Spray paint on Fabric?

[joeranger]

I am making a second M&C jacket because the color did not work out on the first. I tried to dye a poly/cotton blend and it turned purple.

The second did not take the dye at all (must have been all poly) so I spray painted it. Color looks good and I like the ultra starched look, but it is really stiff.

Is there a way to soften it up a bit?
I would also like to waterproof it so it doesn't bleed on the shirt.

Anybody else use spray paint on fabric? Any clues?

Left is spray, right is dye

 

[Deelite]

Have you looked at Rit Dye's Color Formula Guide?

ColoRit Color Formula Guide | Rit Dye

this helps to get the colors you want to achieve.


ETA: IT also depends on the base color of your fabric. If you aren't coming from a totally white or at least an ecru color, you're going to come up with varying results.

And don't forget to wash your fabric before dying.

 

[joeranger]

I am using a raincoat which is specifically designed to repel water.
I am using stuff found in "Goodwill" resale stores, so I can't be choosy.
The spray paint works but it is really stiff.

 

[SSgt Burton]

When I was making my T1 Resistance uniform I used thinned down acrylic paint on a tanker jacket.

The material became stiff as a board. I tried washing it mainly to remove as much paint as possible and start over.

Despite several washings the stiffness never really went away; I ended up tossing the jacket in the trash. Hard lesson learned.

I don't think I have ever come across a paint softener.


Kevin

 

[joeranger]

Not the answer I was looking for but helpful.
This is a $9 mistake since I bought the jacket at a resale shop.
It actually looks pretty good and the stiffness of the fabric actually works for a British Naval officer.
For costumers who spend lots of time sewing and buy expensive fabric, Kevin and I do not recommend paint.
However, for the purpose of this thread. I think other people might benefit from all experiences. This jacket might only be worn once for a pirate party.

Keep posting. I think there is a place for painting fabric in costuming.

 

[crabra comander]

I am also still interested in re-dyeing/painting my CC outfit. It is too dark, IMO and needs to be a royal blue...I don't want to ruin it either. The fabric seems very resistant to color remover, it's a 50/50 of poly cordura?, and nylon...

 

[Helagak]

I tried to paint some gloves for my iron man suit and it was a disaster. They became hard as a rock and never really took the color. I would love to find a way to paint fabric.

 

[SSgt Burton]

Well I have had some successes as well.

There is a fabric spray paint (although it is more like dye in a spray bottle) called "Simply Spray":

Welcome to Simply Spray - Simply Spray

This stuff will dry as soft as the material itself. However in the Michaels stores up here there are only 10 different colours to choose from. The thing is it works best on light colours (obviously white is best), however it does tend to look a little lighter than the colour depicted on the bottle.

For instance I used this stuff to create the red stripe on my Wrath of Khan pants, which were a set of black track pants with a 1" white stripe. However instead of being red it came out looking a dark pink.

"Tulip" brand is a brush-on paint made for fabric that again does not dry hard.

Tulip® Soft Fabric Paint

Wide range of colours, in both matte and satin.

The only problem with this is that it tends to give that "painted on" look rather than looking like the colour of the material itself has been altered. I experimented with this stuff while working on my Wrath of Khan field jacket-

While it did dry soft, I wasn't happy with how it changed the apperance of the texture of the material (like I said- it just looked like paint on top of fabric). I was using a swatch made from a front pocket I removed from the jacket, so the jacket itself wasn't affected. I ended up using 6 packs of Rit Dye to colour the jacket (which was made of a water repellent material as well). It came out looking the colour I wanted (a chocolate brown)

If you think your jacket might be a write-off, try washing it anyway Joe.


Kevin

 

[Riceball]

Have you tried using watered down acrylic paint? In my experience acrylic paint will adhere to just about anything and when applied water down it won't dry too stiff.

 

[abs]

Yeah fabric paint from wilkinsons! your equivalent will be walmart? I've used acrylic spray in the past that seems okay . . or plasticote. . available wideley in DIY stores. . it is what it say's . . plastic! so it's flexable comes in an array of colours and works well to with acrylics or enamel . . hope that helps.... Abs

 

[JasonCash]

I'm wanting to dye this Flight vest and pouches black.....

 

[Deelite]

Isn't most flight vests and accessories made from cotton or wool or a type of natural canvas material? It shouldn't be a problem with Rit dye.

Best to spot test however to make sure it does take the dye.

 

[SSgt Burton]

Have you tried using watered down acrylic paint? In my experience acrylic paint will adhere to just about anything and when applied water down it won't dry too stiff.

That's what I used, with disasterous results.


Kevin

 

[joeranger]

This has been a good learning project. THE THIRD ONE WILL BE PERFECT!!!

Actually, I will finish the painted one, but I would not want to wear it all night. It will be good for a display. Maybe I will save it for a toy soldier costume.

There may be a good application for spray painting fabric if stiffness is OK. I think black spray paint would work on a tac vest.

 

[Riceball]

I'm wanting to dye this Flight vest and pouches black.....

You can try but I don't think you'll be able to dye it so that the camo pattern can't be seen. I think that no matter what you try you'll still see the camo pattern underneath, it may not be as visible but chances are it will still be there and instead of whatever colors were originally used it will just be shades of black instead.

 

[Fly4v]

Isn't most flight vests and accessories made from cotton or wool or a type of natural canvas material?

Not for sometime most is Nomex now. The only thing cotton or wool are your flight under garments.

It wouldn't be a consistent color but carbon fouled break-free really leaves a nice unwanted black stain on an ALSE vest.

 

[joeranger]

Just an update. I tried to paint my old Army rucksack white for the RedBull suit. Nylon webbing just eats spraypaint. I even tried the Kilz 123 primer.
Layer after layer just got absorbed and the OD green kept showing up.