Archive: "What kind of paint to use?"

[Winged Mermaid]

This is an archived thread that was originally posted on mer.yuku.com, the predecessor to MerNetwork. For more information about mer.yuku.com, click here (http://mernetwork.com/index/content.php?136-About-MerNetwork-article).




http://static.yuku.com/common/bypass/images/on_line.gifWinged Mermaid (http://winged-mermaid.u.yuku.com/)



http://images.yuku.com/image/gif/982365c1509e29aa6f7522734ec4b9d876b5d55b_t.gif (http://winged-mermaid.u.yuku.com/)

Posts: 912
03/30/10 14:43:47
Just thought I'd bring up what kind of paints are best for different materials, see if anyone knows what would be best for different materials.

Through experience I have learned that acrylic paint on fabric tails can drag it down a lot. I believe if you lightly sponge the paint on it doesn't as much, painting it on solid can majorly effect the swimming capability- with a lycra tail at least. I'd love to be able to decorate a fabric tail- especially the fluke which is where the drag effects it them most- but am unsure what paint would not do this but would still stick to the fabric.

Also I am wondering what the best paint would be for neoprene. I am assuming painting on straight neoprene wouldn't work very well, but painting on one with a fabric backing would work much better. I've seen that Hannah uses silk screen paint and was wondering if maybe it would work on lycra as well, and if anyone has had any kind of experience with it.

Lastly, was wondering what kind of paint would stick well to a latex tail. It seems paint chipping is a little bit of an issue and was wondering what would be best to buy for small touch ups.

Thanks in advance!



http://static.yuku.com/common/bypass/images/off_line.gifBrookwellBR (http://brookwellbr.e.yuku.com/)
Paints for Silicone Rubber


http://mer.yuku.com/common/bypass/images/missinng_avatar.gif (http://brookwellbr.e.yuku.com/)

Posts: 26
03/31/10 04:02:47
Although I've not experimented directly with them, the manufacturer of the Dragonskin silicone rubber has paints for silicone that is the same chemical base as the rubber itself. In an eMail, they claim that the paint binds into the rubber so it has excellent durability. It's even supposed to resist direct abrasion. I'll know more once I get my monofin project going as I'll be painting the fin in the end to get a chance to experiment with silicone-based paints.




http://static.yuku.com/common/bypass/images/off_line.gifMermaidKariel (http://mermaidkariel.mer.yuku.com/)



http://mer.yuku.com/common/bypass/images/missinng_avatar.gif (http://mermaidkariel.mer.yuku.com/)

Posts: 5
07/01/10 11:40:03
in my experience screen paint does not work well on lycra. the stretch in the fabric creates cracks. Also the paint soaks in the material rather than staying on top :-) much luckhttp://static.yuku.com/domainskins/bypass/img/smileys/wink.gif Kariel





http://static.yuku.com/common/bypass/images/off_line.gifCapt Nemo (http://capt-nemo.mer.yuku.com/)



http://images.yuku.com/image/jpg/a45269f61a697d1194b83e30e110093fd3299de0_s.jpg (http://capt-nemo.mer.yuku.com/)

Posts: 578
07/01/10 12:23:07
Airbrush paints using an airbrush seem to work well for lycra. I've tried the Createx pearlescent paints on lycra and used a heat gun to set the paint. Be careful on the heat, or you could melt it! It still looks and feels like lycra cloth that's dyed instead of painted. It may reduce the strech a little, but not by much. It does add a little sparkle to the fabric.

Mertailor also recommends the same paint for touching up his tails.




http://static.yuku.com/common/bypass/images/off_line.giflynsea (http://lynsea.mer.yuku.com/)



http://images.yuku.com/image/png/62626285fa39f24ab0222c48df2c0ad098f97bdc_t.jpg (http://lynsea.mer.yuku.com/)

Posts: 250
07/01/10 12:45:21
i have painted neoprene test samples with acrylic paints and have had no problem with it in the water and out




http://static.yuku.com/common/bypass/images/off_line.gifMaskedNightingale (http://maskednightingale.mer.yuku.com/)



http://mer.yuku.com/common/bypass/images/missinng_avatar.gif (http://maskednightingale.mer.yuku.com/)

Posts: 106
11/15/10 16:37:34

Capt Nemo wrote: I've tried the Createx pearlescent paints on lycra and used a heat gun to set the paint. Be careful on the heat, or you could melt it!


