How to color resin?

Resin is an increasingly popular craft. We love its transparency, but above all because we know we can tint it however we like and create an endless variety of color effects.

How do you color resin? Not sure how to proceed or which dyes to use to add color to two-part resinor UV resin?This technical guide will help you. The two types of resin have completely different compositions, so you must be careful about what products you add to ensure the resin can cure—either at room temperature or under a lamp—without being damaged.

Warning: Before handling the resin, be sure to wear safety goggles, a mask, and gloves. Also, don’t forget to protect your work surface to avoid any potential messes.

1- How do you color epoxy resin?

Epoxy resin is a transparent two-component resin (resin and hardener) that can be used to create a wide variety of DIY costume jewelry and small decorative items. The technique for coloring it is quite simple:

• Once the two components have been thoroughly mixed (following the manufacturer’s recommended mixing ratio), add the dye, pigment, or paint you’ve chosen, starting with a small amount.
• Mix well until the mixture is uniform.
• Adjust the color as needed until you achieve the desired shade, always adding your dye in small amounts to avoid mistakes.
• Mix again. Remove any remaining air bubbles.
• And there you go—you can now pour your crystal resin into your silicone mold or a resin-casting tray. Now is the time to add an inclusion, such as dried flowers or glitter, then let it air dry.

The more dye you add, the darker the color will become and the more opaque the resin will be. In general, the total amount of dye used should not exceed 5% of the finished product.

What kind of dye should you use for epoxy?

You can tint two-part epoxy resin with:

• Stained-glass paints. When used in small quantities, they allow the resin to remain transparent.
• Acrylic paints to achieve an opaque effect. These can also be used for the resin pouring technique.
• A specially formulated epoxy resin dye. Just a few drops are needed to color the material and achieve a vibrant hue.
• Alcohol-based inks. Just a few drops are enough, as they have high pigmentation and concentration. They help preserve the resin’s transparency. Plus, they’re miscible, allowing you to create beautiful effects.
• Powdered pigments. A small amount is enough for a satisfactory result. However, not all pigments are suitable; some are difficult to dissolve and result in a grainy finish. To be sure, it’s best to test them first.

Avoid using water- or oil-based products, such as oil paint, which could alter the outcome of your creation or prevent the resin from hardening.

How do you use alcohol-based ink?

Alcohol-based inks, which are colored yet transparent, are ideal for tinting resin while preserving its transparency. It makes sense!
Here’s an example of coloring epoxy resin withPiñata ink:

• Step 1:Mix the resin according to the ratios indicated in the instructions (one part hardener to two parts resin). Mix with a suitable utensil, such as a stir stick. Transfer the resin to another container to ensure it’s thoroughly mixed.
  Stir the mixture.
• Step 2:Add a drop of Piñata Magenta Señorita ink (the more ink you add, the more intense and slightly neon the color will be).
• Step 3:Mix the resin thoroughly with the ink, and wait for any bubbles that have risen to the surface to disappear before using the resin.
• Step 4:Pour the resin into the mold. If any bubbles remain, simply hold a flame close to the surface of the resin to watch them pop and disappear.

You can remove your piece from the mold after 48 hours of drying. For complete curing, let it dry for 15 days away from light.

Mix several inks to create new colors. Add white to make pastel shades or black to darken a color that’s too light. To achieve this orange-pink color, we mixedPiñata Magenta Señorita and Sun Yellowinks.

2- How do you color UV resin?

UV resin is a thermosetting resin that cures only when exposed to the heat of a UV lamp (or UV LED lamp for UV LED resin). Unlike epoxy resin, it is ready to use. No need to mix it! It can be used as is for a transparent effect, or it can be colored.
Coloring UV resin and UV LED resin couldn’t be easier:

• Slowly pour the desired amount of resin into a small bowl.
• Add the colorant of your choice.
• Mix thoroughly with a suitable spatula.
• Your colored resin is ready to be poured into a mold. Add an inclusion before curing under the UV lamp, first on one side and then on the other.

What kind of dye should you use for UV resin?

This resin does not have the same components as epoxy resins, so the coloring process is slightly different.

• You cannot usealcohol-based inks. When mixed, a chemical reaction prevents the resin from curing under UV light.
• Stained-glass paint should also be avoided for the same reasons.
• For UV resins, it is strongly recommended that you use colorants from the same brand as your resin. Here, we’ll show you how to use Padico brand colorants with UV LED resin.
• You can use acrylic paints as long as you use them sparingly. This mixture will help you achieve opacity in your creations.

What can you do with epoxy resin? How do you make resin rings? Check out all our DIY resin jewelry tutorials.