Resin art is our bread & butter at Carved – it's how we make all of our beautiful wood phone cases, wallets, pocketknives, and other everyday carry items. And over the years, we've learned a thing or two about how to color resin to create unique, vibrant colors that stand out.
However, not all that glitter is gold in resin art. Certain colorants like oil paint, watercolor, and even everyday spices might yield different results than you're after. Crafting the perfect resin artwork requires knowledge, experimentation, and a keen eye for detail. Join us as we navigate the do's and don'ts of coloring resin, ensuring your creations not only dazzle but also stand the test of time.
The Basics of Colored Resin
Coloring epoxy resin unlocks a broad spectrum of creative possibilities. From transparent resin colors to bold, opaque pigments, the sky's the limit when it comes to the colors & patterns you can dream up as an artist. The choice of resin colorants can dramatically influence the artwork's mood, depth, and texture.
Unlike paint, resin's surface shimmers like glitter. But glitter doesn't just tint the resin; it adds depth and enhances the work's reflective properties. Bigger glitter particles, though heavier, can also create a beautiful underwater (and galaxy-like) effect, imbuing the art with unique dimensional attributes.
This is one of our favorite resin effects, evident in our Cosmos Collection.
But there's more than meets the eye when learning to color resin. In addition to the visual aspects, there are other factors to consider. Certain resin dye techniques affect color vibrancy and the resin's curing process. For instance, acrylic paint can accelerate the hardening, while other colorants may hinder it.
Similarly, though you may initially think that ground spices will liven the color of the resin, you should be prepared for a grainy finish that fades quickly. Many pigments will not hold up over time because of the material's sensitivity to UV resin coloring.
Resin tinting tips, such as swatch testing, keeping colorant proportions below 10%, and considering color fastness, are necessary to achieve the desired results. We'll discuss all these shortly, so keep them in mind as we work through this guide.
Deep Dive on Resin Colorants
Types of Resin Colorants: Pigments, Dyes, and Inks
Resin artists primarily use pigments, dyes, and inks to add colors to their creations. Pigments like powders or liquids offer a deep, rich color and opacity. They work incredibly well when you aim to achieve bold and intense hues.
On the contrary, dyes and inks, like alcohol inks, provide a more refined and subtle approach. They're the go-to options for vibrant resin colors, transparent resin colors, and the mesmerizing effects of depth and layers. However, you must use them sparingly, as they can affect the curing process if used excessively.
Transparency and Color Intensity
Different colorants offer distinct advantages and drawbacks. That's where resin dye techniques and knowledge become indispensable in achieving your desired result. For instance, transparency created with dyes and inks allows you to build depth into your pieces. However, you must sacrifice color intensity compared to other pigments.
Pigments, particularly opaque pigments for resin, will leave you with intense, bold colorations. With them, you can achieve solid color effects that stand out. However, they need more dyes, inks, and pigment transparency than color depth and saturation makeup.
How to Choose the Right Colorant for Your Resin
Your colorant selection will depend on your artistic vision, whether you want transparent resin colors or rich opaque shades. Let's break it down.
Liquid Pigments
Liquid pigments, such as alcohol ink, are ideal for resin tinting. These pigments smoothly blend with the resin, creating vibrant colors and beautifully swirled effects. However, you must carefully observe the mixing ratios, as an excessive amount can interfere with the resin curing process. Use high-quality alcohol ink in resin for outstanding transparency and depth of color.
Powder Pigments
Powder options, like mica powder and glitter powder, offer intense color and shimmering effects. The result will be a bold, opaque resin pigment. To mix correctly, you must utilize finely milled powders to ensure a smooth, lump-free blend. Powder pigments such as nails, eyeshadows, and kitchen spices can also be used. For a dazzling effect, intermittently add glitter while pouring layers of resin to create an intriguing layering color effect in your resin.
Alternative Colorants
There are several other alternatives for resin colorants. Products like high-quality acrylic paint are commonly used due to their wide color range. Still, too much liquid can negatively impact the resin's final result. Unconventional materials like kitchen spices or chalk can also be used as a unique approach to UV resin coloring. Be sure to test a small batch before committing to these alternative colorants to ensure that your vision is achievable and that the combination won't affect the resin's curing process. Testing on a small batch is better than ruining several liters of resin.
Mixing the Resin with a Hardener
Our Carved team spends hours preparing to design and create our phone cases. Assuming you've taken the necessary safety precautions and prepared your workspace, your mixing ratio is the most essential element to consider.
When we say mixing, we mean mixing the resin and the hardener. Mix resin and hardener in a specific ratio, which is manufacturer-defined (50/50. 60/40, etc...), sometimes by weight and sometimes by volume. The mixing ratio can also vary based on the type of resin pigment option in use. It's essential to note the pigment loading suggestion. For instance, a 10% pigment loading in a typical application creates an opaque effect. However, this is quite a high loading percentage. The epoxy resin's property is worth noting, as it alters the viscosity depending on the pigment load. Adjusting the ratio can yield various results, from creating swirls in resin to developing a marbled look.
