How to Color Resin - An Overview of Resin Color and Dye

Yardore and more people effectually the world are partaking in the DIY arts and crafts of casting epoxy resin, every bit this versatile material tin be used for any number of projects. As epoxy resin is a transparent liquid, y'all may be interested in learning how to colour resin and then as to create scenic works of art.

Table of Content

• one Choosing the Correct Blazon of Resin Color
  • 1.1 Using Powdered Pigments for Coloring Resin
  • ane.2 Adding Color to Epoxy with Liquid Paints
• ii A Guide on How to Color Resin
  • ii.1 Pace-by-Footstep Directions on Adding Color to Epoxy
• 3 The Best Liquid Paints for Coloring Resin
  • iii.1 Resin Dye
  • three.2 Booze-Based Inks
  • 3.iii Airbrush Paint
• four The All-time Colored Epoxy Powders
  • iv.1 Epoxy Pigment Pulverisation
  • 4.two Luminescent Pigments
  • 4.3 Glitter Powder
• 5 Unsuitable Materials for Adding Colour to Epoxy
  • five.ane Acrylic Paint
  • v.ii Oil Paint
  • 5.3 Watercolor Paint
• vi Frequently Asked Questions
  • vi.1 What Should I Use for Coloring Resin?
  • 6.two Can I Use a Colored Lacquer Over my Resin Casting?
  • vi.3 Must I Apply a Special Epoxy Dye for Coloring UV Resin?
  • half-dozen.iv Is Colored Epoxy Resistant to Heat?
  • six.5 Can I Utilise a Black or White Resin Dye?
  • half dozen.6 Is It Possible to Larn How to Color Epoxy Resin Adhesive?
  • 6.vii How Can I Make My Resin Dye Transparent?
  • 6.8 When Should I Add together Powdered Resin Color?
  • half-dozen.ix What Proportions of Epoxy Dye Should I Utilise?
  • 6.10 Is It Prophylactic to Use Colored Epoxy in Aquariums and Terrariums?
  • 6.11 Can I Larn How to Color Resin with Nutrient Pigment?
  • vi.12 Is Printer Ink a Suitable Resin Color?

Choosing the Correct Type of Resin Color

When learning how to color epoxy resin, y'all will detect that non every colorant is suitable for epoxy resin. Some pigments made of oil or h2o can impact the mixing ratio of your resin, whereas other products may touch the curing process of the resin and can crusade unsightly marks on the surface. Thus, it is of import to select an advisable pigment for your resin projection to achieve the best results. We suggest that you employ the post-obit types of colorants for your epoxy resin requirements.

Using Powdered Pigments for Coloring Resin

One of the easiest and virtually effective means of coloring your epoxy resin is by using a pigmented powder. It is best to use a pulverisation of high quality, as this will ensure that you get the all-time color. In fact, these powders incorporate such potent pigments that y'all need merely a little in order to achieve your desired hue.

Powdered pigments are particularly pop due to the fact that they are non entirely soluble. This means that the powder does not completely dissolve when mixed with the liquid resin, resulting in a grainy outcome that can await quite attractive once applied to the surface.

Adding Color to Epoxy with Liquid Paints

One of the most effective epoxy colorants is that of liquid pigment, every bit information technology is easily mixed with liquid resin. You tin guarantee an even colour with liquid paints on account of how completely they dissolve in the resin.

