Epoxy Resin for art is usually sold in two parts. One is the epoxy and the other is the hardener. You mix these two components to create a clear viscous substance that hardens into clear plastic.
Although it is possible to buy colored epoxy, resin artists prefer to purchase clear resin and color it¹ themselves. Over the years, I have experimented with tons of different types of mediums to color epoxy resin for artwork.
Many have worked very well, others have not worked so well.
I would like to share with you my findings and suggest some of the best options for coloring epoxy resin.
The options are numerous, from alcohol inks, mica powders, and dyes to acrylic paints, food coloring, and nail polish.
New ways to get great color and texture out of epoxy resin are discovered frequently, making resin art one of the most versatile mediums for creating masterpieces!
Here are a couple of quick reference tables listing different items you can use to color epoxy resin. The first list includes top product recommendations for each colorant and the second lists whether or not each type of colorant is well suited for use with epoxy resin art.
What to color Epoxy Resin With (Includes Product Suggestions)
Top Recommendation: Alcohol Inks for Resin Art
Check out Best Alcohol Inks to use with Epoxy Resin (Bonus: Project Ideas) for more recommendations, including our suggestions for the best budget alcohol inks for epoxy resin art.
Top Recommendation: Mica Powders for Resin Art
Check out WARNING: Meyspring Epoxy Resin Color Pigments Create Heart Stopping Artwork for another great recommendation for mica powders for epoxy resin art.
Resin Colorant Quick Reference Chart
| Colorant | Mixes with Resin? |
|---|---|
|
Mica Powder |
Yes |
|
Eyeshadow |
Yes |
|
Nail Polish
|
Not Highly Recommended |
|
Acrylic Paint |
Yes |
|
Spray Paint |
Yes |
|
Oil Paint |
Yes, but not highly recommended |
|
Glitter |
Yes |
|
Resin Dye |
Yes |
|
Fabric Dye |
Yes, but not highly recommended |
|
Food Coloring |
Yes |
|
Alcohol Ink |
Yes |
|
Acrylic Ink |
Yes |
|
India Ink |
Yes |
Let us take a deeper look at each of these coloring agents, as well as the pros and cons of using each.
Before we dive into the details, here is a video showcasing many of the mediums that can be used to color epoxy resin.
If you are not down for a bunch of reading, or you want to see these different resin colorants in action, check out the following video:
Powdered Colorants
Pigment Powders or Mica Powders
Mica powders, also known as pigment powders, are a great option for coloring epoxy resin. A little bit of mica powder goes a long way when used to color epoxy resin, so it can be an affordable option for a resin artist.
Mica powder is made from stone flakes that have been crushed into fine powder. These powders are often made of shiny and pigmented stones, which produce brilliant shine when mixed with epoxy resin.
Mica powder’s reflective qualities add beautiful glitter and shimmer to artwork.
Also, mica powder is easily mixed into epoxy resin, which allows an artist to incorporate all colors effectively.
Powders come in different particle sizes. The smaller the particles, the easier it is to mix your powders into your epoxy resin.
The particle size affects how the light reflects off your colored resin so experimenting with them can be fruitful for an artist looking to create a unique resin piece. Mica powders do not let light through after being mixed with epoxy resin, so the final result will be an opaque-colored epoxy resin.
These powders are a great option for coloring resin to be used for wall art, geodes, or resin river tables. Powders can also be used as a coating on your molds.
Coat a silicone mold with a layer of pigment powder before pouring in your clear epoxy resin and you will get a beautiful shimmer effect on your casting.
– Ashley Aaron, Craftelot Resin Co. Artist
Eyeshadow
Eyeshadow is made of pigment powders. Most eyeshadows are pressed, meaning loose pigment powders are compacted into a solid state for easy brush application of the makeup to your face. Other eyeshadows are sold in loose powder form. Either type can be used to color epoxy resin.
If you have some old eye shadow, try crushing it up and using it as a pigment powder to color your epoxy resin. If your old eyeshadow is already in loose form, there is no need to crush it to a powder. Simply use the powder as is to color your epoxy resin.
Aside from using old eyeshadow, cheap eyeshadows are available for purchase at the Dollar Store. Another place to find cheap eyeshadow is in the children’s department. many stores carry play makeup for children. you can find some great vibrant colors in an eyeshadow palette intended for children’s dress-up! Look how colorful the following eyeshadow palette is:
This is a great, affordable way to color your epoxy resin and save money on colorants. You can also add eye shadow pigments to other colorants to add a shimmer effect to your resin.
