Fabric paint is a sort of paint that is used to design fabrics and other materials that have a similar feel to them. It’s thinner and typically dye-based, which makes it easier to work within the fabric. Fabric paint often contains glue-binding ingredients that are not found in other paints. Your home décor and apparel can be revitalized with a fresh coat of paint. Spray painting has opened up a new creative level for us, allowing us to make art on any surface. So, Can you use spray paint on fabric?
Let’s see what I have found:
Can You Use Spray Paints On Fabrics?
You can use spray paint on fabrics. Fabric spray paint provides vibrant color while maintaining softness. Put some cardboard inside the fabric garment, then straighten the surface to paint on it, wait 24-36 hours to dry and set the paint with heat setting, this will make the spray paint last longer.
In this article, we are going to be telling you everything you need to know about spray painting fabric. This article will discuss:
- Can You Use Spray Paints On Fabrics?
- Is Fabric Spray Paint Waterproof?
- Types of Spray Paints Used on Fabric
- Advantages of Using Spray Paints on Your Fabrics
- Durability of Fabric Spray Paints on Fabric
- Application of Fabric Spray Paint
- How To Spray Paint Fabrics?
- Precautions for Using Fabric Spray Paint
- Best Fabric Spray Paint
- How To Maintain Spray Paint on Fabric
Let’s read on!
- Can You Use Spray Paints On Fabrics?
- Is Fabric Spray Paint Waterproof?
- Types of Spray Paints Used on Fabric
- Advantages of Using Spray Paints on Your Fabrics
- Durability of Fabric Spray Paints on Fabric
- Application of Fabric Spray Paint
- How To Spray Paint Fabrics?
- Precautions for Using Fabric Spray Paint
- Best Fabric Spray Paint
- How To Maintain Spray Paint on Fabric
- FAQs
- Final Words
Is Fabric Spray Paint Waterproof?
If you are looking to revive outdoor furniture fabric, you might want to go for outdoor fabric spray paint. This is because the furniture/fabric is constantly exposed to certain weather conditions like rain and sunshine.
Outdoor fabric paint is entirely waterproof, will attach to practically any fabric (coated or uncoated), and will last for years to come. Various artists are of the opinion that acrylic paints go better with polyester fabric for a long-lasting and smooth effect. However, research, also shows that it can also be used on synthetic materials.
Types of Spray Paints Used on Fabric
Remember we earlier said we need to keep the type of fabrics in mind before using spray paint? The same also goes for types of spray paints. We need to consider various types of spray paints to use on our fabrics for better results.
Here we have highlighted four major types of spray paints that are suitable for fabric design. They are as follows;
- Liquid Fabric Paint: This is comparable to normal paint and comes in tubes or jars. Liquid fabric paint makes it easier to draw tiny lines and details.
- Spray Paint: This is the easiest fabric painting technique. When you need to cover a huge area or are using stencils in your design, spray paint is typically used.
- Fabric Markers: One of the simplest ways to utilize fabric paint is with fabric markers. They eliminate the risk of a mess and can be used to effortlessly make lines, writing, or other details.
- Dimensional Paint: The cloth is raised using dimensional paint. Puffy Paints, as they’re often known, come in tubes with small applicators that can be used for fine detail work.
Can You Paint Fabric With Regular Paint?
When it comes to fabrics, paint is no exception. Even if you’ve never considered it before, thinking about color and pattern in fabric items in the home may seem counterintuitive, but you can paint fabric with regular paint. Whether curtain fabric or furniture fabric, you just need to know the right technique.
An example of regular paint you can use on fabric is Latex Paint. This is because latex interior paint sticks just as effectively to various materials as it does to walls. For applications that require little extra additives, such as a cushion cover, you will need fabric medium. Fabric medium helps to give elasticity to the paint and convert regular paint into fabric paint. Paint additives are not necessary if the project does not require flexible fabric.
What Type of Spray Paint Is Best for Use on Fabrics?
While you can use any type of paint on fabrics, your goal should be to make such paint permanent and vibrant even as time progresses. To guarantee this, you can use Acrylic-based fabric spray paints.
However, before applying color, make sure you understand your fabric and its cleaning requirements. The quickest and most adaptable technique to permanently paint on a cloth is to mix a fabric medium with any color of acrylic paint.
Painters recommend acrylic paint because it is so easy to use. It is a technique that helps you create permanent colors on the fabric. It also comes in a variety of colors, so your creativity is limitless when it comes to fabric painting.
