Fabric Painting: Dyeing & Staining
Dyeing and staining fabric and raw canvas can only be done with acrylic emulsion paints such as Liquitex Acrylics. Acids in oil paint will attack and destroy fabrics and canvas over time.
1. Wash fabric to remove any starch or sizing. Let dry.
2. Mix Flow-Aid Water (1 part Flow-Aid to 20 parts water) with Soft Body Concentrated Artist Color. Refer to Additives: Flow-Aid Flow Enhancer.
3. Start by mixing 1 part color and 3 parts Flow-Aid Water (FAW). Add more FAW to increase transparency and decrease color intensity.
- Transparent and translucent colors work best and dry with a softer fabric finish.
- For hard edge dying, do not pre-wet fabric. For soft edge, pre-wet fabric with FAW.
- Tightly woven cotton and silk will achieve richest colors (weave is close together).
- A hot wax resist may be used for hard edges. Remove wax resist by dry cleaning.
- All colors are permanent and need no heat setting. Wet colors will dry lighter.
- Titanium White, all Iridescent and Interference colors may stiffen fabric.