Can I spray paint scales?

[Mermaid Talisa]

I am wondering if I got like a metal grate, laid it on the fabric, would it work to use fabric spray paint? And would I be able to touch up the scales by hand with a different kind of paint? Anything y'all know about fabric spray painting tails, I would love to hear. :)

[jukumerboii]

I was wondering the same thing??!!

[Mermaid Talisa]

I think it could work well

[ShyMer]

Do some tests!

I think some of the main things to consider is how well it does when it's stretched (does it crack when stretched? Will it put too much strain on the surrounding fabric, causing it to wear out weird and get saggy around the paint?) Will it fade quickly with frequent exposure to chlorine and salt? Will it dissolve in water? Will it peel off?

I'm sure we'd all love to see what you come up with, even if you find it doesn't work very well.

Good luck <3

[Echidna]

There were 2 or 3 mers here who did that, with fantabulous results.
One of them used a fishing net for the scale shape.

So it's definitely possible, but I'd paint only on a stretched tail (you can stuff it before painting).

Edit, found a photo as example

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[Mermaid Talisa]

I think I am going to try. I am going to start a thread on making this tail. :) I can't wait

[Echidna]

Do it! :)

Fabric tails are underappreciated, but they can look so nice when painted.

[Mermaid Talisa]

Totally! I am so exited.

[Mermaid Jessica Pearl]

I spray painted through a handmade stencil and it worked really well. It does tend to fade quite quickly unless you seal it very well.

[Mermaid Melanie]

My fabric tails are airbrushed with fabric paint and stencils and I'm pretty happy with them but they in heavily chlorinated water they do fade a lot and need up keep ! but the results are pretty nice !

[Mermaid Talisa]

How do you seal it?

[Mermaid Jessica Pearl]

I used a waterproofing spray that helped a lot. Especially if you coat both sides. My partner in mermaid crime Amelia smeared a thin coat of silicone over hers. We are always scraping on a lot of sand though so it even too it's toll on that. I would just have to give it another spray over ever few wears.

[Mermaid Talisa]

hmm well I think I will try. Did you use fabric spay paint?