Which polymer clay to choose? Fimo, Sculpey or Cernit?

What is the best polymer clay?

Not sure which polymer clay to choose between Fimo, cernit or Sculpley? Are you lost when faced with all these brands and their ranges? Wondering if there's a difference between Fimo clay and polymer clay?We've put together a comparison of the polymer clay available on the market to help you make your choice, followed by a section on how to bake polymer clay. We'll show you how different polymer clay reacts to firing: which is the most translucent, the most mica-filled, the whitest, the strongest?

What is polymer clay?By definition, polymer clay is a plastic-based modeling clay that hardens (polymerizes) after baking. Polymer clay can be used to create costume jewelry, decorative objects or small figurines. There are several brands of polymer clay, all of which are generally miscible with each other: Fimo, Sculpey, Pardo, Cernit and Kato. Each brand is available in different ranges.

Hardness or flexibility of different brands of polymer clay

Fimo clay

What is Fimo clay? Fimo clay is the best-known polymer clay in France. So well known, in fact, that it's often referred to as "Fimo" instead of "polymer clay". It has become a generic term for a type of polymer clay. There are 6 ranges, available in 56-gram or 454-gram loaves, plus another liquid range. Note that Fimo tends to get your hands and clay machine dirty. We advise you to clean your clay machine between each color with a paper towel, and if you feel like dismantling it completely, you can follow this instructions How to clean your Impéria? polymer clay machine.

Fimo Professional

This is Fimo's hardest range, previously known as Fimo classic. This firm clay is much less flexible than Fimo Soft. Fimo Professional will enable you to make beautiful canes in a variety of patterns, and its hardness will ensure that your patterns are not distorted during cane reduction. Its stable formula prevents your creations from breaking.

Fimo Soft

This is the most affordable range for beginners. Very easy to model, it's the softest and most malleable clay in the Fimo range. Fimo Soft is odorless and very pleasant to work with. Here's an example of how to use Fimo Soft clay to make a unicorn pendant.

Fimo Effect

As flexible as Soft, this Fimo Effect range lets you create different material effects (pearlescent, glittery, beaded, metallic, translucent, stone, etc.).translucent, granite stone or the latest neon range, which produces fluorescent and phosphorescent colors in blue light. Many special techniques are linked to this range: with metallics, learn how to make a sutton slice cuff bracelet, with neon colors, make your own heishi beads.

Fimo leather

Leather-effect Fimo is as supple as soft Fimo, but has a distinctive, slightly grainy texture containing textile fibers that give it greater elasticity than other clay products. Its leather-effect rendering is incredible, as is its relief after firing, so you can get on with imitation leather creations. We've put together a full technical data sheet to show you what the Fimo cuir range is all about .

Fimo Air

Fimo Air is a no-bake polymer clay that hardens in the open air. It is 95% natural substances and, thanks to the cellulose fibers it contains, its final appearance is similar to that of clay. Light and supple, it becomes dry after 24 hours. Work this clay in thicker layers for greater strength, as it remains fragile.

Fimo Kids

Fimo Kids is THE range for children. Available for children aged 8 and over, this clay is softer and easier to work with than other polymer pastes, making it ideal for introducing your children to the Fimo technique. The easiest way to use it is with a silicone mold, to create a variety of shapes and then customize them by adding acrylic paint or bits of cane. An adult must be present for the baking stage, which like other clay is baked at 120 degrees for 30 minutes.

Liquid Fimo

The best-known of this range is translucent Fimo, which can be used as a glue, or mixed with old clay to soften it. Other techniques mix liquid Fimo with alcohol inks or pastels to obtain ceramic effects, as on these earrings. The range is gradually expanding to include other opaque colors, such as gold, black and silver. Take a look at this technical data sheet, which deals solely with the use of liquid polymers.