What kind of heat gun would you use? Or what do you exactly mean by a heat gun?





http://static.yuku.com/common/bypass/images/off_line.gifCapt Nemo (http://capt-nemo.mer.yuku.com/)



http://images.yuku.com/image/jpg/a45269f61a697d1194b83e30e110093fd3299de0_s.jpg (http://capt-nemo.mer.yuku.com/)

Posts: 578
11/16/10 15:59:41
The heat gun is the same used for stripping paint. It's basically an overgrown hair dryer. Just hotter.




http://static.yuku.com/common/bypass/images/off_line.gifjhammett98 (http://jhammett98.mer.yuku.com/)



http://images.yuku.com/image/jpg/ebd26726358a3d4ef8a2a980a5ae170c7b436fbc_a.jpg (http://jhammett98.mer.yuku.com/)

Posts: 347
11/16/10 17:07:05
Hey Kariel! didnt knwo you were on here!

Ok as to paints...

Fabric paint with water added to thin and painted thinnly on neoprene works but does remove some stretch.. so paint it while you wear it.. Im pretty sure thats what hannah does..

I will be trying airbrush paint called lumiere thinned out and creatix on neoprene over my college break.. I'll let you know how that works out.




http://static.yuku.com/common/bypass/images/off_line.gifArshes (http://arshes.mer.yuku.com/)



http://images.yuku.com/image/jpg/3fe26306319d29aa45b9675ca1d651402f1e4205_a.jpg (http://arshes.mer.yuku.com/)

Posts: 88
01/17/11 15:23:28
I'm working on painting a blue spandex tail. I bought a tulip brand fabric spray paint to use...I will be testing it soon and will let u know my results. Seems very simple to use. For neoprene tails you can use puff paint, works very well with a sponge to dab it on. I have seen Hannah Fraser use this technique and she told me it works great for painting scales on. This is what she used to paint her first blue tail. However, don't use it on spandex, it doesn't work well...hopefully the spray will work better! Good luck! :)




http://static.yuku.com/common/bypass/images/off_line.gifJewel de Lune (http://jewel-de-lune.mer.yuku.com/)



http://images.yuku.com/image/jpg/fa916b625357b7772a2dd8b885aade49b85d1c9b_a.jpg (http://jewel-de-lune.mer.yuku.com/)

Posts: 131
01/17/11 20:39:52
I heard Lumiere paint is good for fabric, and it's fine just painted straight on. I also did a patch fabric test (took a scrap) with acrylic paints. If you paint a thin enough layer, it works okay but when you put too much the paint breaks up from the stretching. I also dunked it into water for like a day and a half and it didn't dissolve or anything.




http://static.yuku.com/common/bypass/images/off_line.gifSirenaSeenixe (http://sirenaseenixe.u.yuku.com/)



http://images.yuku.com/image/jpg/f45367f06974a67507a0fb3a28b6c6aacdd967b1_a.jpg (http://sirenaseenixe.u.yuku.com/)

Posts: 7
02/08/11 10:16:19
what about spray cans? Because I don't wanna buy an airbrush....do you think this will work?
http://www.montana-cans.com/


Or, what about car finish? It also comes in spray cans...Would it be flexible enough for latex? Anybody having already some experience?

thanks

[Winged Mermaid]

http://static.yuku.com/common/bypass/images/off_line.gifgypsymer (http://gypsymer.mer.yuku.com/)



http://images.yuku.com/image/jpg/cff369356dce8317f4469a03a2ffe61fddee2ccb_a.jpg (http://gypsymer.mer.yuku.com/)

Posts: 231
02/08/11 13:46:33

Anything with spraypaint you need to be careful of messing up your stretch. This is a caution that you have to take with any paint though. I have a piece or two of neoprene with spraypaint on then, they're very stiff. It makes the neoprene very stiff and removes some stretch if it's not on you at the time of painting. When painting with a tail on remember that you will need to use more paint but it assures that it looks good on. If you paint before putting something on your colour will be diluted when the fabric stretches and exposes the unpainted bits. Sorry if that was confusing.






http://static.yuku.com/common/bypass/images/off_line.gifWinged Mermaid (http://winged-mermaid.u.yuku.com/)



http://images.yuku.com/image/jpg/22e16c6e450117b88b3166b81740bd4bc79f2651_a.jpg (http://winged-mermaid.u.yuku.com/)

Posts: 912
02/08/11 16:00:58

From what I've gathered, all the paints tend to crack when stretched. So either you have to paint the tail while wearing it or have someone else paint the tail while you're wearing it. Unless you're painting just the fluke area. Both a huge pain :/

I was thinking screen printing paint becuase it goes into the fabric and more dyes the fabric. If you've ever seen a screen printed shirt, it just looks like the fabric was dyed in the pattern/picture- there's no paint sitting on top or in the shirt. That's what Hannah uses and it has the same effect on her tail, as you can see in pictures. Perhaps it doesn't do well with lycra but better with neoprene? After all lycra has a lot more stretch than neoprene.

