How to Make Acrylic Paints Permanent on Fabric?
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How to Make Acrylic Paints Permanent on Fabric?

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Acrylic paint is one of the best drawing paints specially formulated for painting fabric. But using this paint alone on your fabric may result in stiffness, cracks, and discomfort to wear.

In that case, if you don’t want to face such problems, using the textile medium with acrylic paint will be a good solution.

The fabric medium and fabric play a crucial role in making your acrylic paints permanent on the fabric. It will let you be comfortable to wear, soft surface, less abrasion, and prevent cracking.

However, making your acrylic paints permanent on fabric with the fabric medium is not a difficult task. For your help, we will provide a complete guideline in this regard in this article. So, stay with us to explore every detail about fabric painting.

Why Do You Need to Make Your Acrylic Paints Permanent on Fabric?

Acrylic paint is made for multipurpose use. A wide variety of surfaces can be painted with this paint, but it is not flexible enough to paint on fabrics. If you want to use it on fabric, there are several things you have to consider.

This is because acrylic paints naturally harden and stiffen whatever surface you’re painting on. Although this paint is fast drying and waterproof, it can crack or peel if you use it on fabric. Whether the paint peels off or not, it causes uncomfortable stiffness under the painting area.

This condition will worsen when you make multiple layers of paint on your fabric. In that case, you can use acrylic paint on fabric with a fabric medium. This will ensure the paint’s flexibility to move as well as provide a permanent finish.

Things You Need to Make Acrylic Paint Permanent on Fabric

You will need some instruments to make the process of acrylic paint permanent on the fabric easier. So, look out for these things listed below before starting with the steps to permanent fabric paint.

  • Measuring Cup
  • Soap
  • Stirrer
  • Paint brushes
  • Fabric Medium
  • Cardboard
  • Waxed Paper
  • Iron Sponge

How to Make Acrylic Paints Permanent on Fabric

Follow the below steps to make acrylic paint permanent on the fabric. This will help you to get efficient and satisfying results.

Step 1: Choosing the Color of Paints

First, you need to choose the paint color you wish to use on your fabric. Using cotton blend fabric that is pre-washed and dried will be suitable for the best results.

Besides, you will need to use fabric medium with your acrylic paint. For that, take an 8 oz bottle of fabric medium and a 2 oz bottle of acrylic paint. After that, shake the bottles well for a better outcome.

Step 2: Mixing Fabric Medium

After shaking the bottles properly, mix acrylic paint and fabric medium in the ratio of 2:1 using the measuring cups.

Then you have to mix them properly using a stirrer. When you notice that the white difference in the fabric medium disappears, stop stirring.

Step 3: Wash Your Stirrer and Cups

The measuring cup you used to pour paint and medium should be washed immediately. Otherwise, the paint will adhere to the measuring cup permanently.

Similarly, wash the stirrer after mixing the medium and paint. You can utilize soap and cold water to wash them.

Step 4: Inserting Cardboard With Wax Paper

In this step, you will have to arrange your wax paper and cardboard. First, cover the cardboard with wax paper. After that, insert that cardboard underneath the fabric you wish to paint.

Now you can paint on the fabric to make your desired designs. Paintbrushes, sponges, stencils, or your fingers can be used to create unique designs on your fabric.

However, you must make sure the fabric paint doesn’t become watery, affecting your fabric painting quality.

Step 5: Air Drying Your Fabric

Once you have finished the acrylic paint on the fabric, you need to air-dry them. In this step, you can use any hanger to put the fabric for drying. Besides, the painted fabric should be kept for at least a day to get the best drying results.

Step 6: Heat Setting the Fabric

This step is very crucial for making your fabric paint long-lasting. Here you have to heat set the fabric paint before washing or wearing it.

For that, turn your fabric inside out and use the cotton mode on your iron. Then, place any old fabric over the printed area on your fabric. Now you need to iron firmly over the fabric.

Move the iron for approximately 20 seconds in the printed area and move to the next place to prevent scorching. Remember, don’t slide the iron around and ensure you iron the complete painted place of the fabric.

Step 7: Washing The Fabric

Now you have to wash and drip dry your printed fabric. Use a washing machine with a gentle wash cycle for long-lasting fabric.

After washing the fabric, you have to keep the fabric in a tumbler dryer on a low heating option. Finally, your acrylic-painted fabric will be ready with lifelong durability.

Tips for Making Acrylic Paint Last Longer on Fabric

Here we have shown some significant tips to increase the lifespan of your acrylic paint on the fabric. So, check out the easy steps below:

  • Utilizing a Washing Machine: It is good to use a washing machine to clean your painted fabric. Always try to wash the fabric with the gentle cycle mode. After washing, dry the fabric with a low heat setting.
  • Wash By Hand: If you don’t have a washing machine to wash the printed fabric, try to wash it with your hand. After that, drip dry the fabric in the open air.
  • Iron on Low Setting: Always try to iron your fabric using the low heating mode. Otherwise, the printed area could be damaged due to the high temperature. Start ironing your fabric on the reverse side that will make your fabric durable and permanent.
  • Don’t Bleach Before: Avoid using bleach on your fabric before or after washing your printed fabric. This is because bleach can quickly impact acrylic paint that may discolor your paint.

Conclusion

You can use acrylic paint on your desired fabric, but your painted fabric will be better if you use a fabric medium.

This is because acrylic paint alone can’t last for long, especially on the fabric. In that case, using a fabric medium will help you to make your acrylic paints permanent on the fabric.

However, you may find making acrylic paints permanent on fabric a challenge. For that, in this context, we have presented complete step-by-step guidelines in this regard.

Following the simple steps discussed above, you can easily make your acrylic paint permanent on the fabric.

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