Cernit clay

Less well-known than Fimo clay, Cernit has a number of advantages. It doesn't stick to your fingers, doesn't stain and is odorless. Cernit clay is a soft, malleable polymer clay that can be worked endlessly. The shiny finish when removed from the oven will add originality to all your creations. You won't need to varnish your creations to obtain a brilliant finish: after sanding and polishing, cernit clay is shiny. These are the main differences between cernit and Fimo clay.
Cernit clay is like other heat-sensitive clay, only softer. Avoid it if your hands are hot. As a wholesaler of Cernit clay, you'll find 8 different ranges on our site:

• Cernit Number One: This is the classic range, suitable for all modelling applications.
• Cernit Nature gives a natural, stone effect.
• Cernit Glamour gives a pearly, iridescent effect.
• Cernit Translucent has a translucent effect.
• Cernit Neon Light is the most neon of all the clay types.
• Cernit Shiny has a satin effect.
• Cernit Doll provides a flesh-toned effect, e.g. for modeling dolls, figurines, etc.
• Cernit Metallic is the new range with superb colors and metallic effects. It's ideal for Mica Shift or ghost marks.

View a full technical data sheet on the Cernit range.

Sculpey clay

Sculpey clay is a popular American polymer clay. There are 4 ranges of Sculpey clay.

Sculpey III

Sculpey III is a very soft, malleable polymer clay, ideal for children. Ready to use, this clay requires no kneading before use. We don't recommend putting Sculpey III through the clay machine, as it sticks to rollers and doesn't stretch well. Note that this clay stains hands and materials.

Sculpey Premo and premo accents

Sculpey Premo is a light, supple clay that doesn't stick to the fingers, but remains firm enough to sculpt details. Premo accent has specific effects (pearly, glittery, granite, translucent, etc.). This range is particularly rich in mica particles. Depending on the colors used, it gives the hands a little color.

Sculpey soufflé

Sculpey soufflé is the lightest polymer clay available. Its innovative texture, with a powdered finish, will enable you to create lightweight polymer clay jewelry. This clay is perfect for creating imposing shapes that are normally heavy and difficult to wear. Very pleasant to the touch, you'll enjoy working with this range. Note that it is firmer than premo but less so than sculpey III.

Sculpey liquid

Liquid Sculpey is used in the same way as classic polymer clay. It is ideal for creating details, such as toppings or coulis for your gourmet creations.

Kato Polyclay clay

Kato Polyclay polymer clayis a professional-quality modeling clay. Developed by designer Donna Kato, it is particularly suitable for advanced modellers. The main drawback is its strong plastic smell, and it's the only polymer clay to bake at 150°c, so it can't be mixed with other polymer clay... You get used to it, but it can be annoying at first. It stains the hands and dirties the rollers, so you have to clean between each color. It's also the clay with the longest shelf life, and even hard clay can regain its original suppleness with repeated passes through the dough machine. For ducks, this clay is ideal, as its firmness means that we can avoid distorting the duck's patterns at the delicate moment of reduction. You'll also be able to keep your canes in Kato clay much longer than with other brands. The only drawback is that it's hard to start with, so if you're not very strong or have hand problems, forget it and opt for other types of clay instead.

Pardo Viva Décor clay

Pardo polymer clay is made from natural pigments and beeswax, has no strong odor and is pleasant to work with, neither too soft nor too hard. It is best known for its neutral translucent clay, which is the most transparent, just ahead of Cernit. Specially designed for jewelry and small accessories, it's easy to work with and comes in a wide range of colors and finishes. Viva decor has developed 4 ranges: Jewellery clay with a large number of colors to imitate gemstones to perfection, Professional art clay, Professional Mica clay and Translucent clay.

This comparison has been made between brands, but also between ranges, to give you the fullest possible picture of what will meet your expectations. In a second data sheet, we'll explain the different reactions of polymer clay during firing: how do you fire Fimo clay ? What's the reaction? We 'll answer all sorts of questions.
For beginners, we've put together a list of the materials you'll need for Fimo clay and other polymer pastes. This basic material will enable you to start creating objects or costume jewelry. For more experienced polymerists, our toolbox contains a wealth of tips and techniques, such as theBatik effect.