So Capt Nemo you had the same effect as screen printing paint on neoprene with lycra by airbrushing Createx pearlescent paints? Stretch wasn't an issue? Do you know if it has the same effect painting it on by hand?

Also I'd like to clarify that issues I had with the acrylic paint. There was a sponged acrylic paint area on the very bottom of my fluke, which was fine. The paint eventually got scrapes on it from me learning to swim properly without scraping the fluke, so I went over it with a paintbrush of acrylic instead of lightly sponging it. When I tried to swim in it there was a MAJOR drag issue. Since acrylic is basically plastic when it dries, it kept the water that goes through the lycra from exiting the very bottom of the fluke properly. Therefore, big drag issues. *So I wouldn't recommend painting on acrylic to the bottom of a lycra fluke, although sponging it on lightly worked fine.*

On that note, does anyone know how to get acrylic paint off of lyrca without damaging it?





http://static.yuku.com/common/bypass/images/off_line.gifJewel de Lune (http://jewel-de-lune.mer.yuku.com/)



http://images.yuku.com/image/jpg/fa916b625357b7772a2dd8b885aade49b85d1c9b_a.jpg (http://jewel-de-lune.mer.yuku.com/)

Posts: 131
02/08/11 19:37:34

Acrylic paint becomes slightly tacky once wet again. Douse it and maybe try to rub it off gently? Well, you'll need to do it hard just be careful. I've gone through like 4 layers of paint like this on a canvas, idk how it would work with lycra.





http://static.yuku.com/common/bypass/images/off_line.gifCydAdeTol (http://cydadetol.mer.yuku.com/)



http://images.yuku.com/image/jpg/276363d162587e3a7c65b432450edd70204895ae_a.jpg (http://cydadetol.mer.yuku.com/)

Posts: 120
03/24/11 22:03:53


I am planning on making my own latex tail. Anyways I really want to use the fluorescent paint but the website says: Neon colors which emit a glow. Work best over a white base color such Opaque White. Fluorescent colors are NOT lightfast. The color’s fluorescence is due to the pigment being in a rapid state of decay. Fluorescent colors are not intended for permanent finishes.

Would the colors be preserved if they were added to the ALEX? I wasn't planning on using JUST fluorescent colors so if it did fade it would still have great color but I am really going for a neon bright look.





http://static.yuku.com/common/bypass/images/off_line.gifCapt Nemo (http://capt-nemo.mer.yuku.com/)



http://images.yuku.com/image/jpg/a45269f61a697d1194b83e30e110093fd3299de0_s.jpg (http://capt-nemo.mer.yuku.com/)

Posts: 578
03/25/11 13:35:58

No, they wouldn't be preserved in ALEX. However, the color could be given a little more stability if a thin coat of another color was used over them. Something like pearlized green airbrushed over flourescent yellow. You would get the yellow coming out from underneath, and the green would still show

Something to experiment with!





http://static.yuku.com/common/bypass/images/off_line.gifArshes (http://arshes.mer.yuku.com/)



http://images.yuku.com/image/jpg/3fe26306319d29aa45b9675ca1d651402f1e4205_a.jpg (http://arshes.mer.yuku.com/)

Posts: 88
04/05/11 08:47:14

I use tulip brand spray paint. It works great! As for stretch, stuff your tail before u paint and it won't crack the paint when u put the tail on :) I can't figure out how to post a picture here from my phone, but there are three pics in the tailmaking forum I posted yesterday :)





http://static.yuku.com/common/bypass/images/off_line.gifMaskedNightingale (http://maskednightingale.mer.yuku.com/)



http://images.yuku.com/image/jpg/25536ff163de8633d7e469ba2b32009018593b6c_a.jpg (http://maskednightingale.mer.yuku.com/)