Ink Colorants
Alcohol Ink
Alcohol ink is another colorant used to color epoxy resin. However, the effects produced using alcohol inks are transparent. This means the pigment lets light through the cured piece of resin art and the color looks see-through.
Alcohol inks do take some practice with regard to achieving the correct ratio with your epoxy resin so we suggest using another colorant if you are a beginner. However, as you advance, alcohol inks are a great way to add different effects to your epoxy resin creations.
The amount of alcohol ink added may affect the curing of the epoxy resin so be sure not to add too much.
Also, be careful not to spill ink on your floor or skin as it is almost impossible to clean up. For suggestions on fun ways to keep your workspace clean, check out Best Silicone Craft Mats for Resin Art.
While there are many other ways to color resin, alcohol-based ink provides unique results.
Alcohol inks can provide a rich color palette and are fun to experiment with when making petri dish resin castings.
Sharpie Inks
After purchasing alcohol inks a few times, many frugal artists begin to explore ways to save money on these vibrant pigments.
A great way to make DIY alcohol inks at home, without losing pigment vibrancy, involves using Sharpie Markers.
Importantly, you do not want to use paint-based Sharpies.
The only Sharpie markers that work for making DIY alcohol ink pigments for coloring epoxy resin are the alcohol-based Sharpie markers.
Note: I know, Sharpies can get expensive too. I have had success using other brands of alcohol-based markers for this project and I will link to the ones I used below.
To make DIY alcohol inks to color epoxy resin with, you need the following supplies:
Supplies Needed for DIY Alcohol Inks
- Chisel Tip Sharpie Markers
- Strong Isopropyl Alcohol (91% or 99%)
- Precision Tip Applicator Bottles
- Glass Jars
- Paper Towels
- Disposable Gloves
- Craft Knife
- Protection for Work Surface (see Best Silicone Craft Mats for Resin Art)
How To Make DIY Alcohol Inks
- Remove the ink tube from the Sharpie Marker. You can do this using your craft knife or by snapping the marker in half to pull out the tube.
- Place the ink tube in your glass jar (you may have to cut it into pieces if the tube is too long)
In this step, you’ve got control over what color you create.
Example:
Put half a tube of blue Sharpie ink and half a tube of red Sharpie ink into your jar and it will create an UltraViolet purple color.
Tip: Use the Metallic Sharpies to create Metallic Alcohol Inks!
- Next, add the high percentage alcohol to your jar to soak up the ink from the tube. Leave for 1-2 hours.
Tip: The less alcohol added, the more pigmented your ink will be. If your ink tube is soaking in a huge jar full of alcohol, your alcohol ink will be a translucent shade of the color Sharpie used.
- After 1-2 hours, when the alcohol has become fully saturated with ink, you can transfer the solution into a dropper bottle or use it right out of the jar! Your DIY alcohol ink is now ready to use!
India Inks
India Inks, unlike alcohol inks, will not disperse in epoxy resin.
You must mix India inks into your epoxy resin completely to achieve an all-over color.
Like alcohol inks, India Ink is transparent when used to color epoxy.
India Inks are my go-to pigment if I am trying to control where the colors in my resin art piece are placed.
Alcohol ink-colored epoxies disperse quickly, naturally mixing with resin that has been colored with different pigments. This disbursement quality makes alcohol inks a tricky pigment to work with as a beginner.
India Inks are a great alternative if you are trying to create transparent-colored epoxy that does not disperse color as automatically as alcohol ink-colored epoxy does.
For example, if you are not careful. adding alcohol ink-colored epoxy to a canvas or casting could turn the piece into a muddy mixture.
This can happen if the other colors in the piece do not mix well with the color of the alcohol inks.
To avoid frustration as a beginner, stay away from alcohol inks, and try an India Ink.
Plus, a bottle goes a long way, as you do not need to use much ink to achieve the same results you would with a bottle of alcohol ink.
Acrylic Ink
Acrylic Ink is another handy ink that can be used to color epoxy resin. It is well suited for mixing with epoxy resin, as it is thinner than acrylic paint.
