How To Color Your Epoxy
Color very well may be what first drew you to an epoxy project in the first place. All epoxy arrives on your doorstep, ready to be mixed into a clear solution. So how do all of these artists, craftsmen, and professionals get these absolutely gorgeous colors?
There are a few primary ways to color your epoxy; mica powders, liquid inks/dyes, and spray paint. There are other ways, but these are the main options.
Mica Powders are the dry, powder pigments that come in every color and shade of the rainbow. Many of them have metallic flakes in them that create the shimmer look you see in so many epoxy projects. If you are wanting to create a swirl design of some type that you are looking to recreate, you are looking for a mica powder. You should understand that you can mix mica powders to create a custom color, and you can mix liquid inks/dyes with mica powders as well. Most mica powders will make your epoxy project Opaque (not see through). You should ALWAYS add your colorant of choice to the epoxy AFTER the proper ratio of epoxy has been mixed. When adding your mica powder, you should pour it in slowly, as a little of the powder will take you far!
Liquid inks/dyes are a second form of colorant. This style of colorant is for those wanting a more Translucent (see through) color for their project. The liquid ink/dye is added to the epoxy after epoxy is properly prepared (see epoxy mixing article) and it is added until the desired tint is achieved. The less added, the more translucent, the more added, you may achieve an opaque project. When using black liquids, be mindful that one drop of black can and will change the entire color of your epoxy tint when mixing with other colors. Go very light and slow with the black or you may end up much darker than you originally desired.
Spray Paint comes in every color imaginable and is relatively inexpensive, and easily accessible at most hardware stores. Once your epoxy is mixed, simply spray your selected color into your mixture until the desired tint is reached. I highly suggest doing the coloring outside, or in a well ventilated area. The spray paint leaves an odor we are all very familiar with, and typically is very strong.
A few things to remember about your colorants:
Have a selection; you can never tell how the color truly is on the screen or in certain lighting. Keep a wide range on hand for your projects.
Experiment with your colorants, and how mixing some with others makes the design or color change. Practice makes perfect.
Always mix in your colorant AFTER your epoxy is properly mixed.
Remember your working pot life! This means, if your epoxy says you have a working pot life of 20 minutes, you need to take into account you will need a few of those minutes for mixing in your colorant.
Take into consideration the depth of your mixing container and how that is affecting the color of your project before you pour it into your project mold. That means if you have a deep mixing container, but are only pouring into a mold for a project that is going to be 1/2 inch deep, it is going to be darker in the container, and lighter when it spreads out into your project mold.
Let your inner artist out for all your different color combos!!
Brands we use:
Wise Color
Rustoleum for Spray Paints
