Airbrushing

Airbrushing is a painting technique in which paint is atomized by compressed air through an airbrush, a small pneumatic tool. It allows the creation of even, uniform surfaces, soft tonal transitions, and smooth gradients without visible brushwork, which is why it is often used to achieve a high degree of realism. The airbrush appeared in the late nineteenth century and was first used for retouching photographs and for commercial illustration. In the twentieth century it was widely applied in poster art, advertising, automotive design, and scientific illustration. In fine art, airbrushing became an important tool for Photorealists and Pop artists; Audrey Flack, for example, used it for smooth, almost photographic surfaces. The term airbrushing is also used figuratively to mean retouching or removing unwanted details from an image. The technique requires precise control of pressure and distance, along with stencils or masks to define crisp shapes.