Epoxy resin is a unique material that allows you to create exquisite decorative items. Souvenir plates, countertops, bijouterie, jewelry are just a few of what can be done with potting compounds. For their creation, dyes and pigments are used with imitation of various textures, transitions, and tints of colors. In our catalog of resin coasters , you can see the various variations in the use of dyes and pigments by our master.
What dye to use for epoxy?
At its core, epoxy is a transparent material. It is widely used in the field of creating decorative products, and for them, I want to choose something non-standard, bright, beautiful. Colors help to give the epoxy solution a certain shade. They are different: some emphasize the nobility of the transparent texture, others emphasize the luxury of metalized gold, and still, others delight the eye with the glitter of glitter.
The main purpose of dyes is to achieve certain artistic effects. All of them mix well with the material, giving the surface an interesting appearance. What dye to use for epoxy? Below are some of the most popular options.
Alcohol ink
Alcohol ink is a unique opportunity to create abstract paintings on epoxy, even without artistic skills. They are dyes in an alcoholic solvent with additives. After application to the surface, the alcohol disappears, and the color stains remain. The following factors speak in favor of choosing alcohol black:
- the quickness of drying and adhesion to the surface,
- good adhesion with a stable effect,
- increased lightfastness,
- easy mixing of different types of ink to obtain the desired tone.
Due to the high concentration of alcohol, it is necessary to buy thinners for ink, which will also help to obtain less saturated shades. Varieties of alcohol ink mix well with each other, which is especially important for obtaining new color solutions.
Clear toners
The use of transparent toners makes it possible to obtain shades of different degrees of saturation, while the resin remains transparent without haze. Typically, such toners are used to create an imitation of water or glass: even through a thick layer of fill, the object will be visible. Sometimes, with the help of toners, a top color layer is created, and when mixed, new interesting shades are obtained. It is recommended to use a transparent dye no more than 5% of the total mass of the solution.
The most important rule for using clear toner is uniformity. Otherwise, the surface will be spotty: somewhere the colored layer will be larger and thicker, somewhere not, and the saturation of the finished product will differ. Too much toner can change the physical and mechanical properties of the product: the resin simply will not get the required hardness and will be similar in texture to rubber.
Luminous dyes
Glow-in-the-dark epoxy resin accessories look stylish and very original. The desired shade is given to the products by a pigmented color scheme, to which a fluorescent powder is added. It is he who is responsible for the glow in the dark due to the accumulation of natural light during the day.
Phosphorescent
These dyes contain phosphorus. Phosphorescent color is used in cases where there is a need to highlight individual elements of the product.
Fluorescent (neon) dyes
It is the brightest epoxy paint, producing the most intense shades with dramatic contrasts. Their uniqueness is in the glow when the sun's rays hit them. True, under the strong influence of ultraviolet radiation, the surface can fade. By mixing dyes of different colors, you can come up with unusual shades.
Formulations with phosphor (Glow in the dark)
A phosphor is a phosphorescent pigment that accumulates light radiation and releases it into the environment in the form of a soft glow. It can be flickering with multi-colored neon, or it can be slightly green - depending on the composition of the product. In essence, a phosphor is a substance that is safe for humans and is of organic origin. The use of such a specific dye will give the simplest resin product uniqueness and originality. As the light gains strength, the Glow in the dark dye begins to glow in the dark, and the effect lasts depending on the quality of the composition and the degree of "charge".
Matting dyes
Some epoxy products require a matte finish. This is achieved by using special dyes, the function of which is to neutralize glossiness. The color after such processing remains deep, saturated, but slightly muted.
Diffuser DF-151
This additive gives the material a milky, opaque texture. As a result, the finished epoxy resin product resembles a moonstone or opal. The finely dispersed powder is odorless and helps to impart viscosity to the mixture without reacting with the resin. Do not add more than a 5% difference to the mixture.
Art paints
Acrylic paints and brushes When it is not possible to use a special color scheme, ordinary artistic paints are used. Their varieties help to achieve different effects. It is easy to create soft, pastel shades with acrylic paints; based on oil paints, opaque but rich shades with the effect of smooth color transitions are obtained.
When using art paints, balance is needed: they are rich and bright, so a maximum of 10% of the total resin is sufficient. The versatility lies in the fact that dyes can be easily combined, allowing craftsmen to mix them in different proportions and experiment with color to obtain unusual solutions and textures.