We recommend not adding more than 5% of the total volume of the mixed resin with color. Violating this ratio can cause the resin to not cure correctly. Use a suitable spatula to thoroughly integrate the colorant, ensuring it disperses within the resin homogeneously.
When it comes to UV resin coloring, traditional alcohol inks are not suitable. This is due to a chemical reaction that prevents the resin from catalyzing under UV rays. Instead, using the same brand of colorants as your UV resin is recommended.
The mixing process is straightforward. Pour the desired amount of resin into a cup, add the chosen colorant, and mix well. Your colored resin is ready for molding.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Occasionally, you face a few obstacles in your resin coloring journey. Here, we address some of the common problems often encountered in the process:
- Problem with Pigments: If you experience trouble with certain resin colorants, remember that not all pigments react well with resin. Switch to proven options like alcohol ink, acrylic paint in resin, or special resin dyes.
- Unexpected Color Shifts: Are you struggling to change your resin's colors after drying? UV resin coloring might be the culprit, as it can react with sunlight and cause unforeseen shifts in hue.
- Surface Issues: Encountering random divots or specks throughout the cured resin may imply a poor choice of paint, perhaps water-based. This is a common issue that is quickly resolved by using epoxy-specific pigment options.
- Utilizing Inappropriate Colorants: Avoid using inappropriate colorants like oil paint, watercolor, spices, food coloring, and ground chalk in resin, as they can cause flaws and fading due to chemical reactions. Instead, use resin-specific colorants designed for optimal results, ensuring vibrant and lasting colors in your resin projects.
- Ignoring Translucency: Translucency affects how light passes through resin. To achieve a translucent effect, use a small amount of opaque powder instead of opaque pigment. This scatters light, making the resin semi-opaque for a unique look.
- Resin type: Epoxy resins, because of their lighter, more runny nature, tend to mix easier than casting resins, which are thick & sluggish.
- Mismanaging Glitter: Large pieces of glitter (or clumps of small glitter) will sink to the bottom of the resin. Stir slowly and consistently to keep glitter evenly distributed. Glitter adds sparkle but doesn't tint resin. Improve your technique by experimenting with different colorants like alcohol ink and UV resin coloring.
Creative Applications for Colored Resin
Coloring epoxy resin adds a vibrant dimension to many creations, transforming simple pieces into art. Resin pigment options like alcohol ink and acrylic paint can create a spectrum of hues for several projects.
- Resin jewelry: Blending different liquid pigments makes it possible to achieve vibrant resin colors in rings, necklaces, bracelets, and earrings. Transparent resin colors lend a touch of elegance and subtlety to your pieces.
- Furniture accents: Add a pop of color to wooden furniture with 'river tables,' a fun way to make your live edge wood furniture stand out. You pour the tinted resin into carved channels in the wood, making for stunning accents.
- Home Decor: Colored resin can morph everyday items into unique art pieces. From vibrantly tinted vases to multicolored coasters, let your imagination run wild.
Adding swirls into your resin or layering colors can add subtle depth and texture to your creations.
Advanced Resin Coloring Techniques
Coloring epoxy resin is not just about injecting bright colors. It's also about revealing and enhancing the inherent beauty of a piece. Here are a few resin dye techniques that you can use for your artwork and decorations:
- Translucent Effects: Mix opaque pigments with resin to achieve stunning effects. The light passes through and scatters, resulting in diffused light. This does not significantly reduce the light through the piece, creating a luminous, semi-transparent finish.
- Tints and Shades: Adjusting the pigment ratio effortlessly creates hue variations. These variations are ideal for achieving natural-looking gradients and subtle shading.
- UV Coloring: For a quick-set color, try using UV resin coloring. It offers an effective shortcut to deliver vibrant colors with excellent lightfast properties.
If you make a piece, you're proud of, make sure to take care of it so that you can maintain its vibrancy and personality over time.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can be used to color resin?
Resin can be colored using resin-specific colorants, such as alcohol inks, mica powders, and liquid pigments, which ensure vibrant and lasting results. Avoid using incompatible materials like oil paint, food coloring, and spices.
Can you add alcohol to the resin?
Yes, alcohol inks are an excellent resin colorant, given their alcohol base. They tend not to disrupt the resin's curing process, as the alcohol evaporates quickly, leaving the pigment behind. Do not use water-based inks like acrylic inks.
Can I use food coloring in resin?
No, food coloring is not recommended for use in resin as it can cause fading and may not mix well, leading to flaws in the final product. Use resin-specific colorants for optimal results.
How do I add color to epoxy resin?
To add color to epoxy resin, mix in a resin-specific colorant like alcohol ink, mica powder, or liquid pigment according to the manufacturer's instructions. Stir thoroughly to ensure an even distribution of color.
What is the best paint for resin?
Acrylic paints are generally the best option for coloring resin. Model train paints, available at hobby stores, also work effectively.