How to Use Mr. Super Clear (MSC)

This stuff is very temperamental, and unless you can read the Japanese characters on the back, you have to learn through trial and error. Which I have!

Disclaimer: you shouldn't be breathing in this stuff or getting it on your skin. A lot of people use gas masks when spraying it. I just hold my breath, and that seems to work out fine. If it gets on your hand, just wash it right away. I've been exposed plenty, and I'm alive.

You're also going to want to make sure you get the Matte (or Flat) UV Cut spray. If you get the glossy kind, you won't be able to draw on the surface of a doll's face. And the UV Cut part is important because, over time, normal MSC will start to turn orange when exposed to sunlight, which isn't great for your dolls unless you were going for the bad spray tan look. UV Cut MSC prevents that from happening.

MSC can be found on online between $10-$20, depending on where you get it from.

Now on to how to use the stuff.

1. First make sure the environment where you are spraying is about room temperature. You're also going to want to make sure there is no moisture in the air.

2. Spray your doll from about a foot away, spraying in short bursts until you cover the face and or body.

3. Let the spray dry for 20-30 minutes in a dry, room temperature space to cure.

If you spray too closely to the doll, spray too much fixative, or spray when it is too hot, cold, or damp, your doll's face will be glossy and difficult to draw on. The texture you are looking for is a slight roughness so that the pencils can grip the surface area of a rubber doll head. A lot of doll artists will do two to three layers of MSC before even starting their faceup to really build up that texture.

I recommend at least two layers. It sucks to wait, especially when you're excited to get started, but it's so much easier to work with. Just use that time to work on your doll's outfits, hair, or accessories!

In general, think of MSC as clicking the save button on your work. Whenever you want a layer locked down, give it a spray. This just makes sure it doesn't get rubbed away, and it also helps you to build up color if you're using chalk pastels.

I hope this helps! Check out my other blog posts for more helpful information on doll repainting!