You can use acrylic and fabric paint for coloring on materials. But what is the difference between these colors? Here are several distinctions.
How To Seal Acrylic Paint On Fabric To Keep It Permanently
Do you want a DIY acrylic paint design on your fabric but don’t know how to do it effectively? You may ask, “How can I seal acrylic paint on fabric so it can last permanently?” Well, we’ve researched this question and have the answer below!
You can use heat-setting or indirect ironing to seal acrylic paint on the fabric permanently. Both methods rely on heat to ensure that the acrylic paint sticks permanently to the material.
Now that you know how to seal acrylic paint, let’s learn more about acrylic paints and fabric. We’ll also tackle the vital role of fabric medium in acrylic painting. Also, we have a list of several suitable acrylic fabric paints and acrylic mediums to help you know your options.
Ways To Seal Acrylic Paint On Fabric To Keep It Permanently
There are two simple ways to seal acrylic to keep it on fabric permanently. These methods are discussed below.
Using Heat
You can use heat to set paint permanently on the fabric using a method known as “heat-setting.” This method entails ironing the cloth or fabric on the opposite side to seal the paint effectively.
Use medium-low heat to avoid burning the piece of cloth. Also, let the paint dry for about a day before ironing the material for the best results.
Indirect Ironing
The second method is by using iron without directly ironing the fabric. How do you do this? Heat your iron and hold it on the part with paint. The heat emanating from the iron will set the acrylic paint.
Which Paints Can You Use On Fabric?
Knowing the kind of paints you can use on fabric can significantly help save time. These are:
Acrylic
Acrylic is one of the most used paint on fabric for several reasons. It’s affordable, versatile, easy to use, permanent, and can stick to almost all materials.
Fabric Dye
Fabric dye is also a favorite since it bonds with various fabrics or fibers. Fibers require specific chemical bonds for sticking, so make sure you choose a dye compatible with the material you’ll be using.
Alcohol-Based Colorants
Alcohol-based colorants work great on fabric as they soak deep into its fibers. The downside is that you won’t get much saturation and will need a protecting bond to stop fading when washing.
Do You Need to Seal Fabric Paint?
If you want your work of art to last a very long time, then it is a good idea to seal the fabric paint long before you wash the item. of course, before you seal it, you have to let the paint dry first.
Painting fabric is not like painting the walls of your home. When you paint your home, you just get to put the paint on with a brush or roller and let it dry. You might open a window or two to help that process.
With fabric paint, it is going to have to endure the friction of the washer as well as being soaked in water for long periods of time. That means you need to do other actions to make sure your painting will come through the wash just as it went in.
When you seal the fabric that you just painted you are not only preserving your work, you are protecting the time and effort you spent in creating that masterpiece. That makes sealing very vital.
Can You Seal Paint Fabric?
Yes, you can and there are a couple of methods to do this. Picking the right method may take help from paint experts as they know the paint and the fabrics very well. The first step is to make sure you use the right kind of fabric paint.
If you use the wrong kind of paint or just acrylic without adding a medium, then you are just throwing your time, effort, and money out the window. As we said, painting fabric is not like painting a house or room nor is it like painting on a canvas that has been stretched tight.
You have to follow all instructions carefully and make sure the paint is dry before you seal it. Any missteps could render your work useless or ruin it. because you spent many hours perfecting your artwork on your chosen fabric, make sure to preserve it in the right way so that you can show it off to others with pride.
Instructions are not meant to be broken and should be followed to the letter in most cases.
How to Seal Acrylic Paint On Fabric
Some people suggest that you find a clear fabric medium, mix it up or use it straight from the bottle and paint that solution over the top of your painting. As it dries the medium should form a bond with your fabric and the other paint.
When it does that, you should have a perfect looking picture that should last through many washes. Make sure to follow the instructions and if you are in doubt, go to your local craft store or fabric outlet and ask the experts for some advice.
The other way to seal your acrylic paint is to heat set it. To do that, just make sure not to use the steam setting on your iron. Also, turn the fabric inside out or over to the other side so that you do not iron what you just painted.
Or place a scrap piece of material over the painted side and place your iron on that. This protects your iron from any paint transfer as you work. Then set your iron to medium or hot and that setting is determined by the type of fabric you have painted.
Next, you need to iron for about 3 to 5 minutes and try to do small sections at one time. You should find this easier to move your iron than if you tried to do long or big sections.
If you have waited till the paint dried, then there should be no risk to your iron. It is a good idea if you are going to do this type of artwork more than once, then you should keep an old iron around the house and avoid using your good one.