Acrylic ink, depending on the amount you add to your epoxy resin, creates a transparent or opaque-colored epoxy resin. Try different amounts of acrylic ink in your epoxy to create interesting effects in your resin artwork.
Acrylic Ink is one of my favorite colorants to use with epoxy resin because it can give my pieces different transparencies depending on the amount I add.
Never add more than 10% acrylic ink into your cup of resin, however, as it may affect the curing process.
Paint Colorants
Acrylic Paint
Many artists are trying resin for the very first time. If you are new to resin art, you may not have all these fancy pigments lying around your house.
If you want to try a resin project without making a huge dent in your wallet, you can use some acrylic paint to color your resin. Most artsy-type people have some of this popular paint lying around their craft station.
Acrylic paint can be used to color epoxy resin, adding bold pops of color to your final pieces. It is one of the most common paints used with epoxy resin.
Acrylic paints mix easily with epoxy resin. However, be careful not to use too much paint, as it could affect the curing process of your resin.
A good rule of thumb is to only add about 10% acrylic paint to your cup of resin. A little goes a long way. Plus, you can always add more, but good luck taking out the paint if you have put too much in!
Oil Paints-Not Recommended
Many people ask, Can I Mix Oil Paints with Epoxy Resin?
Notably, oil paints are much more tricky to use than epoxy resin.
It can be done, but it is a headache and I suggest staying away from them, as there are so many other options out there to color your epoxy resin.
We have had great results using both cheap and expensive acrylic paints to color epoxy resin. There are so many brands and colors to choose from that you are destined to find the right color for your project.
The possibilities are endless.
Spray Paint
Spray paint can also be used to color epoxy resin. However, like alcohol inks, this is an intermediate-level colorant, not recommended for beginners to resin art.
The reason for this is that spray paint contains alcohol, so it is hard to control color placement when adding to the resin that has been colored with other pigments on your canvas or in your casting.
A neat way to use spray paints in epoxy resin, especially metallic spray paints, is to lightly spritz some spray paint on top of wet epoxy resin. This technique produces awesome cells in your resin artwork and we always have a blast doing it!
Warning: If using spray paint to color your epoxy resin, spray the paint directly into a cup before adding epoxy resin. You do not want to spray paint into a full cup, as the epoxy may splash all over you from the pressure sprayed out of the can.
After spraying the paint into the cup, add your epoxy resin and mix well.
Just like acrylic paints, less is more, so start with a few spritzes, and add more if needed.
Airbrush Paint
Airbrush paints work well for coloring epoxy resin. Higher quality paints tend to be more highly pigmented, which is great for achieving vibrant resin colors.
Usually, I stick to buying my airbrush paints on Amazon because they are pricey in craft stores. Still, don’t buy the cheapest ones on Amazon as you will not get enough pigmentation out of the product.
I suggest a moderately priced airbrush paint to color your epoxy resin. Here is the product I use most often in my resin art projects:
Food Coloring
Food coloring works to color epoxy resin and creates a soft, pastel, transparent effect. It looks really beautiful as a complementary hue to a boldly-colored resin.
If you would like to see what I mean, I used food coloring as one of my epoxy resin colorants in the following video:
The colors that resulted were perfect for a project calling for Easter colors! Another plus of this colorant is they are much easier to clean up if spilled. So, if you want to do a project with kids that involves epoxy resin, food coloring is the way to go.
Note: Always supervise children and follow proper safety precautions around epoxy resin. Always use epoxy resin with zero VOCs.
Dyes
Resin Dye
Resin dyes, or resin pigments, are certainly the best way to color epoxy resin. You can find them at reasonable prices, and do not need to break the bank to get quality products.
Resin dyes come in powder and liquid form. I recommend the liquid form as it is easy to mix into the epoxy resin and seems to be easier to find in stock.
Resin dyes are made specifically for epoxy resin so you really can not go wrong. You can find tons of different colors and most of the brands I have reviewed are highly pigmented and true to color.
At the moment, this is my favorite set of resin dyes:
Fabric Dye
It is possible to use fabric dye in epoxy resin, but sometimes it is hard to mix into the epoxy completely. Also, you risk messing with the resin’s ability to cure fully.
If you are going to use fabric dye, do not mix more than 5% fabric dye into your cup of resin. Also, be sure to mix your fabric dye completely to avoid grit showing up in your resin.
If you follow that rule, you will not have any issues with the epoxy resin not curing completely.
