Can I Use Acrylic Paint On Polyester Fabric?
Acrylic is a versatile paint. It is thick in texture and very adaptable in nature. So naturally, you can use acrylic on various surfaces despite it being rough, smooth, or slippery. Yet, polyester can be a tricky surface to paint on.
Now the question is, “Can you use acrylic paint on a polyester fabric?”. The answer to your question is ‘yes.’ You just need to know how to handle polyester fabric properly. To use acrylic paint on polyester, you don’t have to be a master of art, but all you need is some extra tips and the right methods.
I have written this article, especially for you to find out everything you need to know about using acrylic on polyester.
Does Acrylic Paint Work On Polyester?
Acrylic paint has a thick consistency which is great for use on any kind of fabric. That also goes for polyester fabric. While polyester fabric can be a bit slippery and hard to work on with paints.
Even though quite a few traditional fabric paints would work on a polyester fabric, Acrylic paints are the perfect solution for it. Acrylic’s thick consistency will stick perfectly onto the polyester fabric.
Acrylics are rather a popular choice when it comes to polyester fabric. But if you want to preserve your project for longer, you will need to use a fabric medium with acrylic paint.
This will make sure that not only your acrylic paint is preserved for longer but also doesn’t crack or smudge.
So, yes, acrylic paint work on polyester. And it also goes on smoothly on the polyester fabric and adheres to it without much hassle.
Can I Use Acrylic Paint On 100% Polyester Fabric?
Polyester is a kind of synthetic fabric. Polyester is made from petroleum. Polyester fabrics are durable and stretchable. Because of these qualities, polyester is quite popular in the textile industry.
Polyester can be quite easy to work with. But you have to know how to handle the fabric correctly. This way you will be able to make use of the fabric properly.
When you are going to paint fabrics such as polyester, you have to remember that these fabrics are stretchable, this is why you need to think of paints, that will go into every crack of the fabric and cover every inch properly.
This way the paint will not crack and make the project durable like the polyester fabric. Acrylic paints are thick and with help of a bit of fabric medium, they can work very well on the polyester fabric.
So if you are worried about how acrylic paint will work on 100% polyester, this is the answer, it will work great.
Can You Use Acrylic Spray Paint On Polyester Fabric?
Spray paints are easier to use and work well on fabrics. Once you can get a hold of using spray paints you can do a great job of painting fabrics with them.
It’s an excellent way to add vibrant shades to it and revitalize the appearance of various fabric materials. Just make sure you use spray paint that is safe for fabric.
Acrylic spray paints are also reliable when it comes to fabric painting. They go on evenly and cover every corner of your fabric. Acrylic spray paints can be a better option for fabrics like polyester.
Polyester fabrics are made from synthetic fabric. As they are a bit slippery and stretchable material.
So when you spray paint them you can avoid ruining the paint by stretching the fabric. The spray can also make an extra cover over the fabric this way the paint will stay in its place.
Can You Dye Black Polyester With Acrylic Paint?
Dying fabric is a fun way to reinvent or redesign your clothes. And the bonus factor is dying fabric is a fun project to do in your leisure. When it comes to dying fabrics, you need to choose the right kind of paint.
Acrylic paint is one of the best options you can go for when it comes to dying. But instead of normal water-based acrylic paint, you should use oil-based acrylic paint.
Polyester fabric is not your typical fabric that is used for dying. Generally, people go for cotton fabrics. But if you want to use polyester, there is a way. You need to prepare the fabric properly before you dye it.
At first, pre-wash the fabric. Now you have to go through the basic divert dyeing process, which includes mixing water and scattering powder based on the number of pounds of dry cloth you intend to color.
Can You Use Acrylic Paint On A Polyester Shirt?
Acrylic is a rather popular choice for polyester shirts. Polyester shirts can be easily found in your closet. Make sure you practice on an old polyester shirt before painting a new one.