Posts: 106
04/12/11 14:17:22

I've finally decided to buy a tail that I found on ebay (after I get my paycheck). It looks well made, its a solid colored spandex tail. So I was wondering what is the best paint for Spandex that will last.





http://static.yuku.com/common/bypass/images/off_line.gifCarolineMermaid (http://carolinemermaid.mer.yuku.com/)



http://images.yuku.com/image/png/36b160572ba189aed87199812c4d8e1b5d013a1e_t.jpg (http://carolinemermaid.mer.yuku.com/)

Posts: 121
04/17/11 07:15:37

Screen printing paint it the best paint to use on fabric. It looks like this: http://www.dharmatrading....tml/eng/4340283-AA.shtml (http://www.dharmatrading.com/html/eng/4340283-AA.shtml)
Hannah Fraser used it on her blue tail and I use it all the time in art class. It's great.





http://static.yuku.com/common/bypass/images/off_line.gifMermaiAiera (http://mermaiaiera.mer.yuku.com/)



http://images.yuku.com/image/jpg/45d26c0692b9067c781f8ff4d45ca53fb45852d7_a.jpg (http://mermaiaiera.mer.yuku.com/)

Posts: 11
04/17/11 10:46:02

I am looking to paint my neoprene mermaid tail as well...I want to use a shiny paint like Lumiere paints that wont come off in water, etc...any suggestions? I can't work with any spray paint or anything and I have a very specific idea in mind. I'd like to create a thin layer of silver over the sky blue nylon that is adhered to the neoprene. I also want to do a teal, turquoisey and blue shading job towards the side fins. I know its a high order, but I want this to be my dream tail <3 Any help? ^~^





http://static.yuku.com/common/bypass/images/off_line.gifWinged Mermaid (http://winged-mermaid.u.yuku.com/)



http://images.yuku.com/image/jpg/22e16c6e450117b88b3166b81740bd4bc79f2651_a.jpg (http://winged-mermaid.u.yuku.com/)

Posts: 912
04/18/11 11:00:48



MermaiAiera wrote:I'd like to create a thin layer of silver over the sky blue nylon that is adhered to the neoprene. I also want to do a teal, turquoisey and blue shading job towards the side fins.


For the "thin layer" I'm guessing you're wanting the silvery effect, but it to be transparent enough to see the blue as well. Unfortunately you won't be able to get this effect by hand painting- you'd have to try airbrushing. I have no experience with air brushing but my guess is you'd have to dilute the silver spray so you would get more of that transparent effect depending on just how transparent you want the silver to be. There are ways to do airbrushing with canned air (like so- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9_neRDb5oQ). I know yous said you didn't want to do spray painting or airbrushing, but there's no way around it that I can see. Perhaps someone else has an alternative idea?

[Nixen Nicole]

I have been using Createx Pearlescent Paint to paint the tail I am working on and it is doing fine. I actually have been hand painting it and it is setting so well! I use a regular hair drier so I don't risk melting the rubber and then lay it in the sun for about an hour to let it set. So far so good.

[Keiris]

Nixen Nicole, is your tail silicone that you're painting with the createx?

[Mermaid Narina]

Any good brands to suggest for painting on neoprene that is waterproof? Or does anyone know where to buy this "puff paint" from? :) thx

[MermaidAliyah]

So is acryllic paint good for spandex?

[Arie]

I'm having issues finding the same paints here in Canada, would tulip paints work? The fabric kind for spandex? It seems to be the only kind that michaels carries here, also would fabric markers hold up well? I'm debating on doing finer detail work with those, maybe add some glow in the dark designs to it.

Thanks!

[Mermaid Zipora]

I'm making a latex neoprene tail and plan on using Jacquard Pearl-ex powders. Anyone know what the powder to latex ratio is? Will I still need latex thickener?

[Mermaid Wesley]

From what I've seen it's a very small amount of powder compared to latex.

[Mermaid Zipora]

Thank you :)

[PaolaMF]

how long you need to apply heat to painting createx? how many minutes? thanks :)

[The Harlem Mermaid]

Thank you for this thread, i too want to know what kind of paint to use on neoprene/nylon material that won't come off in water :)

[kythepie1]

Hello! I'm new to the scene , and I was wanting to paint my Mahina Merfin. Does anyone know what type of paint would adhere to the rubber, and is waterproof? Preferably, with the ability to withstand light to medium scuffing and battering damage. Thank you! <3

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using Tapatalk