Multisizing, the anti-bleeding agent, is amazing!

One of the problems of painting watercolor and Japanese-style paintings is “blotting.

If the paint blurs, the color of the paint becomes poor and the line drawing becomes thicker, which is a problem.

This time, we will review how it feels to use a painting medium called “Multi Sizing (Douza Liquid, anti-bleeding)” that solves this problem!

Why do we recommend multi-sizing to stop watercolor bleeding?

Usually, Japanese-style painters make and use their own dosa (礬水, sizing agent), which is an anti-bleeding agent.

However, the following steps are necessary to make it.

Because of this time-consuming and paper-damaging nature of the process, the amount of application and the method of application must be carefully considered.

Because of this, the problem was that it was somewhat incompatible with painting materials such as watercolor, which can be started quickly.

My personal feeling is that as soon as you unfold the palette, you can start painting right away.

In other words, the Dosa, which requires waiting time each time, seems to be the exact opposite of the painting medium that is good at capturing the moment and drawing it, such as sketching.

I used a multi-sizing medium for this purpose.

Holbein

At the time of purchase by the author (November 2020) 60 ml for 470 yen without tax.

Two types were available: small and medium.

Product description website
Anatomy of a Color Material ⑫ Watercolors and Paper

The note says, “This is not the same as the dosa of glue solution containing alum.

I bought this paper because of the phrase, “This kind of paper can also be used for watercolor paper…”.

Can it be used for Japanese paper instead of dosa?

And also, I thought that I would not have to buy the slightly more expensive watercolor paper if I used Gasengami Mame-Shikishi, which I bought at the same time, as watercolor paper.

↑Gasengami Mame-Shikishi
（Small thick sheets of Japanese paper）

This was my motive for purchasing the paper.

If I write this first, it seems that not everything can be turned into watercolor paper.

(It is only natural.) Then, what was missing?

Then, I will write specifically what was missing and what was good about it in the next section.

Watercolor blur prevention, “multi-sizing” feel

Multi-sizing is used for Japanese paper

Before application, the line in the center of the nose; after application, the rest of the line. Used because the pen bleeds too much.

(1) Dispense the undiluted solution onto a painting plate and apply it to 10 sheets of bean-colored paper with a flat brush.

A slightly whitish mark will appear on the surface, but it will soon disappear.

The instructions on the container state “Apply undiluted solution with a brush, etc.”.

According to Holbein’s product introduction page, “Dilute with equal to twice the amount of water and apply to paper with a brush, etc.” I did not look at the website.

I did not look at the website, and the drying time ranged from a few dozen minutes to a day.

(2) After a few dozen minutes, I confirmed that it was dry by touch.

The container description says “Produce after drying sufficiently”.

The product introduction page says, “Allow it to dry for about a day before applying paint.

However, we did not measure the time, but judged the drying condition based on the appearance and feel.

I think it took about 10 minutes to dry when the room was heated in winter.

(3) Draw a line with a pen.

Compared to the vertical lines, you can see that the other lines are thinner.

Now you can draw them about one-half as thin!

Dotted lines can also be drawn easily.

The pen used was PIGMA 0.05

(4) Watercolor is used.

The area applied just enough to soak into the paper is

• No color change
• Good coloring
• No spreading of blotchiness

Thus, it looked good.

However, the areas that were not soaked or where unevenness had formed were not well colored, and there was a difference between the areas that were well colored and the areas that were not soaked.

Where the middle line was not working.

I was concerned about this unevenness, so I applied two coats of undiluted solution, and the brush lines above disappeared, but

• The color of the paint became worse as moisture soaked into the paint.
• The color changes as it dries.
• The color changes when the paint dries.

This made me think that it would take a certain amount of skill to apply the paint as beautifully as dosa（Blotting Solution for Japanese Painting）.

• Use just enough to soak in.
• Use a brush to apply evenly.
  

If you pay attention to these two points, you should be able to use the product without any problem.

Multi-sizing is used for Tosa hemp paper (Washi)

I used it on a Japanese paper called Tosa-ma-shi, which was water-laid on a wooden panel.

This is also one coat of undiluted solution applied to the entire surface.

Although I have not yet entered the coloring stage, so I have not been able to conduct a strict verification, I did not observe any blotting, dullness, repulsion of the paint, or color change while working with watercolors to create shadows.

Since Japanese paper (Kumohada hemp paper) is used on the website, it may be suitable for watercolor paper, drawing paper, or Japanese paper with a certain thickness.

Summary of multi-sizing features and use

Added on 06/07/2022

Multi-sizing can also be used as an anti-bleeding agent on cold watercolor paper!

In fact, I did two coats on my cold watercolor paper and it improved it considerably!

However, with a small capacity product, you can barely paint A3 or not….

It is better to buy a larger product with more room to spare.

どうさは使った事がないのですが、そんなに効果があるのですね。知りませんでした。
マルチサイジングは、にじみ方をコントロールするためだけではなく、風邪引き水彩紙を使うために使う事が多いと思います。

— ねこ (@t_suisai) May 30, 2022

Mechanisms and Considerations for DOSA’s Bleeding Stopper

By the way, if you read the note on the back of the package, it says it is for watercolor paper.

It is hard to read, but it is the second or third line from the top.

To begin with, it is possible that it is not intended for thin paper such as gaseki shikishi.

I am not sure about that.

The note also notes that it is not a glue solution containing alum melanterite.

It is described as “dosa”（sizing agent） below.


However, I felt that it would be okay to use it without worrying about the difference between it and dosa.

(This is my personal feeling).

Dosa is like creating a super-strong, glassy boil that prevents oozing.

Alum causes a chemical reaction in the animal protein that is the raw material for glue, and the glassy film is contained in the washi, which seals the holes in the fibers of the washi and prevents it from absorbing water.

In other words, the paper will not bleed.

The ratio of glue to alum changes the degree of anti-bleeding effect, so you can set the “strength” to your liking.

The author likes it strong.

MultiSizing, on the other hand, is composed of acrylic resin and water.

As stated on the official website, the acrylic resin seals the gaps between the fibers of the paper.

The reason why we thought there would not be a big difference in usability between the two is that what they are doing is almost the same.

However, the multi-sizing resin has a density that does not damage the paper, and the “strength of effect” of the multi-sizing resin is a little stronger than the other.

I had the impression that the “strength of effect” was a little lacking.

I am used to strong alumina water, so I was a little concerned about this, but I think this concentration is actually suitable for paper preservation.

Also, according to other people’s comments, it seems to be used by watercolorists to control bleeding, not for the purpose of preventing paint from soaking through or making colors easier to see.

Reference Links

Watercolor] I used Holbein Multi Sizing

Useful in such a case! How to use this guy called Multi Sizing.

That may also make a difference in my impression.

Click here to read the previous article

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