Wash the shirt properly before you paint it with acrylic. Make sure the shirt is clean, and then dry the shirt. When the shirt is dry completely, you can start painting it with acrylic paints.
Polyester shirts dry pretty quickly but make sure it dries properly otherwise, the acrylic paint won’t sit on the fabric.
As the paint is not very durable on a polyester fabric, you need to mix acrylic paints with textile medium or acrylic medium. You can use acrylic paint on a polyester shirt without a medium but it might crack with time.
With these steps, you can paint on a polyester shirt with acrylic paint without ruining your favorite polyester shirt.
Can You Use Acrylic Paint On Polyester Canvas?
If you are looking for a durable canvas you must go for polyester canvases. Polyester Canvas Weave is extremely highly durable, especially when made of synthetic fabric.
The fabric of the canvas is made with a plain weave, which means that the warp, as well as weft yarns, are knitted in a basic crisscross pattern.
As I have discussed, acrylic paint is very versatile and is a great choice for different materials such as polyester. In fact, acrylic paints are one of the popular choices for polyester.
Can You Use Acrylic Paint Over The Woven Polyester Canvas?
Polyester is an artificial woven material known for its durability and low cost of manufacture. It was invented by British chemists in 1941 and later brought to America.
Woven fabrics are made through weaving or knitting yarns. To make woven fabrics, the fibers are made into yarn and later knitted or woven into a fabric. Thus the name is a woven fabric.
Woven fabrics have a strong knitted yarn which makes their quality better than other fabrics. Acrylic paint goes very well on woven fabrics and covers the fabric evenly. So, you can actually paint on a piece of woven polyester fabric with acrylic paint.
Can You Use Acrylic Paint Over The Non-Woven Polyester Canvas?
Nonwoven fabrics are not your typical fabrics because they lack internal structure. Nonwoven fabrics are made by felting and bonding, so even though weaving requires warp yarns, threads start creating an interlaced pattern, similar to basket weaving.
But because of the different internal structures, non-woven fabrics are breathable and non-woven fabric can absorb better than woven fabrics.
Non-woven polyester fabrics can certainly be used for acrylic paintings. Canvases made out of non-woven polyester fabric can hold acrylic paint well and can give you a smooth surface to work on.
You may need to use a little bit of primer or glaze to make your painting more durable but otherwise, acrylic is a great option to use over non-woven polyester.
Is Acrylic Paint Permanent On Polyester Fabric?
Acrylic paint is naturally thick and is semi-permanent. As acrylic is slightly water-resistant and not waterproof, you can wash it off. Either way, acrylic is not permanent.
But based on its water-resistant quality, acrylic paint is the best option as a permanent paint on polyester fabric. If you use only acrylic paint on polyester fabric, it won’t completely wash off, but it may smudge off or damage in some way.
Using only acrylic paint can result in cracks once the paint is dry. To protect it from damage and make it completely permanent, you need to mix a little bit of fabric medium with the acrylic.
This will make sure the acrylic sicks completely on the fabric while making it permanent. It will also ensure your acrylic does not crack once it is dry.
The fabric medium makes the acrylic paint waterproof and protects the paint from outer damage.
Can You Seal Acrylic Paint On Polyester Fabric?
Using a sealer or a topcoat means protecting your paint from outside damage. It makes your project waterproof and protects the print from dust, rain, or harmful sun rays.
There are many kinds of sealer. And the varieties of sealers come with different finishes. You can choose gloss, semi-gloss or matte finishes. So when you put the sealer on the paint, it will give you a glossy or matte look.
Sealers are acrylic friendly. Sealers don’t normally react when applied over acrylic paint. But make sure to use sealer and primer from the same company.
Using a similar kind of product also makes your project go well together as the chemicals don’t clash with each other. Polyester fabric and acrylic paint also go well together.
So if you want to use a sealer on the polyester canvas after using acrylic paint to protect your painting, you have nothing to worry about.