Use of improvised means
A bottle of greenery Few people know, but you can paint the resin even with what you find in your kitchen cabinet or first aid kit. What kind of paint is added to epoxy at home? Here are some simple solutions:
- The ink from helium pen. They are viscous, saturated, so the shade will be appropriate. Ballpoint ink can produce unpredictable results, such as green turning into a brownish tint.
- Activated carbon. A great option when you need to get black.
- Alcohol stain. With its help, a light tint is given to the epoxy resin.
- Zelenka. When added, the material will acquire a persistent green color.
- Baby powder, talcum powder, or tooth powder. With their help, the masters give the epoxy resin a white color.
- Nitro paints and alkyd paints. They mix well with resin to produce vibrant and rich colors. True, these funds are toxic, so you need to work with them in compliance with safety measures.
Resin Toner For home remedies, you can also use printer toner, food coloring, and crayon powder. These options are affordable but not as durable and durable as custom resin colors. It is worth not forgetting: it is impossible to paint the material with water-based compounds since this will cause the resin to lose its polymer properties.
What pigments are suitable for epoxy resin?
A distinctive feature of pigments is resistance to dissolution in water. They are presented in such a variety of effects that you can achieve any interesting solution - from a glossy surface with glitters to "metallic" and patterns that will glow in the dark.
Pigments can be sinking and pop up, allowing you to create incredibly beautiful effects in the form of cracks or full-fledged multi-layered shapes. They are safe to use, but they help to create a deep shine, do not fade over time, and are resistant to temperatures and light. Below we will tell you which pigments are suitable for epoxy resin.
Single color pastes
Due to the high concentration of the one-color paste, it is easy to cover any other colors, moreover, it is economically consumed. The main purpose of the composition is to paint the product in one deep and even color with the creation of realistic waves, sags. Moreover, the more pigment you add, the more saturated the shade will be. However, it is not recommended to add more than 15% of the product to the total volume of the mixture. The pigment mixes well, the consistency is uniform without any lumps.
Pop-ups
What could be more beautiful than a stand or countertop with a precious metal effect such as gold or silver? A pigment with a powder of crushed real metals in the composition helps to achieve this. The decorative additive forms a thin film on the surface. If you interfere with it forcibly, then part of the floating pigment will remain in the thickness of the solution, and part will gradually float up. The color itself looks fresh, shimmering with stains and overflows.
Metallic-effect
If you want to achieve the effect of a soft, uniform shine, use a metalized pigment. It gives the resin the luster of copper, silver, and gold. In the fill, the pigment sinks, but remains clearly visible through the depth and even shimmers in the rays of light. When two effects are combined - metallic with mother-of-pearl - a beautiful haze forms on the surface of the product. Kohler has a fine texture and is economically consumed.
Popular metallic pigments are gold and silver. The first option itself looks noble, the second gives the surface a silvery shimmer.
With mother-of-pearl effect
The delicate and mysterious pigment is evenly distributed in the epoxy mixture, and when illuminated, the finest overflows of shades are noticeable. Craftsmen use the composition to create three-dimensional images and layered drawings in the thickness of the resin. Pigment powder is presented in a variety of shades, and the pearlescent effect is achieved by the presence of natural mica in its composition.
Chameleons
The exact shade of this pigment cannot be determined, because it shimmers in several colors at once. Due to the saturation, they create a unique surface on resin products, especially if the coating is dark - the overflows are especially visible on it. Everyone will see their color - depending on which side the light falls on. Mixing the pigment with others is allowed and even recommended, especially for those who want non-standard solutions.
Glitters
Glitters are an excellent addition to epoxy mortar, giving the finished product a brilliant shine. Outwardly, these are shiny film particles of different colors, sizes, and shapes. The pigment is either applied with a brush or squeezed out in a thin stream to form an ornament on the surface. The effects are different:
- 3D is achieved by adding sparkles to an already finished product,
- if large particles are used, the surface will be incredibly shiny due to the reflection of sunlight;
- very small particles will create the effect of exploding sparks.
When using glitters, the main thing is not to drown them in the solution - in this case, the properties of the additive will be difficult to assess in all its glory. Also, do not immediately mix the pigments into the resin: they are too heavy and will simply sink to the bottom. Using sparkles of different sizes, you can create unusual effects: something will spread over the thickness of the epoxy resin, something will fall to the bottom, but the overall picture will be holistic and bright.
Holographic
This pigment is responsible for the volumetric color of the desired depth, shimmering with all shades of the rainbow. Holographic particles are of different sizes, and this affects the smoothness and richness of the transition between colors. Distinctive features of the funds - in high resistance to heat and stability to UV rays.