The cake store nearest to me never has black spray color.

When I was first testing out my airbrush, which is internal mix and originally bought by sister for painting ceramics, I didn't have any colors so I mixed clear vanilla and a few drops of gel color. It sprayed fine, but I can't stand breathing the clear vanilla.

Anyway...does anyone ever make their own colors? and if so, do you use alcohol/vanilla whatever or do you use water?

Thanks!

Nope. I buy 'em.

There are numerous stores online that sell airbrush colors. I mix them for different shades but have never created my own. I am pretty particular in what I put in my airbrush because I don't want to cause it problems.

Thanks, all. I probably should have mentioned that the cake is for today, so I didn't have time to order it.

Usually I use the canned black spray but it always seems like it seperates. I only recentally got my airbrush going again.

3GCakes - I saw this post the other day and a CCer named bisbqueenb uses regular colors (or mixes w/vodka or everclear) for her airbrushing. Maybe try that. She also had a great tip on cleaning her airbrush using denture cleaners - very interesting tip.

Here's the link:
http://www.cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopict-649688.html

You can mix the gel color with vodka, the alcohol will evaporate so it's child save.

Thanks for the tips!

I'd invest in some Americolor Airbrush colors. While mixing the gel with vodka can work, you also risk getting clumps of color in the airbrush. I can never get the gel to completely melt in alcohol.

I love airbrush colors for painting as well, so for me even if I didn't have an airbrush I'd still have the colors cause they work great.