You just have to use a good primer before you start painting and let your acrylic dry completely before you start applying the sealer.
How To Use Acrylic Paint On Polyester Fabric?
Before you start your fun little project of painting a polyester you need to complete some extra steps. These steps will ensure your project has longer durability and turns out great in terms of quality.
- Pre-wash your polyester fabric. Try to wash the fabric and make it clean before you start painting. Make sure there is no stain, dirt, or extra sealant on the polyester fabric.
- Make sure the polyester fabric is completely dry before you start the painting.
- If you are painting on a polyester canvas, clean it properly.
- Now that your surface is clean, adjust the consistency of your acrylic paint by adding fabric medium.
- Test your paint mixture on a separate piece of polyester. Notice how the paint reacts to the fabric.
- Place cardboard between your fabric, so the acrylic doesn’t bleed out to the other side.
- If everything is okay, you can start painting with your acrylic mixture on your polyester fabric.
- Once you are done with your painting, make sure to let the paint dry completely before moving or using the fabric.
Tips To Use Acrylic Paint On Polyester Fabric
There are a few tips to master using acrylic paint on polyester fabric
- Always use a clean polyester fabric. This will give your project a good head start.
- Choose woven polyester fabrics. This keeps the colors bright and brilliant. It also makes your colors less likely to fade.
- Spray a little bit of water before you start painting. This will keep the polyester fabric damp and help with the painting.
- Polyester fabrics often contain sealant of some sort. Make sure to wash it off before you start painting on it.
- Use thinner coats as they will dry faster. Thicker coats will dry slowly and might smudge when you paint around them.
- Use stencils for a better framework. But if you have experience and are confident enough with your free hand, use your creativity!
- Polyester fabric doesn’t wrinkle easily, but if you see a wrinkle in your polyester fabric, iron it.
- Carefully complete your painting, as once you have put acrylic paint on the polyester fabric, it will not be an easy task to remove it.
Overall, you just need to be patient and trust the process.
Suggested Materials You May Need
You don’t need a lot of materials to paint on a piece of polyester fabric. But if you want your project to stand out and be durable, there are some extra materials you can use, such as a sealant or a fabric medium, or a paint thinner.
#1 Liquitex Professional Effects : (Recommended Fabric Medium For Acrylic Paint)
Liquitex Professional Effects Medium is an acrylic medium. This fabric medium is specially designed to be mixed with acrylic paint. This fabric medium comes in a gel form which is very easy to mix with acrylic paint.
When mixed with the acrylic paint, the fabric medium enhances its flexibility and makes it more adherable to the polyester fabric.
The medium also controls acrylic paint’s bleeding and ensures you can finish your project without making a mess.
Their regular user has commented on the quality of the fabric medium. They loved how you can mix a little bit of Liquitex Professional Effects Medium with acrylic and turn it into fabric paint.
Another user commented on its durability and its ability to make your painting look brighter.
#2 Liquitex BASICS Gloss Varnish : (Suggested Sealer For Acrylic Paint)
Liquitex BASICS Gloss Varnish can be your lifesaver when you need a durable sealer to protect your acrylic painting on polyester.
Acrylic painting on a polyester canvas can be durable on its own, but if you want to make your hard work permanent and protect it from damaging sun rays and dirt, this is your best option.
Many returning users of Liquitex BASICS Gloss Varnish commented this sealer is one of the best options for polyester canvas for its price.
The sealer isn’t just a high-quality product but also gives you a glossy look that protects your painting for a long time, commented another user.
Over To You
Acrylics and polyester have a great combination. If you have the right skills and a little bit of patience you can easily turn your polyester fabric or your polyester canvas into a surreal art with acrylic paint.
Hope this article was helpful for you and answered all of your questions about using acrylic paint on polyester fabric.
Is it your first time using acrylic on a polyester fabric? Have you painted on polyesters before? Do you have more tips for using acrylic on polyester? Let me know in the comments section.