So really, if this is all you have to use, it is certainly an option, and certainly a cheap one! However, it is far from the best option.
Pigment Pastes
Pigment pastes are very vibrant color pigments for epoxy resin. However, you can get the same result using pigment powders.
When using a pigment paste, you will achieve an opaque colored epoxy resin. It is not possible to achieve a translucent color using pastes….at least not as far as I have seen thus far. (Who knows for the future…it seems like new products are created for resin art every minute!)
Pigment pastes are made by mixing pigment powders with Part A Epoxy Resin. Some companies have different formulations, but this is the most common.
Pastes are highly soluble in resin and create great effects.
Although neither pigment pastes nor powders require much product to create vibrantly-colored epoxy resin, you do not need to use as much paste as you would powder to achieve similar colors.
Some pigment pastes have additional ingredients that support cell development. These pigments are great for lacing and cell structure effect in resin art. For example, using a pigment paste to color your resin for an ocean piece will help make your waves look foamy and realistic.
Here is a video where I used pigment pastes to create ocean wave effects with epoxy resin:
This is the product I currently recommend for coloring epoxy resin for ocean waves:
Allumilite Opaque White Pigment
Glitter Colorants
Glitter is not as tacky as you may think. Nowadays some of the most popular modern home decors include a touch of glitter. This is due to how far glitter has come as an art medium and the advances that have been made in glitterography.
Okay, fine, you got me!
Glittterography is not a real thing, but it would be pretty sweet if it was, right?
I recently visited a small town in Arizona for a wine bar tour and found an amazing shop called Art Glitter. Suffice to say, I was amazed there was a shop dedicated solely to glitter.
If that doesn’t tell you there are thousands of different glitter variations to discover, I’m not sure what does.
Glitterographers, or whoever dedicates their lives to coming up with glitter formulations, came up with some really interesting glitter concoctions. There are fine glitters, shimmer glitters, glass glitters, glow in the dark glitters, and even nature glitters, which are made by mixing crushed nature elements, like tree bark, with fine glitter pieces.
Some of my favorites to use with epoxy resin are glitter glass, thick-cut glitter, and glitter dust. I will link to a few of my favorites below:
How do I Mix Glitter with Epoxy Resin?
You mix glitter into your epoxy resin the same way you do any other colorant. You control how glittery you want your resin to be by the amount of glitter added to the cup.
Unlike liquid colorants, you do not need to worry about adding too much glitter to the epoxy, as it will not affect the curing process of the resin, as long as you have mixed your resin completely beforehand.
Keep in mind that different types of glitter have different weights.
A heavier glitter will sink in epoxy resin and sit at the bottom of your resin pour.
So, it would be pointless to mix a heavy glitter into an opaque-colored resin before pouring it onto a canvas, as your glitter will sink below the resin and not be seen.
However, lighter glitter, when mixed with an opaque-colored resin, will turn the resin a glittery opaque color.
The same principle applies to mixing glitter with a transparent-colored resin.
Can You Mix Multiple Colorants to Your Epoxy Resin?
Yes, you can use more than one colorant to color your epoxy resin.
For example, you can add alcohol ink and pigment powder into epoxy resin to create a shimmery transparent color. The transparency in this case, however, will be based on how much pigment powder you use. The less powder, the more transparent.
Another example is mixing resin dye and glitter into your epoxy resin. This will create a glittery, opaque-colored resin that looks beautiful in all sorts of resin art projects.
Experimenting with multiple different colorants in your epoxy resin is what makes resin art fun and it is how artists continue to create new and unique resin art pieces.
So we say, go for it! And, as always, remember that with resin art, the possibilities are endless.
What is the Difference Between Pigment Powder and Liquid Resin Dye?
Two of the most common ways to add color to epoxy are pigment powder and liquid resin dye. However, they are quite distinct in how they color epoxy resin.
Pigment powder is a mixture of hundreds of thousands of fine particles. The resin appears to be the same color as the pigment powders because mixing has evenly distributed the particles throughout the epoxy.
On the other hand, liquid pigments, like resin dye, actually dissolve into the resin. The dye changes the color of your epoxy resin.
In the beginning, there is not much practical value in knowing the difference between these two pigments. However, this knowledge comes in handy as you advance through your resin art expertise.
