds to do a test! Thanks!
No worries! Honestly I have no idea, they are all such unforgiving paint with what they are going down over. I would suspect black 3.0 is the strongest BUT that’s just a guess. Could you prime the latex paint first? If that was the case they should all work exactly like you see here
I agree. The Misou immediately stands out as blacker.
I use 3.0 as a base coat on some of my warhammer minis. I mix in a lot of paint thinner so I can slide it around more easilly and then with a very fine brush do a light base coat on the minis.
Oh that’s a great idea! Do you find it’s still easy enough to apply the other paint on top?
@@StuffBySunshine usually it's not too bad. My hands shake a lot so I use very thin coats. The 3.0 hides a lot of minor details in the minis but it works well as a shader and to deepen camo patterns.
Apart from the noxious smell, I got the impression that the Musou black was designed to perform almost like a traditional Japanese calligraphy ink. If you've never seen how that ink is made, they craft it from pure black carbon soot. But judging from your tests, I'd be inclined to lean toward Black 3.0 for general purpose projects.
And in case no one else mentions it, how did you manage to pick out a dress for this video which looks blacker on camera than any of the paints you were testing? I love that you dressed for the test, because the dress was the best.
Hmm interesting. Yes, I've seen the process of how they make those traditional black Japanese inks and its just mesmerizing. I'd love to get my hands on some one day!
Haha I honestly didn't think my dress was going to be so black on camera! But lets say it was a happy accident?
I want to paint my phone case in this color for daily use. Any advice you could give? 😊
Well to be honest 4.0 and Musou would likely scratch pretty quickly. You can’t really coat them In anything either else they add a shine to them and don’t look as black. Maybe try the 3.0? It’s the strongest of the lot.
Apparently Musou also has a material? You hold grab that and coat your case in it as well. May not last forever but would be a fun project ☺️
@@StuffBySunshine Thank you for the advice 😀
What sort of primer did you use, acrylic or enamel? It seemed very shiny. Also, be careful with mdf, it's full of formaldehyde and arsenic
Matte acrylic, though as it comes out of a can it’s a bit shiny due to the light unfortunately. Will do ☺️
Would be good to see all used in an airbrush.. From all the other viral vids I’ve watched airbrush seems to rid the painterly lines and musou being thinner is best for that as well
True it does, although I decided to use a brush as your supposed to be able to (you can obviously) and I don’t own an airbrush. In time I may buy one and do something large scale , but this will have to do for now☺️
How well do you think musou would work on fabric?
Nice testing! I wonder what they put in that Musou
Were you able to seal Jeff in any way so that the paint did not flake or crumb off? If so, do you have any pictures or tips?
No I haven’t tried yet. I any in the future but really haven’t had any thought as to what I’d use to do so
Not sure you know what opaque means. You appear to be using it to describe the gaps, or see through areas of the paint. Maybe I’m misunderstanding?
black 4.0 needs to be sprayed, so the flakes are dry when they hit
why has this channel not like 300.000 subs?
Very informative!
Would love a comparison with nova color #109 Carbon Black ofc might not be blackest but how would it compare in every other respect to musou would be interesting especially for the money.
Interesting, I actually hadn’t heard of nova color carbon black. Looking at the site it doesn’t offer much in the way of light absorption data. It also states it has a slight sheen so it may not be that black. Certainly cheap enough tho! I’ll have to grab some and test it one of these days ☺️
Had you considered a grey or matt black primer? Because this is the first channel I've seen try all of this with a white primer, and I feel it's showing off the 'enhancement' nature of the 3.0 and 4.0 paints more!
I did consider it, but as I wanted to start with how these paints reacted on paper I stuck with white through the whole test. There’s a lot we can do to get better results with these, but this test wasn’t about making them as good as they possibly could be. It’s more putting them through a real world situation (ie using them in art ☺️)
What about Singularity Black?
Well to be fair, it’s not super popular. With a light absorption of 98.75 I assumed it wouldn’t be close to the 4.0 and Musou. Perhaps I’ll play with it in the future ☺️
think it's worth noting that Black 3.0 and 4.0 are WAY easier to use over superbase (also my fave primer) also made by culture hustle.
That’s interesting, I found the 3.0 to be pretty robust but while culture hustle suggests both super base and black 3.0 as primers for the 4.0 I didn’t see a huge amount of difference using the 3.0 as a primer.
I’ll have to grab some super base and check it out ☺️
@@StuffBySunshine OH hi hello! :D didn't expect to see a reply haha.
Yeah superbase is m a g i c stuff
😂 I’m just a smol RUclipsr. I’m get so excited when anyone watches my stuff I always try and reply☺️.
Really? That sounds like some great stuff! Apparently the black 3 and black 4 ages once the bottle is open (a few people have mentioned this) does the super base last a while? Postage is so expensive it’s usually cheaper for me to buy a larger amount.
I might use musou for panel lining on model kits I build. Hopefully, it looks good.
That sounds like it would look amazing!