Acrylic paint is incredibly versatile but there are a few things you should consider if you want to use it on fabric.
In this blog, we will discuss using acrylic paint on fabric and if it is the most suitable option.
Is acrylic paint suitable for fabric?
Acrylic paint is designed to be used on a wide range of smooth surfaces, due to being easy-to-apply, strong and quick drying.
However, it doesn’t tend to be flexible enough for fabrics used for high-use items such as clothing and furniture.
Once dry, the hardness and thickness of the paint can make the fabric become quite stiff and if applied too thickly, may lead to cracking and peeling.
This can also create a rough texture, depending on the type of fabric you are applying it to.
An alternative to using acrylic paint
Acrylic fabric paint is an older type of paint technology. There are now newer and better technologies, such as polyurethane fabric paint, that has been developed to offer some additional benefits.
Lets take a look at both types of fabric paint…
Acrylic paint vs polyurethane fabric paint
Application – Both fabric paints can be applied with by sponge, spray or paint brush.
Whereas acrylic paint must be mixed with a polymer liquid blend to make it suitable to use on fabric, polyurethane fabric paint can be used neat, saving you valuable time and effort.
Polyurethane Fabric Paint can also be thinned with water so that you can apply them onto fabric with a spray gun or airbrush, allowing you to add more depth and a range of patterns to your designs.
Acrylic paint is thicker and more difficult to spray with modern, high-volume, low-pressure spray guns as they require higher pressure.
Flexibility - Acrylic paint dries harder than polyurethane paint, making it brittle and more prone to cracking and peeling when applied to fabric.
Polyurethane fabric paint is extremely flexible so will never crack, flake or peel, making for a more hard-wearing, resistant coating.
Whether you’re painting clothing, furniture or shoes, you can be sure to know that a polyurethane Fabric Paint will bend and flex with every crease and fold in the fabric.
Drying Time - Although acrylic paints were created to have a faster drying time than oil-based paints, polyurethane paints dry even quicker.
Coverage - Acrylic paint, when mixed with water rather than a fabric medium, provides a much lighter coverage than polyurethane paint, and is likely to bleed.
Polyurethane Fabric Paint has excellent coverage and provides great results in one application.
Safe to use - Both types of fabric paints tend to be water based and non-toxic, making them safe to use in all environments.
Why polyurethane fabric paint is better than acrylic paint for fabric
Acrylic paint is incredibly versatile and provides many great reasons for use on decorative items and smooth surfaces. However, it is not the most suitable paint option for fabric.
Water-based polyurethane paint offers many comparable and competitive benefits with the help of newer and better technology, allowing for a softer finish, more flexibility, better coverage, better application and as a result, longevity which makes it a much better option.
Our polyurethane Fabric Paint has been specifically designed for use on all fabric surfaces and are ideal for creating designs on clothing, furniture and shoes.
Fabric Paint colour chart
We offer 12 standard colours: White, Black, Red, Yellow, Light Blue, Dark Blue, Turquoise, Green, Lime Green, Orange, Dark Brown, Medium Brown, as well as over 30 custom colours.
You can also mix any colours of Fabric Paint together to achieve any colour you need.