As you advance, you start to learn how a colorant’s weight impacts how the epoxy resin reacts in your resin art. For example, pigment powders are heavier than alcohol inks. Some colorants cause your epoxy resin to sink, while others float to the surface.
You can create some really neat effects when you start to experiment with this phenomenon. However, I advise you not to think too much about this if you are a beginner. Just have fun, don’t think too hard, and make something shimmery and beautiful.
A Note on Fading
Although dyes are wonderful, they can fade faster than pigment powder, which can cause them to lose their color over time.
This is unfortunate considering how beautiful castings made with liquid resin dye appear in the sun, but it is a good thing to keep in mind if you want to make something long-lasting.
Pigment powders are not as susceptible to UV degradation, making them much less likely to lose color in the sun. If you plan on making an epoxy resin project that will be placed outside or in direct sunlight, keep these principles in mind.
How to Choose the Best Color For Your Resin Art
Keeping all the information in this article in mind, it is important to choose colors that work well in the space you plan to display your resin art.
Sometimes a splash of additional color looks great in a resin art piece if you are planning on adding it to a room with a mute or simple palette.
Other times resin art looks just as nice with dull, muted colors, like this one, which is for sale in our shop:
Keeping the UV factor in mind
Another factor to keep in mind is how much UV light or sunlight the resin artwork is exposed to.
UV light, over time, turns epoxy resin yellow. Depending on the epoxy resin product you buy, the yellowing can happen quickly or take many years.
If you plan to place your resin art in a room that gets direct sunlight, you may want to consider coloring your resin with darker colors. This is because darker colored resin hides the effect that UV light has on resin.
If you color your epoxy resin with a white colorant, it will eventually appear yellow.
It is important to buy an epoxy resin with UV stabilizers as well as HALS to prevent yellowing for as long as possible.
For more information on UV lights’ effect on epoxy resin, as well as how UV stabilizers and HALS protection prevents yellowing, check out Epoxy Resin for Art: Everything you Need to Know
I always keep this in mind when coloring my resin pieces. If I can avoid using white and clear, I do.
One of the best epoxy resins on the market at the moment, with some of the strongest UV protection, is the following:
For more suggestions on which epoxy resin to purchase to avoid UV degradation, visit Epoxy Resin for Art: Everything you Need to Know
What is the Best Pigment Powder or Liquid Dye?
It can be difficult to determine how to color resin castings. However, we know that liquid resin dye and pigment powder are two of the most popular and effective methods used to color resin. Both have their pros and cons, as discussed above.
To ensure a great color effect, always choose a highly pigmented product, no matter what colorant you choose.
Below I will give you my top suggestions for resin dyes, as well as pigment powders. Each has been tested in my artwork and thoroughly reviewed. Always use a product you have seen a review on. If you use a poor-quality product, you may end up ruining your resin artwork.
How to Color Epoxy Resin
Once you have decided which colorant to use, you will move on to coloring your epoxy resin. There are a few things to keep in mind during this process. Mostly, it is important to know how much colorant needs to be added. You want to achieve the desired color but make sure your epoxy resin is still able to cure completely. Based on years of mixing all types of colorants into epoxy resin, we have put together a quick tutorial on how to color your epoxy resin with resin dye, as well as pigment powder.
How to Use Pigment Powder to Color Epoxy Resin
Pigment powder is much more fun than other methods for adding epoxy colors. Pigment powder is very fine and mixes easily into epoxy resin. Remember, pigment powder produces an opaque colored epoxy resin. Many pigment powders also have a metallic quality to them.
Step One: Prepare your workspace and take safety precautions.
Keep in mind that pigment powder is made up of extremely fine particles. Therefore, it is nearly impossible to clean off of areas you accidentally spill onto. To keep epoxy resin and pigment powders off of surfaces you do not want to ruin, purchase a silicone craft mat. Check out Best Silicone Craft mats for Epoxy Resin Art.
Particles of pigment powders can produce dust if you are not very careful while handling them. As a result, it is prudent to wear a respirator or, at the very least, a dust mask while handling these powders. Inhaling pigment powders can cause or worsen respiratory problems.
Also, wear gloves so you can avoid scrubbing your hands raw trying to get epoxy and powder off of them!
These safety precautions are all recommended for working with epoxy resin anyway, so you should already be prepared!
