Paint Pouring Calculator
Calculate how much acrylic paint and pouring medium you need for your canvas.
Covers dirty pour, flip cup, and swipe techniques.
Acrylic paint pouring (also called fluid art) requires precise mixing of paint, pouring medium, water, and sometimes silicone oil to achieve the right consistency and cell formation. Getting ratios wrong leads to cracking, muddy colors, or colors that sink instead of float.
Base consistency formula: Optimal pour consistency ≈ warm honey at room temperature The technical target is a viscosity of approximately 400–800 centipoise (cP) — thin enough to flow slowly but not watery.
Standard mixing ratio (by volume): Paint : Pouring Medium = 1 : 1.5 to 1 : 2 Then add 10–20% water by total volume to thin further.
Coverage formula: Paint Volume (mL) = Canvas Area (cm²) × Coverage Depth (cm) For a standard flood pour on a flat surface: use 0.08–0.12 cm depth (0.8–1.2 mm).
Canvas area examples:
- 20 × 20 cm = 400 cm² → ~48 mL total mixed paint
- 30 × 40 cm = 1,200 cm² → ~120–144 mL total mixed paint
- 40 × 60 cm = 2,400 cm² → ~240 mL total
Color mixing for cells:
- Heavy pigments (blacks, whites, phthalos) sink → best as base layers
- Light pigments (yellows, titaniums) float → use on top
- Silicone oil ratio for cells: 1–3 drops per 30 mL of mixed paint. More silicone = larger, fewer cells.
Worked example: Painting a 30 × 40 cm canvas using 4 colors: Total mix volume needed = 1,200 × 0.10 = 120 mL Per color: 120 / 4 = 30 mL each Each 30 mL portion: 12 mL paint + 18 mL pouring medium + 3 mL water Add 2 drops silicone oil per color for cell formation.
Drying time: 24–72 hours flat. Full cure: 7–14 days before sealing with varnish.