How to use Fabric Paint?

Painting on fabric is a fascinating activity, which remains a very popular type of needlework today. Manufacturers offer a wide range of dyes for fabric – from traditional to innovative. Our article will help you understand the most popular types and decide on the choice of paint to achieve the best result.

Material selection

For re-dyeing and painting, natural materials are considered the most suitable – linen, wool, cotton fabrics, natural silk. Also, a very good result is obtained when working with textiles containing no more than 60% synthetic fibers. On such materials, the color lies beautifully and evenly. The problem of tinting completely artificial fabrics was solved by Jacquard iDye Poly paint, the use of which allows you to remove restrictions on the requirements for the composition of textiles.

Types of Paints

Progress is rapidly moving forward. Manufacturers offer a wide range of fabric dyes that differ in their properties and application possibilities. Forms of release of pigments are also diverse. The most common: paint in jars, tubes, aerosols, powdered in bags. Paste and powder forms most often require additional preparation before application, while liquid and aerosol forms do not need such preparation.

There are two large groups of fabric paints on the market: for silk, the packaging is labeled “Silk”; for textiles are indicated by the mark “Textil”. As the name suggests, “Silk” is suitable for painting and dyeing silk, but it can also be used on fine cotton fabrics. It is used together with a reserve contour, which creates the outlines of a drawing, since the paint itself is very liquid.

Silk paints are characterized by high fluidity and transparency, with their help the borders of the pattern are smooth, you can create magnificent patterns. An interesting effect is the use of acrylic paints along with salt. Mixed media, knotted, multi-layered or hot painting on fabric – this is just a small list of techniques where silk pigments are actively used. Textile paints are thicker, have a high density, they are easy to paint over large areas, they do not spread, they do not require the use of contours.

Textile dyes are actively used for printing dresses, jeans, T-shirts, pillows, and interior items. Products in stencil technique look very interesting, and the most popular is the free painting technique, reminiscent of ordinary drawing.

Manufacturers offer a wide range of paints for textiles: with a metallic effect, neon, with sparkles, for light or dark textiles, etc. An important characteristic of the pigment is the way the dye is fixed. There are two types of dyes on the market: fixed under the influence of high temperatures; fixed under the influence of steam.

Acrylic paints for fabric

Acrylic paints for fabric are created on the basis of artificial resins, water-soluble, completely safe for humans. Among lovers of painting, they are invariably in high demand and have a number of indisputable advantages. Acrylic dyes are ready to use, available in various forms: jars, tubes, aerosols.

Acrylic paints are matte, glossy, mother-of-pearl, with the addition of glitter, luminous, neon or metallic effect. Acrylic dyes are used for both silk and cotton fabrics, viscose, wool, linen, synthetics, mixed materials. Acrylic is universal in use, it is used for painting T-shirts, bags. tablecloths, napkins, scarves.

However, acrylic paints are not recommended for dyeing things that are subjected to frequent washing, as the paint fades and wears off over time. This category includes bed linen and baby clothes. Also, we do not recommend dyeing children’s things with acrylic paint because of the risk of an allergic reaction to the dye in the child, especially in children of younger preschool age.

Acrylic dyes can be used to color outerwear (jackets, raincoats) and shoes. It has moisture resistance and frost resistance – things become resistant to rain, snow and other adverse natural phenomena. Acrylic paints do not have a pungent odor, dry quickly. Another plus is the ability to choose unusual shades: turquoise, lemon, ultramarine and others.

The paints mix perfectly with each other, enabling the needlewomen to create their own unique color. Acrylic paints are universal, they are suitable both for applying with a brush, with a foam rubber swab, and for drawing by printing or using stencil technique.

In painting on fabric, acrylic paints are used only together with a reserve contour, which fixes the edges of the picture so that the paints do not mix with each other.

Choose acrylic paints for fabric

Aniline paints Aniline paints have been firmly established on the market for many years, available in powder or liquid form. When working with powder, it is necessary to take precautions and avoid getting powder particles into the respiratory tract, since aniline is very dangerous.

However, after being applied to textiles, the paint loses its toxic properties and becomes completely safe for human health. The advantage of aniline dyes is that they give the fabric bright, saturated colors. Paints can be combined with each other and get unique shades. Aniline dyes have limitations on the composition of the fabric – it can only be used on natural fabrics (cotton, linen, silk, etc.).

Aniline paints have proven themselves well for their use in the gradient technique. Its essence lies in the fact that the product is gradually immersed in water of a certain temperature, so that part becomes darker, while the other part remains lighter.

You can get the effect of stains if the product is twisted for a short time by hand. Aniline dyes are often used to paint decorative items or create paintings. A feature of aniline dyes is that the product must be steamed so that the dye is fixed on the fabric. This procedure requires some experience, carelessness can lead to marriage. To work with aniline paints, it is best to use soft brushes. Aniline spreads well, so it is used to create drawings that do not have clear outlines.

If it is necessary to highlight the contours, then two main methods are used: tragacanth glue is added to the paint in a ratio of one to three; the fabric is primed with a special composition based on gelatin. It is convenient to work with aniline paints on any fabric.

They dry long enough, so the craftswoman has time to correct the flaws in the drawing. If the resulting pattern turned out to be too bright, then it can be easily lightened by applying a small amount of water to the fabric.

Choose fabric dye

Plastisol paints Innovative dyes include plastisol-based paints used for various types of fabric, including 100% synthetics. Plastisol paints can be used on any, even the heaviest fabric (suede, jeans, matting). They form a special moisture-proof film on the fabric, resembling rubber in appearance.

Plastisol is part of reflective and luminous paints. They are used for applying luminous patterns to outerwear, shoes, sportswear. Paints may be invisible during the day, but at night, when exposed to light or under the influence of ultraviolet rays, they acquire a green, yellow, pink or white color. It is important to remember that in order to dry the plastisol paint, it is necessary to provide a temperature of 140-1600 C, at a lower temperature the paint does not dry out.

Plastisol paints are easy to use, are sold ready-made, do not require dilution or other preliminary preparation. Stamp paints Stamp inks are a universal type of dye used for various types of textiles. The pigment is most widely used in hotels and hospitals – they are marked on bedding, towels and other fabric products. They are highly durable and resistant to high temperatures. In particular, things dyed with alcohol-based dyes can be boiled and bleached.

Water-glycerine-based stamp inks dry quickly, do not stick to hands, but the maximum washing temperature is already 70 degrees. Colorless paints are interesting, which are invisible under normal lighting. Scope – drawing the hidden marking, are shown under the influence of ultraviolet rays. vat paints The pigment is produced in the form of a paste or powder, the main feature is water insolubility. Most often, vat dyes are used to dye embossed fabrics, such as wool.

However, yellow and orange pigments accelerate the process of destruction of the fabric from ultraviolet rays, so the paint should be used with caution on those things that will be actively exposed to the sun. natural dyes Natural dyes have been used by people since ancient times, however, in terms of their consumer properties, they are significantly inferior to synthetic dyes – the result of dyeing can be unpredictable, and the resulting color will quickly lose its brightness.

The advantage of natural pigments is their environmental friendliness and the possibility of use by people prone to allergic reactions to synthetic dyes. Natural dyes include coffee, onion peel, fir cones, oak bark, cinnamon, black tea, from which a brown pigment can be obtained. Indigo comes from a mixture of turmeric and spinach, while purple comes from beets.

The scope of paints for fabric is very wide. Painting clothes and shoes will allow you to find your own exclusive style. Pictures of fabric, tablecloths, lampshades and pillows, made in various painting techniques, will create a unique comfort in your home, and the process itself will bring indispensable pleasure.

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