Step Two: Mix Epoxy Resin
Mix your epoxy resin according to the instructions on the bottle. Some epoxy resins have a 1:1 mixing ratio, while others have a 1:3. Be cognizant of which product you have purchased and follow the instructions meticulously.
Tip: Use a clear cup to mix your epoxy with your colorants so you can see the color you are creating.
Step Three: Add Pigment Powder
After mixing, add about 10% pigment powder into the cup of resin you wish to color with the pigment powder. Less is more. Pigment powders will surprise you once you start mixing. You will find you do not need much. Also, you can always add a bit more, but good luck taking any out!
A small spoon, the tip of a popsicle craft stick, or even the end of a straw are all handy tools for scooping up pigment powder to add to your epoxy resin.
Mix thoroughly, until no more powder is present. You will see the pigment powder mix into the epoxy.
At this point, if you’re not satisfied with the intensity, add more pigment powder to your container. Never exceed 20% pigment powder to resin as you may inhibit the epoxy resin’s ability to cure completely.
Once you achieve the color you want, you are ready to use the colored epoxy in your resin art!
How to Use Liquid Resin Dye to Color Your Epoxy Resin
Resin dyes, both opaque are transparent are a handy, affordable way to color epoxy resin. The process of how to use resin dye to color epoxy resin is simple, as these colorants are made specifically for epoxy resin. For the most part, the steps are the same as mixing your pigment powders with epoxy resin.
Step One: Prepare your workspace and take safety precautions.
Resin dye will stain surfaces, clothing, and skin. Remember to protect your workspace, as well as your health. Use a silicone craft mat and always wear gloves.
Step Two: Mix Epoxy Resin
Mix your epoxy resin according to the instructions on the bottle. Some epoxy resins have a 1:1 mixing ratio, while others are 1:3. Be cognizant of which product you have purchased and follow the instructions meticulously.
Tip: Use a clear cup to mix your epoxy with your colorants so you can see the color you are creating.
Step Three: Add Resin Dye
After mixing epoxy resin, add 5-10 drops of resin dye into a cup. Pour epoxy resin into the cup with the resin dye in it.
Using a wooden or silicone craft stick, stir the resin, incorporating the colored dye into the resin. Remember to scrape the bottom, as that is where the color was put into the cup. You do not need to worry too much about adding too much resin dye if you start with 3-5 drops. Less is always more. You really can not take the dye out once it is mixed in so always start with small amounts of resin dye and build the color up.
Most liquid resin dyes come in a dropper bottle, so you can conveniently pour right from the bottle into a cup. Many of these products have a safety tip that you can easily snip off with scissors. However, be sure not to squeeze the ink bottle as you snip the tip.
Trust us, you will make a mess that no one should have to deal with, as well as walk around with smurf-colored hands for the next two weeks…no there is not a horrifying story there! Ahem.
A benefit of using resin dyes to color your epoxy resin is the ability to mix different color dyes to create the color you are looking for. Remember to use half as much of each color though. For example, if trying to make purple resin, use 5 drops of red and 5 drops of blue resin dye to color your epoxy. To adjust the shade. add one drop at a time.
Once you achieve the color you want, you are ready to use the colored epoxy in your resin art!
How to dye Resin?
The process of coloring or dyeing epoxy resin is similar no matter which colorant you are using. No matter which colorant you choose from this list, there are a few steps that must always be taken.
First, always mix your epoxy resin and hardener completely before coloring.
Next, add your colorant. Whether you are using acrylic paints, food coloring, eye shadow, or alcohol inks, always start by adding a little and build up your color slowly. Never add more than 20% of any colorant to your epoxy resin.
Stir your chosen colorant into the epoxy resin slowly and carefully until mixed thoroughly. Always stir slowly to avoid adding extra air into the epoxy resin which creates unnecessary air bubbles.
Best Pigment Powder for Epoxy Resin
One of our top recommendations for pigment powder to color your epoxy resin is the Meyspring Pigment Powder line. You can purchase them on Amazon here:
For a full review of these awesome pigment powders, check out our Meyspring Pigment Powder Review
Best Resin Dye for Epoxy Resin
As far as resin dye goes, our favorite at the moment can be purchased on Amazon. They are quite affordable, which is great. If you would like to try them, here they are:
Here is a quick review of the Let’s Resin Resin Dyes:
Pros:
Highly Concentrated: Mix extremely with resin, a little drop can go a long way.