Advantages of Using Spray Paints on Your Fabrics
Fabric spray paints should be your number one paint option when you think of fabric paintings, they should be the first thing that comes to mind before beginning the project. There are lots of benefits to the use of fabric spray paints which include among many, the ease it brings to the painter. Some other benefits are as listed.
- Fabric spray paints are mostly safe to use indoors and around children, it is usually non-toxic but however, and they should not be used directly on the skin or edibles because they can cause harm to the body directly.
- Fabric spray paints can be used to make varieties of colors, finishes, and textures.
- Fabric spray paints are easier to use compared to fabric dyes and acrylic paints. They come in a more conventional and ready-to-use manner which requires little or no special preparation before use. Many artists prefer fabric spray paint because of the easy application.
- Fabric spray paint has a higher quality finishing compared to the other painting options because it has higher pigments content.
- Fabric spray paints are cheap, usually the cheapest among other painting options.
Durability of Fabric Spray Paints on Fabric
How Long Does Fabric Spray Paint Last?
A common worry of fabric painters can be how long the paint would last on the fabric. Good fabric spray paints are permanent, they are designed to last as long as 3 to 4 years without fading.
How Can I Permanently Paint Fabric?
But how can you ensure that it lasts this long? Here’s how it’s all in the application technique and more importantly what you do after. The garment can be dry-cleaned after the paint has dried; the solvents used in dry-cleaning can occasionally erase the paint stains. It can be applied with a brush and functions similarly to a painter’s painting on canvas. The paint absorbs into the strands of the fabric and forms a connection. This connection is permanent, resulting in a vivid, washable, flexible, and long-lasting color.
In addition to the method explained above, you can also make paint fabric permanently by using acrylic paint. Mix a fabric medium with acrylic paint to create a permanent painting on the fabric. Acrylic paint dries quickly and is waterproof, but it can split or peel if used alone. Using a fabric medium allows the paint to travel with the garment, ensuring a long-lasting finish.
It’s one of the major elements of fabric paint that’s been specially created. Fabric paint is just acrylic paint with a fabric medium built-in. This makes it ideal for painting on fabric because no additional materials are required.
Application of Fabric Spray Paint
You can spray paint different sorts of items. Paint can restore life and shine to whatever you put it on. So let us look at a few items that are commonly known to be spray painted.
Upholstery
Upholstery painting is a simple process. Many of the textiles are the same as those used in clothes and draperies. You’ll need more space to spray paint your sofa, but the rest of the process is the same.
Paint transfer, however, is a potential hazard with upholstery. You must ensure that the paint is properly set into the upholstery fabric, even more so than with clothing. Otherwise, as you utilize the furniture, the paint color would transfer to your clothes.
Keep an eye on the upholstery cloth you’ve chosen. Spray painting leather may not be an option. The finish may be blotchy and peeled. Leather dyes that are specific to leatherwork better.
How to Spray Paint Upholstery?
To spray paint upholstery, you need to clean the item that you want to paint and pick a color that you’d like to use on the upholstery. Your painting area should already be set up, it should be a place that allows for a lot of air to help your painting dry. You should also be sure to follow all safety precaution measures while painting.
When applying your paint, you should spray in thin coats and allow some time for it to dry. Be sure to spray about 4 coats and leave about a 15 mins interval for each coat to dry. Allow it to dry properly and then your upholstery is ready to be used.
Clothes/T-shirts/Cotton Jacket
Spray paint is one of the easiest and most versatile solutions for painting your garments, regardless of what you’re aiming to achieve. Whether you are looking for a trendy, wearable work of art or a simple decoration on a plain T-shirt, spray paint will give you that.
T-shirts can be painted with normal spray paint. What’s interesting about them is that they come in a variety of colors when compared to fabric dyes.
Lampshade
Lampshades can be painted to give your home a fresh look at a little cost. Depending on the style, paint can be used to create a statement piece for a living room. Fabric paint, spray paint, and other finishes can be used to transform the appearance of vintage lampshades.
With acrylic paint, you may give your lampshade a more solid appearance. Fabric paint, unlike acrylic paint, is designed to easily soak into the fabric, so it won’t leave a stiff finish.
A lamp shade’s color can also be changed with a spray paint application. This approach may be used to cover almost any cloth, hide existing patterns, and lighten or darken the color.
Blinds
Did you know you can also spray paint window blinds? Especially vinyl blinds. Sun damage can cause vinyl blinds to grow yellowed and filthy. You can solve the filth by washing it but the sun damage is permanent. However, painting blinds is the most cost-effective technique to revive them! You may modify the style of your window coverings without spending a fortune on new blinds by using a few cans of spray paint.