A Guide on How to Color Resin

If you would like to learn how to colour epoxy resin, you should kickoff ensure that yous have calculated the correct mixing ratio for your resin liquid and hardener. You should read through the manufacturer's directions with care when measuring these quantities, as failure to practise then can result in issues with the processing and curing of your epoxy project. Every bit this mixing ratio will be affected somewhat by the addition of a colorant, we recommend post-obit these instructions:

• The goal is to affect the mixing ratio of the epoxy resin as little as possible. To do this, your paints or pigments need to be highly concentrated.
• Ensure that your paints practise not contain any water.
• We recommend testing any new colorants on a modest batch before proceeding to color all of your resin. Merely mix a small corporeality of resin mixture with the pigment or pigment in a separate container to detect the results. This way, you will be able to conceptualize the effects of the colorant and can adjust the dose accordingly.
• Coloring your resin volition not stop it from yellowing over time. Exposure to the sun's UV rays over a catamenia of time will eventually cause your resin to develop a xanthous hue. This will occur regardless of whether or non yous add color, although it will be less noticeable if the resin is pigmented.
• The sun'south harmful UV rays tin also crusade the color to change or fade.
• We recommend that beginners work with clear resin first in guild to become familiar with the material. One time you lot have experience working with the transparent liquid, you will be more practiced at determining the pigment dosage and you can begin experimenting with colour!

Step-by-Step Directions on Adding Color to Epoxy

Now that you have a full agreement of all that is involved in coloring your resin, it is time for you to commence on your own project! Follow the fix of directions below in guild to color your resin successfully:

• Epoxy begins to harden as soon as the resin liquid and hardener have been mixed together. Thus, nosotros suggest that you gather all of the materials you volition need and so that you can optimize your time working with the epoxy.
• Comprehend your working area and surrounds with foil or cardboard in club to prevent any harm. This will also make the clean-upwards process easier. Wear protective goggles, nitrile gloves, and a animate mask to protect yourself from pain your skin or breathing in the toxic fumes.
• Measure your divide resin and hardener liquids exactly and then as to achieve the optimal ratio. Stir the 2 components together for 3-5 minutes to ensure that they are properly mixed.
• Add your precisely measured dose of paint or pulverisation. Brainstorm by adding a small-scale amount of the pigment to your resin mixture and stirring it until an fifty-fifty color has developed. You tin can add more color until you have reached your desired shade.
• A good rule of thumb is to use approximately 2% of color in relation to resin solution ratio. You lot must never exceed more than than 5% of color, all the same, equally this will affect the curing process of the resin and will prevent it from hardening properly.

The All-time Liquid Paints for Coloring Resin

At that place are a number of kinds of liquid paints available on the market, many of which have been specially formulated for epoxy resin. The type of liquid pigment you use will impact the last outcome of your resin project, so it is important to choose wisely. If you are interested in using liquid paints to add color to your resin, we suggest that you lot dye, inks, or airbrush pigment.

Resin Dye

The fact that epoxy dye is fabricated from a prepolymer and that epoxy resin also contains polymers means that these two materials complement each other well. You will exist able to mix this dye with your epoxy solution with great ease. These dyes are ideal for coloring casting resins every bit well as UV resin. We recommend using DecorRom'due south pack of epoxy resin pigments:

• An array of 18 transparent colors
• Safe and easy to employ
• Cost-constructive and long-lasting

• An xviii contrasted colour pigment set
• High concentration of UV resin color pigment
• Prepare and piece of cake to use (no grooming required)

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Booze-Based Inks

Where most inks possess a water base, you lot will require an alcohol-based ink for your epoxy resin project. These transparent inks incorporate highly concentrated color pigments, making them ideal for dying your resin with simply a few drops. Nevertheless, these inks are not particularly lightfast, meaning that they are prone to fading and discoloration when exposed to UV calorie-free over a long catamenia of fourth dimension. We suggest trying Tim Holtz's set of booze-based ink bottles:

• Includes eight three-pack sets for 24 unlike colors
• Quick-drying and transparent
• Results in a polished, rock look

• A popular set of 24 different booze ink colors
• Alcohol ink from Tim Holtz is well known for its very high quality
• Suitable for resin and booze ink painting techniques

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Airbrush Paint

While airbrush paints are used primarily in creating spray-like effects in design projects, this low-viscosity paint is likewise ideal for dying your epoxy resin! We suggest that you select a product of high quality with a skillful concentration of color, such as Vallejo's metal air paint set:

• Premium-quality airbrush colors
• Each bottle comes with a dropper
• The packaging prevents drying and evaporation

• Finely ground pigments for airbrushing
• tin be easily mixed and diluted with water
• A multicolor set in 17ml bottles

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The Best Colored Epoxy Powders

Pigmented powders tin can be made from either natural or synthetic materials, although today very few colored powders incorporate natural pigments. In the past, natural ingredients such as soil and minerals would be dried so finely ground into a powder. Withal, most of the natural pigments used for these powders have been exhausted, meaning that they are no longer bachelor on the market.