Opaque and Pastel Colors: Tons of options to make tons of resin are projects.
Well packaged and quick shipping: Arrives in good condition and fast!
Reliable Brand: Let’s Resin is a well-known reputable brand.
Cons:
Tiny bottles: We just want more of this wonderful product
A bit more expensive: Although these resin dyes are extremely affordable, some other brands can offer cheaper prices. Keep in mind though, that you are paying for quality. Plus, you can get a whole set for under $20.
May leak: Store the bottles upright or you may be in for a leaky mess that stains everything it touches.
Now that you are familiar with the basics of liquid and pigment dyes, the differences between them, and the best products for each, you can go out and test your knowledge. When working with resin, make sure you have gloves and a mask on. Make sure your workspace is well ventilated.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you make colored epoxy resin?
There are many ways to make colored epoxy resin. The most common method is to use liquid epoxy dye or mica powder mixed with resin and hardener. This is then applied to a canvas or placed into a mold.
Can Epoxy Be Colored?
Epoxy resin can easily be colored. Some of the best options for coloring epoxy resin are resin dyes, pigment powders, or acrylic paints.
Does Epoxy Resin Change Color?
Epoxy resin is one of the most durable materials on the planet. However, epoxy resin does yellow if exposed to UV light. This is a natural process that can be slowed down if you choose an epoxy resin product with UV inhibitors and HALS protection. As far as changing epoxy resin’s natural clear color on purpose, you can use many different colorants to change the color of your epoxy resin for use in art.
How heat resistant is colored Epoxy Resin?
Casting resins, which are low viscosity, or thin, epoxy resins, usually have a heat resistance between 70° C. and 100° C. If the resin is colored, the temperature resistance may decrease. To prevent this change in heat resistance, add a layer of clear epoxy resin to your colored epoxy resin. This ensures high heat resistance for epoxy coasted projects., like countertops or cutting boards.
What is Used to Color Casting Resin?
Casting resin is a low viscosity resin, which you can also color with the colors presented above.
Casting resin typically has a longer open time or working time. This means it takes longer for this type of epoxy resin to start the curing process.
This is great for providing extended working time to resin artists, however, heavier colorants, like glitters, may sink to the bottom of a resin casting. This may not be ideal for certain types of resin art.
If you are looking for an epoxy resin with a shorter open time, look into tabletop epoxies, or quick cure epoxies. However, you must work quickly with these quick cure resins, especially if you are trying to add colorants. Once they start to cure or tack up, you will be out of luck.
Keep on Crafting
Hope this information was helpful and please leave any comments or questions you may have below. We would love to hear what your favorite resin colorant is!
If you want us to experiment with any other potential resin colorants, let us know and we will test the product out so you do not have to!
6 Responses
Wow! I find doing resin art a little bit tricky but this post made the coloring process seem easier because of the detailed content. Thanks for this information! I’ll apply this on my next art project.
Kendrick- I am so glad we could help! Please let us know if you have any more questions or if you need any other product recommendations.
Very interesting to learn how to color epoxy resin, never knew simple food coloring and nail polish could be used! I would not use nail polish as you mentioned it cannot be mixed with resin and to me, it’s a chemical concern. I use eyeshadow makeup a few times a week and knew about the ingredients however never taught about it to be used in color resign. Thanks for sharing your findings, and have shared with my followers on social media.
Hello Jannette.
It is all very interesting to me as well. I hope to find more pigments around the house or in the dollar store that can be used to make resin art. When I do, I will definitely be adding them to the list.
Thanks for sharing!
I only very recently discovered resin art and started experimenting with it a little bit, so it is great to find this post on color that can be used with resin epoxy. With so many options available, do you have recommendation as to which one will be easiest for a complete novice and beginner to use?
I do like the idea of using food colorants to start with, specially as I’m still discovering and playing around. So would taht be good for a beginner? Thank you
Food coloring is a great option because most people already have it at home. Also, it is not too hard to mix into the epoxy resin. So, if you are just trying to experiment with the medium to see if you like working with resin, food coloring is a fun way to do this. However, the epoxy resin will be a transparent color if you use food coloring. If you are looking for a more opaque color for your resin art project, I suggest using acrylic ink.
I use food coloring for many of my easter projects because the colors are perfect for that season.
Let me know if you have any other questions!