Shoes
Another way you can apply spray paint and expand your creativity is by spray painting your shoes. There are different types of shoes so you can’t just use any spray paint for any shoes.
There are spray paints made specifically for leather shoes and synthetic shoes. These are the types of spray paint that you can use to paint leather and synthetic shoes. Spray painting is the most economical and time-saving way to make your character look flawless. With our spray paint demonstration, you can paint shoes quickly and easily.
Carpet
Spray painting your carpet can give your home or room a new look. If you want to create a new design or change the color of your carpet, this is your best bet. Please note that when it comes to spray painting your carpet, you should make sure that you use fabric spray paint only. If you use any other type of paint, your carpet might turn out dry and crunchy and the paints will start breaking in no time.
Outdoor Cushions/Car Seats
With time your car seats might start fading because you clean them as you should or you might simply feel the need to revamp your car’s interior. You can use fabric seat spray paints to paint your car seats. Simply, purchase a spray dye suited for fabric and vinyl. However, there are no specific paints made for painting fabric automobile seats, but spray paint made for vinyl and fabric works excellently well.
How To Spray Paint Fabrics?
So we have been talking about spray painting fabric but when haven’t shown you how to do it. So in this segment, we are going to give you a detailed guide on how you can spray paint your fabric. First, let’s start with the tools you need.
Tools Needed For Spray Painting Fabric:
- Acrylic Paint/Fabric Spray Paint
- Acrylic Medium
- Container with Tight Fitting Lid
- Fabric for Testing
- Iron / Ironing Board
- Foam brush
Steps To Spray Paint Fabrics
Step 1: Prepare Your Fabric for Painting
Prepare your paint and costume and make sure they are clean. This will aid in the removal of any residue from the manufacturing process, such as dirt or chemicals. When pre-washing, avoid fabric softener. Softeners will introduce additional chemicals that will impede paint adhesion.
Chemicals on the fabric or dirt between the fibers may make it difficult for the coating to adhere to the fabric. As a result, a clean garment has a higher chance of having a permanent finish.
Step 2: Do a Fabric Test
Test a little piece of your garment once it has dried to evaluate how well the paint adheres to it. Examine how well the paint adheres to the fabric. Is it a semi-opaque or semi-transparent finish? You may need to use a thicker paint, then you can add another layer, depending on the effect you want to achieve.
Step 3: Straighten Out Your Fabric
To remove any wrinkles in the region you want to paint, give your garment short ironing. If you desire a design with gaps, wrinkles will produce places that paint won’t reach. If you don’t, it’s not going to go well.
Step 4: Paint Your Fabric
Make a painting on your clothes. If you want a one-sided pattern, make sure you put some cardboard inside your shirt so the paint doesn’t leak out. Then, just as you would if you were painting on canvas or paper, use a paintbrush and stencil or freehand paint.
Step 5: Leave To Dry and Set the Paint with Heat
Allow at least 24-36 hours for your painted clothing to dry. After that, heat is used to set the paint. A low-heat dryer can be used, but iron is the best option. Turn the garment inside out and iron the design on the back. The heat will set the paint, resulting in a long-lasting and one-of-a-kind result.
Precautions for Using Fabric Spray Paint
- Overspray should be avoided. When working with larger pieces, place small projects in a deep cardboard box or lay down a drop cloth.
- Make the surface ready. Before spray painting, most materials must be cleaned, sanded, and dried for optimal results. A primer will provide you with a smoother surface, a more accurate color, and a longer-lasting finish.
- Read all of the instructions carefully. Before you start painting, double-check the spraying distance and drying times on the can.
- Make a test with your spray paint. Spray a test piece of scrap material on the same surface as your project for a practice run. An easy-to-use trigger on a steady spray tool creates an even stream of paint.
- The spray valve should be cleaned to prevent clogging.
Best Fabric Spray Paint
#1. Rust-oleum fabric paint
Paints with a chalky finish have excellent coverage and a velvety finish. Rust-Oleum Chalked spray paint is ideal for indoor fabrics and can be used on materials like wood and metal. It sticks nicely with minimal prep work thanks to its oil-based recipe and high-quality pigments. Colors blend wonderfully together, and stenciling with this stuff is a breeze.
Often, just one coat is enough to finish a project. One can of paint covers 12 square feet of cloth in one coat and dries to the touch in 20 minutes. Spray paint with a chalky finish may stiffen upholstery fabric and is not machine washable. Using a moist towel, wipe down the painted surface.