Early on synthetic powders were banned at a point, as they independent toxic compounds and were seen as a wellness take chances. Today, however, synthetic pigmented powders have been optimized for epoxy resin and are significantly safer to use. Just ensure that you don the appropriate protective gear.

Epoxy Pigment Pulverization

Epoxy colored pigments include a vast range of looks, such as basic, matte colors and shiny, metallic pigments. You need to ensure that yous choose a pigment with loftier resistance to the lord's day'southward calorie-free and UV rays, equally this will prevent the color from fading or changing. Yous tin can ensure a lightfast colour when y'all spend a bit more on a height-quality brand. We recommend the Mica brand for a prepare of bones color pigments:

• 25 unlike colors
• Fast to dissolve
• Can be used for a broad variety of DIY projects

• A resin dye set of 25 different colors
• Specialized epoxy pigment powder for vibrant colors
• Can exist used in a wide range of coloring applications

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Luminescent Pigments

Yous tin can create a glow-in-the-nighttime effect by calculation a luminescent pigment to your epoxy resin. You tin choose between a pigment that glows when exposed to a black light or one that glows in the nighttime for a number of hours later on being charged with UV light. We recommend using DecorRom'southward glow-in-the-dark pigment powder:

• Pack of 10 luminous colors
• Non-toxic, not-radioactive, and cruelty-free
• Multipurpose

• A ready of 10 unlike glow in the dark pigment colors
• Not-toxic, cruelty-costless, non-radioactive
• Versatile pigments for a wide range of uses

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Glitter Powder

The possibilities are seemingly endless when it comes to the furnishings that y'all can create by using glitter powder. At that place is a wide range of glitter from which to choose, such as metallic and even holographic glitter. The glitter in this powder volition not dissolve nor will information technology color the epoxy resin. Thus, you may desire to mix this powder with another pigment to create a number of shimmering effects. You should try using the Let's Resin make for holographic glitter powder:

• Set up of xv colors
• Premium quality holographic glitter
• Wide application of uses

• 15 dissimilar colors of fine glitter for resin
• Ultra sparkle holographic glitter pulverization for many different uses
• High-intensity pigment and holographic shine

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Tip: When adding whatever kind of color to your epoxy resin, you lot need to ensure that you are wearing suitable protective gear, specially and then as to preclude the inhalation of toxic fumes. We suggest a pair of safety goggles, new nitrile gloves, and a animate mask.

Unsuitable Materials for Adding Colour to Epoxy

Some colorant types should never be mixed with epoxy resin. Despite its durability one time cured, epoxy resin is quite sensitive to chemical and temperature changes in its liquid state. Thus, you should take intendance to avoid using the following pigments, as they will have a negative effect on the outcome of your epoxy resin piece.

Acrylic Paint

Acrylic paints should be avoided due to their water base, which volition influence the mixing ratio of your resin. In addition to water and a color pigment, these paints tend to incorporate a number of binding agents, additives, and preservatives. The ingredients in this paint tin can cause any number of unwanted furnishings on your resin project. Using acrylic paint in your resin will too crusade the surface to become matte and streaked with dry out.

Oil Paint

Oil-based paints are often comprised of fats or lipids, which do not mix well with resin. The addition of this kind of paint will result in insoluble lumps forming inside the mixture.

