Ghost Flame Tutorial (Part 1)

Most ghost flames fail before the flames are ever painted.

In this video, I break down why ghost flames work—and why they don’t—based on your paint choices, basecoat, and how light interacts with the surface. If your ghost flames disappear when they shouldn’t… or show up when they shouldn’t… this is where the problem actually starts.

We’re not painting flames yet. We’re fixing the decisions that determine whether they work at all.

What you’ll learn:
What a ghosted image actually is (and why it depends on viewing angle)
Why pearl, metallic, and solid colors behave completely differently
Why tri-coat systems produce stronger ghost effects
The common setup mistakes that kill the effect before you ever spray flames

Materials & Equipment Used (Many of these have been discontinued - links to alternate colors are in the video):

Iwata LPH-80 Mini Spray Gun
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Midnight Metallic Blue
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Nightmare Blue II
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4030 Balancing Clear
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4020 Automotive Reducer
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Createx Technical Data Sheets
creatextech.com/

Disclaimer: I am not sponsored by or affiliated with any of the products mentioned. I use what works. Some links may be affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.

If you’ve struggled with ghost flames not showing up the way you expected, the issue usually isn’t your technique—it’s the decisions made before you ever pick up the airbrush.

00:00 Most Ghost Flames Fail Here
00:27 Why They Appear (and Disappear)
01:48 The Paint Most People Get Wrong
02:09 Metallic vs Pearl (Critical Difference)
03:01 Why Pearl Is Used for Ghosting
04:10 Why Solid Colors Fall Flat
04:48 The Setup That Works Best (Tri-Coat)
05:42 Basecoat Strategy Explained
07:01 Why Even Coverage Matters More Than You Think
08:03 Choosing the Right Spray Approach
09:06 Building the Metallic Foundation
10:29 Why the Mid-Coat Changes Everything
11:00 Fixing Imperfections Before It’s Too Late
11:49 Mixing for Better Results

#ghostflames #airbrush #custompaint