#2. Krylon Spray Paint
Spray paint the cushions on your old patio furniture before discarding them to the curb. With this solvent-based spray paint from Krylon, you can easily rejuvenate old, fading upholstery on outdoor furniture. It revitalizes and protects outdoor materials while also standing up to the elements. This Krylon K05576007 COLORmaxx Spray Paint and Primer has a solvent basis and contains both a primer and a paint for maximum adherence, coverage, and durability. It dries to a satin finish with a subtle gloss in a short amount of time.
The 12-ounce can has a large push-button spray mechanism that makes it easy to use. It sprays consistently in any position, including upside down. Paint outside when the temperature is between 55 and 75 degrees and the humidity is below 60% for optimal results.
#3. Tulip ColorShot Instant Fabric
Two gentle applications of the Tulip ColorShot instant Fabric spray will revive faded indoor upholstery. It softens upholstery fabric while preserving the original fibers’ woven pattern for a natural appearance. It can also be used on throw pillows, rugs, and drapery fabric. It’s densely pigmented for deep color, yet once dried, it won’t rub off on clothing.
This interior upholstery spray is popular among DIYers because of its even application and quick drying time. The spray-pump system provides precise control for even, smooth coverage. It is also ergonomically engineered to reduce hand fatigue. One can of paint covers one square yard of fabric with two light coats.
21 Best Fabric Spray Paints of 2022 (Reviews & Buyer’s Guide)
How To Maintain Spray Paint on Fabric
Fabric spray paint, just like other fabric painting options, may fade, crack or peel after a few washes. This is not out of place. The rate at which it fades can be drastically minimized by using various techniques which I’ll be sharing quickly.
First setting the paint using heat is one of the effective techniques which ensures that the color scheme lasts. It also improves color consistency and durability. When choosing your paint it is ideal knowledge to consider how many times the fabric will be washed cause more paints are more resistant to water than the rest.
Washing the fabric carefully also assists in protecting the painted finish. It is also advisable to avoid fabric conditioners and bleach by using a gentle and soft detergent. They (fabric conditioners and bleach) remove the paint pigments and they also loosen the particles of the fabrics resulting in cracks and peeling. You can also wash the fabric inside out on a low heat setting to preserve the painting.
The spray paint becomes permanent after it has had enough time to sit in and cure. Allow the fabric to sit for 3 days before putting the fabric in water, some producers advise this for further solidification of the artwork. Basically, we should protect our fabrics from bleaching agents and any other substance that can remove the color from our fabrics.
FAQs
Painting of synthetic materials like polyester should be avoided for the best results. One of the important things to consider about getting spray paint is its ability to withstand heat. It can be challenging sometimes with some synthetic fabrics. Polyester, in particular, tends to melt when it’s exposed to heat.
Krylon spray paint has the ability to revive old, and fading upholstery on outdoor furniture. It rejuvenates and protects our outdoor projects while also being resistant to the elements. It is one of the best fabric paints we have currently on the market.
Sure!, you can use spray paints on outdoor fabrics. Fabric spray paints are in different forms and not all of them are water-resistant. But, Most indoor and outdoor fabric spray paint is strong enough to withstand exposure to moderate moisture. It is advisable to use outdoor fabric spray paints for your outdoor projects because most of them are more resistant to water and the weather. The most important part of using waterproof spray paint is correctly applying the paint not the surface.
Most Montana spray paints can be applied to a variety of surfaces, including wood, plastic, metal, glass, fabric and concrete. It brings vibrant colors to fabrics.
Final Words
That’s all we have for fabric spray paints!, That’s everything you need to know about fabric spray paint. So when next you are asked, “Can you use spray paint on fabric?” Your answer should be, Yes, Absolutely. Fabric spray paint introduces amazing color effects while maintaining the flexibility and softness of fabrics. Just get the spray paint that is best suited to your type of fabric and go-ahead to create your masterpiece.
While applying spray paints on fabrics we should always keep the texture of the fabric in mind cause different fabric types have different textures and demand different applications for different results. For example; If you want to spray a polyester fabric or silk it is advised to use neutral or acrylic-based paint for a better result, if the fabric can also be primed before the paint is applied, wonderful. This is advised for a lasting effect on the type of fabric mentioned.
Hope you had a nice time reading this post and it was helpful to you. Let us know if you have painted any of your fabrics and they turned out in the comments.