Watercolor Paint

Every bit with any other water-based pigments, watercolor paints are not suitable to be used for coloring resin. In add-on to the water base interfering with the resin'south mixing ratio, these paints do not possess strong enough pigments to color the resin in an constructive fashion. The consistency of these paints would likewise make the chore of mixing information technology with resin that much more difficult.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Should I Use for Coloring Resin?

To add color to casting resin, you should note that this type of epoxy possesses a depression viscosity, meaning that the liquid is quite thin. You tin can use the aforementioned paints and pigment powders to colour your epoxy resin.

Tin I Use a Colored Lacquer Over my Resin Casting?

Yes, you lot tin utilize a layer of colored lacquer over your resin surface, although we suggest that y'all apply a ii-component lacquer of premium quality. Car paint has been plant to work well for this purpose, however, you lot will see better results if the resin was colored before it was cast.

Must I Employ a Special Epoxy Dye for Coloring UV Resin?

There is no specific type of color that needs to be using when coloring UV resin. You simply need to ensure that you measure your pigment carefully and then as not to disrupt the mixing ratio of the resin.

Is Colored Epoxy Resistant to Heat?

Once completely cured, both articulate and colored epoxy resins are resistant to heat upwards to a point. Generally, resin surfaces can withstand temperatures of between 158 and 212 degrees Fahrenheit (betwixt 70 and 100 degrees Celsius), where the exact temperature will depend on the quality and backdrop of the product used.

Yet, some dyes or pigments may take a negative effect on the oestrus-resistance of the resin. Thus, we suggest that you encompass all colored epoxy surfaces that are probable to exist exposed to hot temperatures with an additional articulate blanket of resin for protection.

Can I Use a Black or White Resin Dye?

You could mix a black or white dye into your resin solution, but these colors may not dry out in as solid a manner equally you may similar.

Is It Possible to Acquire How to Color Epoxy Resin Agglutinative?

Information technology is relatively unproblematic to add a pigment to your resin adhesive. Nevertheless, you should take into consideration that the processing time may be afflicted and that the resin may take longer to cure and harden completely.

How Can I Make My Resin Dye Transparent?

Provided you do not paint your resin afterward, any dye that has been added to the resin before casting volition remain slightly transparent. We suggest choosing lighter colors if y'all specifically desire a more than transparent stop. You tin can also try using pocket-sized amounts of airbrush or printer inks to create a transparent color.

When Should I Add together Powdered Resin Colour?

Adding powdered pigments to your resin can increase UV-resistance, meaning that you should add a pigment to any epoxy pieces that volition be exposed to constant sunlight. However, when mixed with resin these colorants do not dissolve completely, leaving behind a grainy finish.

What Proportions of Epoxy Dye Should I Utilize?

As a dominion of thumb, you should use no more than five% colour in relation to the full book of the resin. We suggest outset with 2% of color and increasing the amount in small doses from there. Y'all are unlikely to require a big corporeality of paint, however, every bit a minor amount of full-bodied colour tends to go a long way.

The reason why you should never exceed the 5% ratio (or, in some cases, 6%) is because too much of a colorant will negatively influence the carefully calculated mixing ratio. Epoxy resin is a sensitive material, and any significant change to its internal chemistry will upshot in a slice that does not harden properly.

Is It Safe to Apply Colored Epoxy in Aquariums and Terrariums?

Once a colored resin piece has cured and dried entirely, it will pose no gamble to animals or humans.

Can I Acquire How to Color Resin with Food Pigment?

You cannot use food pigment to colour your resin as the composition of these dyes is incompatible. Food-based colors would also be more sensitive to the effects of the sun.

Is Printer Ink a Suitable Resin Color?

Yous can, in principle, use printer ink to dye your epoxy resin, but this kind of pigment is non specially lightfast. Thus, yous should but utilise printer inks on resin pieces that will non be exposed to the sunday.

Resin color and dye can be used to transform your creations into truly special works of art. Resin is a clear solution, and calculation colour works really well. The higher up guide on pigments and dyes should help y'all to detect the ideal coloring solution for resin.

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